"Costs more upfront, sure, but saves headaches down the line..."
Couldn't agree more with this. When I first moved to the coast, I tried cutting corners with cheaper flashing materials—big mistake. Within a couple of years, rust patches started popping up in places I hadn't even considered. Ended up replacing everything with aluminum flashing anyway, and the difference has been night and day. Definitely worth budgeting a bit extra initially to avoid the hassle later on... hindsight's 20/20, right?
"Within a couple of years, rust patches started popping up in places I hadn't even considered."
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself. I didn't even think salt air could be so aggressive until we did a tear-off on a beachfront property last summer. The galvanized nails that were supposed to be "rust-resistant" were practically disintegrating in some spots—like they'd been there for decades instead of just a few years. Made me wonder how many homeowners realize that even small details like fasteners and brackets need special attention near the ocean.
I've heard stainless steel is another solid option, though pricier than aluminum. Anyone here tried stainless? Curious if it's worth the extra cost compared to aluminum or if aluminum's generally good enough. Seems like paying more upfront really does save you from having to redo work sooner than you'd expect...
Stainless steel sounds great on paper, but honestly, the price jump makes me hesitate. Aluminum's held up pretty well for me so far...but maybe I'm just lucky? Wonder if anyone's tried coated fasteners—cheaper compromise or waste of money?
I've seen coated fasteners hold up decently, but honestly, it depends on the coating quality. Had a neighbor who went cheap and regretted it after just two seasons... Maybe spending a bit more upfront saves headaches later? Has anyone tried galvanized options near saltwater?
Galvanized can be hit or miss near saltwater, honestly. Had a job a few years back right on the coast—homeowner insisted on galvanized fasteners to save a few bucks. I was skeptical, but hey, customer's always right, right? Anyway, within three years, rust streaks were running down the shingles and staining the siding. Not pretty. On the flip side, I've seen hot-dipped galvanized hold up better than standard galvanized, but even then, it's not bulletproof.
If you're really close to saltwater, stainless steel is probably your safest bet. Yeah, it's pricier upfront, but I've never had callbacks or complaints about corrosion with stainless. Coated fasteners can work too, but like you said, quality varies wildly. Seen some coatings peel off after just one harsh winter storm... not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Bottom line: coastal roofing isn't the place to pinch pennies. Learned that lesson the hard way more than once.
