Stainless is nice, but man, the price tag always makes me wince. I get it though—last time I tried to save a few bucks with “good enough” fasteners, I ended up paying double in the long run. Had a patch job on my shed roof where I mixed whatever screws I had left in the garage. Looked fine for a year or two, then we got one of those sideways spring storms and half the patch peeled up like a sardine can. Turns out, some of those old screws were already rusting out from the inside.
I’m not saying you need to go full stainless everywhere (my wallet would mutiny), but for spots that see a lot of water or shade? It’s probably worth it. North wall on my place is always damp, and that’s where things seem to rot first—screws, trim, even the paint peels faster there. If you’re planning to stick around for more than a couple years, it’s less hassle just doing it right once.
Mixing fasteners is a headache too. I’ve got a notebook somewhere with scribbles about what went where, but good luck finding it when you actually need it. Half the time I end up guessing and hoping for the best.
If you’re on a budget like me, maybe just pick your battles—use stainless or coated stuff in the worst spots (gutters, north walls, anywhere water sits), and save the cheaper stuff for areas that stay dry. That’s worked okay for me so far... at least until hail season rolls around again and reminds me what corners I cut last year.
- Stainless is pricey, but I’ve had similar regrets with “good enough” fasteners—especially on the shady side where moss loves to grow.
- I started using coated screws for the north wall and gutters, and it’s made a difference.
- For hail, though, I’m curious—has anyone tried swapping to green or living roofs? Supposedly they cushion hail pretty well, but I wonder if the extra weight and drainage are worth it.
- Anyone notice if hail damage is worse on spots with mixed fasteners, or is it just me?
Mixed fasteners definitely seem to be a weak spot, at least from what I’ve seen after a couple hailstorms. I’m not convinced the difference is huge, but the spots where I used leftover zinc screws next to stainless sure seem to have more pitting. As for green roofs, I looked into it but the weight calculations and extra waterproofing made me back off. Has anyone actually done a retrofit on a typical ranch roof, or is it mostly new builds?
I had the same idea about green roofs after seeing a few cool photos online, but once I started reading about all the extra support and waterproofing, it felt like way more than I could handle. My place is a pretty standard 70s ranch, and honestly, just getting the gutters to drain right has been enough of a project for me. The weight thing really threw me off—didn’t realize how much dirt and plants could add up, especially when it rains.
On the fasteners, I’ve noticed some weird spots too. I used a mix of whatever was left in my garage when patching a section last year, and now there’s definitely more rust where the zinc screws are. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but the stainless ones look almost new. Not sure if it’s worth redoing those spots or just keeping an eye on them for now.
I’m still figuring out what’s “normal” wear and what’s a problem. Hail seems to find every weak spot, no matter what you do.
- Totally get you on the green roof dream vs. reality. I looked into it for about five minutes, then remembered my attic sags if I store too many Christmas lights up there.
- Fastener roulette is real... I did the same thing with leftover screws and now it’s like a science experiment up there. The stainless ones are holding up, but the others look rough after every storm.
- Hail is basically nature’s way of pointing out all your shortcuts. I just patch what looks bad and hope for the best—my “normal” is probably someone else’s “needs immediate attention.”
- If you figure out a gutter that doesn’t clog, let me know. I’ll trade you a box of mismatched screws.
