That "pop" you mentioned—man, I know that sound way too well.
But I gotta say, sometimes the heat-and-oil trick doesn't cut it, especially if the fastener head's already half-rotted or stripped. I’ve had to walk away and come back with a cold chisel more than once. Still, you got it done, and that’s what matters. Most folks don’t realize how stubborn those old roof fasteners can get until they’re up there fighting one. Good on you for sticking with it.It’s always satisfying when you finally hear that little “pop” and the bolt starts to turn.
- Totally get what you mean about the heat-and-oil trick not always working.
- Sometimes those old fasteners are just too far gone—I've had to grind a few right off before.
- Ever tried those extractor sockets? Mixed results for me, but sometimes they save the day.
- Curious if you used any corrosion-resistant replacements? I’ve been switching to stainless or coated fasteners lately—seems to help, especially with all the rain we get.
- The struggle up there is real... but at least you know it’s solid now.
- Grinding off old fasteners is always my last resort, but sometimes there’s just no way around it.
- Extractor sockets are hit or miss for me too—depends how rounded things are. Sometimes they just chew up the head more.
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Curious if you used any corrosion-resistant replacements? I’ve been switching to stainless or coated fasteners lately—seems to help, especially with all the rain we get.
I’ve tried stainless, but in coastal areas I’ve still seen some pitting after a few years. Galvanized seems to hold up better for me, though it’s not perfect either. Coated fasteners are decent, but I worry about the coating chipping during install.
- The weather here is brutal—freeze/thaw cycles plus salt spray. I’ve started using a dab of anti-seize on threads, which helps a bit with future removal.
- Anyone ever mess with aluminum fasteners for roof edging? I’m skeptical about mixing metals and possible galvanic corrosion, but curious if anyone’s had luck.
Just wondering what’s worked long-term for folks in wet or salty climates...
That freeze/thaw cycle plus salt is brutal on fasteners, totally agree. I’ve had similar issues with stainless—looks great at first but after a few years near the coast, you start to see those little rust spots and pitting. Galvanized has held up a bit better for me too, but if the coating gets scratched during install, it’s just a matter of time before corrosion sets in.
I’ve been using coated fasteners with a thick rubber washer for roof edging, but yeah, if you’re not careful putting them in, that coating chips right off. Anti-seize has helped me too—makes things way less of a nightmare when you have to pull stuff apart later.
Tried aluminum fasteners once on a shed roof (aluminum trim + aluminum screws), but I’d be nervous mixing them with steel or copper. Galvanic corrosion sneaks up on you, especially when there’s constant moisture. For my main roof, I just stuck with hot-dipped galvanized and keep an eye out for rust every spring.
Honestly, nothing seems truly “set and forget” in salty climates... it’s more about slowing the inevitable than stopping it.
That’s exactly how it’s felt for me—just trying to slow things down, not really win the battle. I’m not on the coast, but we get a ton of road salt and wild temperature swings. I thought going with stainless would be a one-and-done thing, but like you said, it only takes a couple years before those little rust freckles show up. Kind of a letdown, honestly.
I did the same as you for my roof edging—galvanized fasteners, and I check them every spring. I was tempted by those “lifetime” coated screws, but after seeing how easily the coating chips, I figured I’d just be trading one problem for another. Haven’t tried anti-seize yet but that’s a good tip. I’ve already had to muscle out a few stuck screws and it’s no fun.
Mixing metals makes me nervous too. I almost used some leftover copper nails for flashing because they looked cool, but then read about galvanic corrosion and bailed on that idea quick. It’s wild how fast things can go sideways if you don’t match everything up.
Honestly, I wish there was a truly low-maintenance option. Every spring I’m up there poking around, hoping nothing’s gotten worse. But at least keeping an eye on things seems to help catch problems early. Sounds like you’ve got a good system going—sometimes just being realistic about what you’re up against is half the battle.
