I've seen stainless steel hold up pretty well too, but honestly, even marine-grade isn't bulletproof. I inspected a beachfront home last summer where the stainless flashing was starting to show tiny rust spots after just a couple years. Granted, it was right on the water with constant spray...but still. I'd say stainless is usually your safest bet, but don't assume it's maintenance-free. Regular checks and rinsing off salt buildup can save you headaches later on.
Yeah, stainless is solid, but even marine-grade isn't magic. I've seen similar issues—one project near the coast had marine-grade stainless fasteners that started rusting surprisingly fast. Makes me wonder if it's partly about installation quality or even specific batches of metal. Regular rinsing definitely helps, but maybe pairing stainless with protective coatings or sealants could buy you extra time? Curious if anyone's tried that combo and noticed a difference.
I've wondered about coatings too, but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical they'd hold up long-term with salt air. I tried using a sealant spray on some stainless hinges on our shed door near the beach, and it seemed okay at first, but after a year or so, rust spots still showed up. Might've lasted longer than without, but wasn't exactly a miracle fix. Maybe combining coatings with regular rinsing could stretch it out a bit more...? Hard to say for sure, though—probably depends on your exact conditions.
You know, sealants can be hit or miss near saltwater... but have you thought about the actual type of metal you're using? Stainless steel isn't always the same grade—marine-grade stainless (like 316) holds up way better near the ocean. I've seen standard stainless hinges rust out pretty quick, coatings or not, but the marine-grade stuff seems to hang in there longer. Maybe it's worth checking exactly what grade you had? Could make a noticeable difference.
"marine-grade stainless (like 316) holds up way better near the ocean."
Interesting point... but isn't marine-grade stainless quite a bit pricier? Anyone know if aluminum flashing with a good coating might be a more budget-friendly alternative that still holds up decently near saltwater?
