Yeah, marine-grade paint isn't magic, unfortunately. Have you looked into aluminum railings instead? Heard they're supposed to resist corrosion better, but I'm skeptical—does anything really hold up long-term near saltwater? Seems like everything needs constant TLC around here...
"Seems like everything needs constant TLC around here..."
Haha, tell me about it... I've seen aluminum railings hold up decently, but even those eventually get that chalky, powdery look. Has anyone tried stainless steel? Wonder if that's worth the extra $$$ or just another maintenance headache waiting to happen.
"Wonder if that's worth the extra $$$ or just another maintenance headache waiting to happen."
Honestly, stainless steel holds up pretty well from what I've seen. Neighbor down the street installed some stainless railings about five years ago, and they're still looking sharp. Pricey upfront, but might save you from constant touch-ups later...
Yeah, stainless is pretty solid, but keep in mind that not all stainless steel is created equal—especially near the ocean. I put in some stainless hinges on an outdoor cabinet a few years ago, thinking they'd last forever, and they're already showing minor surface rust. Turns out I should've gone for marine-grade (316) instead of the standard 304. Lesson learned... always double-check the grade if salt air's involved.
"Turns out I should've gone for marine-grade (316) instead of the standard 304. Lesson learned... always double-check the grade if salt air's involved."
Good point about stainless steel grades—I've seen similar issues with roofing nails and flashing near coastal areas. Even galvanized stuff doesn't hold up as well as you'd think. Had a job last year where we replaced some supposedly corrosion-resistant flashing that was already pitted and rusting after just a few seasons. Makes me skeptical about how much manufacturers hype their products' durability near saltwater.
Curious if anyone's tried aluminum or copper flashing in these conditions? Aluminum seems like it'd corrode less, but I've heard mixed things about its strength and longevity. Copper's obviously solid, but then you're dealing with cost and discoloration over time...
