Yeah, neoprene washers can be hit or miss depending on the conditions. Last fall, we did a similar metal edging job, and I remember thinking we'd nailed it (pun intended) with those washers. But come springtime, after a few freeze-thaw cycles, we noticed some screws backing out slightly. My boss was pretty chill about it—said he'd seen it happen plenty of times before. He recommended swapping to stainless screws with a bit of polyurethane sealant underneath. Took us an extra afternoon to redo them all, but honestly, it's been solid ever since.
I think you're right about local weather playing a big role. Around here, winters are brutal—lots of ice and snow buildup—and that constant expansion and contraction can really mess with fasteners. Sounds like your mentor's advice was spot-on for your situation. Good call on taking the extra step... tedious work now usually saves headaches later.
Had a similar experience when I first moved into my place. Thought I'd save myself some hassle by using those neoprene washers on the shed roof—figured they'd hold up fine. But after one harsh winter, half of them were loose or backing out. Ended up switching to stainless screws and sealant too, and it's been solid since. Curious though, anyone tried using rubberized coatings or something similar as extra protection against weather shifts? Seems like it might help, but maybe overkill...
Did something similar with the rubberized coating last year... seemed like a good idea at first, but honestly, after a few months it started peeling in spots. Ended up scraping it all off and just sticking with stainless screws and sealant like you did. Less hassle overall.
Yeah, rubberized coatings can be hit or miss... seen plenty peel off after a season or two. Stainless screws and sealant might seem old-school, but honestly, sometimes the simplest solutions hold up best. Glad you got it sorted without too much headache.
Good point about stainless screws and sealant—sometimes the tried-and-true methods just have fewer surprises down the road. Still, I've seen some newer rubberized coatings hold up surprisingly well when applied right. Makes me wonder if it's more about prep or product quality... Have you noticed any particular brands or application tricks that seem to make a difference long-term? Curious if anyone's cracked the code on getting those coatings to last longer than a couple seasons.
