Had an aluminum roof installed on a beach rental a few years back—figured I'd save some bucks over copper. Installer swore up and down his marine-grade coating was bulletproof. Two seasons later, I'm up there patching corrosion spots with sealant, cursing myself for cheaping out. Moral of the story: if you're near saltwater, either go copper or get reeeal friendly with your ladder...
"Moral of the story: if you're near saltwater, either go copper or get reeeal friendly with your ladder..."
Interesting point, but isn't stainless steel roofing an option too? I've heard some coastal homeowners swear by it—anyone tried that route, or does salt air chew through stainless eventually as well?
Stainless steel can definitely hold up better than regular steel, but it's not bulletproof against salt air. I've seen neighbors try it—looked great at first, but after a few years, they still had some corrosion spots popping up. Copper seems to age more gracefully, even if it's pricier upfront. Still, stainless might be worth considering if you're okay with occasional maintenance checks and spot treatments. Either way, your ladder's gonna stay busy...
"Copper seems to age more gracefully, even if it's pricier upfront."
True, copper does develop that nice patina over time, but let's not pretend it's maintenance-free either. I've inspected plenty of coastal homes where copper flashing and gutters ended up with pinhole leaks and corrosion spots after a few years. Honestly, aluminum might be underrated here—it's lighter on the wallet, and with a proper marine-grade coating, it can handle salt air surprisingly well. Might save you some ladder trips...
"Honestly, aluminum might be underrated here—it's lighter on the wallet, and with a proper marine-grade coating, it can handle salt air surprisingly well."
Yeah, aluminum's definitely a solid choice if you prep it right. But have you guys ever tried stainless steel flashing near the coast? I helped on a job last summer where the homeowner insisted on stainless steel gutters and flashing because he'd had enough of copper corroding. At first, I thought he was just being picky (and spending way too much), but honestly, after seeing how well it held up after a few storms, I kinda get it now. Sure, it's not as pretty as copper's patina, but if you're tired of patching pinholes and climbing ladders every other weekend, stainless might be worth considering. Anyone else seen stainless hold up long-term near saltwater? Curious if it stays as solid as it looked after that first year...
