I get where you’re coming from, but have you ever had the galvanized ones rust out early? I had a patch on my shed roof where the screws started to corrode after maybe 8 years—granted, it’s a pretty damp spot. I’m just not sure I trust them long-term, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. Maybe stainless is overkill, but I kinda hate the idea of crawling up there to swap out fasteners every decade...
I had a patch on my shed roof where the screws started to corrode after maybe 8 years—granted, it’s a pretty damp spot. I’m just not sure I trust them long-term, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. Maybe stainless is overkill, but I kinda hate the idea of crawling up there to swap out fasteners every decade...
I hear you on this one. Galvanized fasteners are supposed to hold up, but in reality, moisture plus those wild temperature swings can eat through that coating faster than you'd think. I've looked at plenty of roofs where the screws looked fine from the ground, but once you get up close, you see the heads starting to pit or even flake off. Eight years isn’t that unusual in a damp spot—especially if there’s poor ventilation or water tends to pool around those fasteners.
Stainless does feel like overkill when you’re buying a box at three times the price, but it’s hard to argue with not having to mess with it again for decades. I’ve seen sheds and small additions where folks went with stainless only on the north side or wherever the shade keeps things dampest. Kind of a compromise—maybe not perfect, but it saves a little cash.
I wouldn’t say galvanized is useless, though. It just depends how much exposure you’re getting. On steep roofs with decent sun and airflow, they can last a long time. But if you’re in a spot that never dries out, or you get a lot of ice damming, they’ll go faster.
One thing—are you using rubber washers under the screw heads? Sometimes those fail before the screw itself does and let water sneak in. Or if there’s any kind of dissimilar metal contact (like aluminum panels with zinc screws), corrosion ramps up quick.
I get not wanting to climb up there every decade. At least with stainless, it’s more “set it and forget it.” But yeah, it’s always a balance between cost and hassle down the line. Just depends how much that peace of mind is worth to you...
- Totally get the hesitation—stainless feels pricey, but the hassle of swapping out screws every 8-10 years is no joke.
- I’ve patched mine with galvanized and crossed my fingers... but yeah, in damp spots, they just don’t last.
- Mixing stainless just where it’s wettest sounds like a smart middle ground.
- Honestly, if you’re not seeing leaks yet, you bought yourself some time. No shame in holding off till it’s really needed.
I get the temptation to just wait it out, but honestly, those galvanized screws in damp spots are like a ticking clock. I swapped a few last year after a hailstorm—thought I could stretch them another season, but rust had already started creeping in. Stainless is pricey upfront, yeah, but factoring in the labor and hassle of patching every decade... it starts to make sense, especially if you’re planning to stay put. If you’re mixing and matching, just keep track of where you used what—future you will thank you when it’s time for repairs.
- Seen too many “temporary” fixes turn into full-on headaches later.
- Last spring, had a whole row of galvanized screws rot out on a north-facing wall—looked fine from the ground, but up close? Not so much.
- Stainless is steep, yeah, but replacing water-damaged sheathing is worse.
- Mixing fasteners gets confusing fast... I’ve had to chase old repair notes just to figure out what’s where.
- If you’re staying long-term, I’d lean stainless for high-risk spots at least, even if it feels like overkill upfront.
