I get the hesitation with composites, but honestly, some of the newer high-grade polymer fasteners are holding up better than folks expect. I’ve seen them on a few coastal jobs—no rust, no staining, and they don’t snap like the old plastic stuff. They’re not perfect for every application, but for sheds or even soffits, they’re worth a look. Sometimes it’s not just about metal vs. plastic—coatings and installation matter too. I’ve seen 316 fail when folks over-torque and crack the coating, then salt gets in anyway. Just my two cents...
I get where you’re coming from on the polymers, but I’m still a bit wary using them anywhere load-bearing or exposed to direct sun. Maybe it’s just old habits, but I’ve seen some of those “UV-stable” fasteners get brittle after a few years, especially on south-facing roofs. Metal’s not perfect either, like you said—coatings only do so much if someone cranks down too hard or skips the right washers. For me, stainless is still my go-to for anything structural, but I’ll admit those new composites are tempting for trim and soffits. Just can’t quite bring myself to trust them on rafters yet...
That’s actually what’s got me a little nervous about picking materials—my house is only a couple blocks from the beach, and I keep hearing stories about fasteners rusting out way faster than you’d expect. I was leaning toward stainless too, but the price difference is no joke. Has anyone here had luck with those coated screws or are they just a short-term fix? I’m also wondering if composites hold up any better in salty air, or do they just get brittle for different reasons…
Stainless is definitely tempting, but yeah, the price tag stings. I’m in a similar spot—just moved into a place about three blocks from the water, and I keep hearing horror stories from neighbors about galvanized stuff corroding way faster than they thought it would. One guy said his deck screws started rusting out after only two years, even though they were “marine grade.” Not exactly reassuring.
I’ve looked at those coated screws too—some of them claim to be rated for coastal environments, but I wonder how much of that is just marketing. If the coating gets chipped or scratched during installation, doesn’t that expose the steel underneath anyway? I guess it depends on how careful you are, but with all the salty mist in the air, it seems like even small flaws could be a problem over time.
Composites are another thing I’m curious about. The sales pitch makes them sound invincible, but then you read about some brands getting brittle or fading after a few years in harsh sun and salt air. I haven’t found much unbiased info about how they age. Does anyone know if certain types of composite hold up better than others? Or is it just a matter of picking your poison—metal rusts, composites crack?
Also—does anyone have experience with aluminum fasteners? I’ve heard mixed things. Some say they’re more corrosion-resistant than steel in salty conditions, but then there’s the whole galvanic corrosion issue if you mix metals. Is that something to worry about with roofing or decking, or is it more of a problem in other applications?
All these choices make my head spin... It’s wild how much more complicated this gets when you’re near the ocean.
If the coating gets chipped or scratched during installation, doesn’t that expose the steel underneath anyway?
That’s exactly my concern with coated fasteners. Even with careful installation, it’s hard to avoid the occasional nick or scratch, and in salty air, those spots seem to go bad fast. I’ve noticed some brands offer “double-coated” options, but I’m skeptical about real-world durability.
On composites, I’ve seen a neighbor’s deck (maybe 6 years old) where the boards faded and got a bit chalky. Not cracked yet, but definitely not looking new. Has anyone tried any of the newer PVC-based composites? Supposedly they’re more UV stable, but I haven’t seen long-term results.
Aluminum fasteners are interesting too—do they actually hold up better if you’re using them with pressure-treated wood? Or does that combo cause other issues down the line?
