You nailed it with the butyl tape. I switched over after my last caulk job basically washed away in the first Nor’easter. Still, I swear the salt air finds its way into every nook—my stainless screws start rusting within a year, “marine grade” or not. I’ve started using zinc strips up near the ridge, which helps a little, but nothing’s foolproof. The wind is another story… I lost a whole section of ridge cap last winter. The ocean’s great and all, but man, it keeps you humble.
I hear you on the stainless screws—mine started rusting way faster than I expected, too. I tried swapping to coated fasteners, but they’re pricier and still not perfect. Ever looked into plastic caps or washers? Not sure if they’d hold up in the wind, though.
Plastic caps and washers sound good in theory, but in my experience, they just don’t last on a roof that gets hammered by coastal winds. I’ve seen them crack or even blow off after a couple of seasons. Stainless is supposed to be the answer, but like you said, salt air finds a way. Have you tried any of the marine-grade fasteners? They’re pricier, but I’ve had better luck with them on docks and sheds near the water. Wondering if anyone’s actually had them hold up long-term on a roof, though...
I’ve actually gone down the marine-grade fastener rabbit hole after a few too many rusty surprises. My place is about 300 yards from the water, and the wind here doesn’t mess around. I tried stainless on a shed roof, thinking I was being clever, but after five years, even those started to pit and stain. The marine-grade stuff (I used silicon bronze screws for a small section) has held up better, but wow, the price tag stings—especially if you’re covering a whole roof.
One thing I noticed: the washers seem to be the weak link, even with marine-grade fasteners. The rubber or neoprene ones just don’t last in the sun and salt. I started doubling up with a dab of marine sealant under each washer, which helped a bit, but it’s not a perfect fix.
Honestly, I’m starting to think there’s no such thing as “maintenance-free” this close to the ocean. It’s more like “maintenance-sometimes-doesn’t-make-you-cry.” If anyone’s found a magic combo that lasts more than a decade, I’d love to hear it... but I’m not holding my breath.
Yeah, I’m starting to get that “maintenance-sometimes-doesn’t-make-you-cry” vibe too. Just moved into my first house last year (about half a mile from the bay) and I was shocked how fast the hardware on my deck started looking rough. I thought stainless was the gold standard, but nope—brown streaks everywhere after the first winter. I haven’t tried the marine-grade stuff yet because, honestly, the price makes my wallet shudder. At this point, I’m just hoping to slow down the rust parade with regular rinsing and some wishful thinking...
