Man, I totally get that feeling—there’s always something new to worry about once you own a house. I thought stainless would be the “set it and forget it” option too, but those tiny rust spots sneak up quick. I’ve been doing the same kind of routine checkups, and honestly, just catching stuff early seems to be the best defense. Mixing metals freaks me out a bit, too; I almost did aluminum flashing with steel nails and then read about all the corrosion issues. It’s kind of wild how much detail you have to pay attention to. At least you’re not alone in the never-ending maintenance game.
Mixing metals freaks me out a bit, too; I almost did aluminum flashing with steel nails and then read about all the corrosion issues.
Yeah, that galvanic corrosion sneaks up fast. I learned the hard way after a hailstorm—had to replace a bunch of fasteners that basically melted away. Stainless is good, but even that stuff needs babysitting. House maintenance is like whack-a-mole sometimes... fix one thing, spot another.
I hear you on the stainless—people act like it’s bulletproof, but I’ve seen rust spots show up after a few years, especially near the coast. I started using coated screws with aluminum just to hedge my bets. It’s wild how fast things can go sideways if you mix the wrong stuff.
I’ve actually been surprised by how quickly stainless can start showing signs of corrosion, especially in salty air. I used to think it was a set-it-and-forget-it material, but after moving closer to the coast, I’ve learned otherwise. I did a bunch of reading before tackling my own roof edge project and found out that even “marine grade” stainless isn’t immune if you get the wrong mix of metals or if there’s constant moisture trapped around fasteners.
Mixing aluminum and stainless can be a real headache. I almost went with regular stainless screws for my aluminum drip edge, but after reading up on galvanic corrosion, I switched to coated fasteners too. It’s wild how just a little contact between different metals can start that reaction—especially with all the rain we get here. I even checked the manufacturer’s recommendations for the exact type of coating, just to be on the safe side.
One thing I noticed: some folks skip the step of sealing around the screw heads, but that’s where I saw the first rust spots on my neighbor’s place. I used a butyl sealant under each screw head, which probably took way longer than it should have, but it’s been holding up so far. Not sure if it’s overkill, but I’d rather spend an extra hour now than deal with leaks or ugly stains later.
Honestly, it feels like there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free roof edge—just choices about how much hassle you want down the line. If anyone else is working near saltwater, definitely double-check what your fasteners are made of and how they’re coated. It’s one of those details that seems minor until you’re up there scraping off rust three years later...
- Seen a lot of “stainless” fasteners rusting out on coastal homes during inspections. Folks assume stainless is bulletproof, but salt air finds every weakness.
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— That’s not overkill in my book. I’ve flagged plenty of leaks starting right at unsealed fasteners. Takes extra time, but you’ll thank yourself later.“I used a butyl sealant under each screw head, which probably took way longer than it should have, but it’s been holding up so far.”
- Galvanic corrosion is no joke. I’ve seen aluminum drip edges basically dissolve where they touched the wrong screws. Coated fasteners or isolators are a must if you’re mixing metals, especially near the ocean.
- Maintenance-free roof edge? Haven’t seen one yet. Even the best installs need a look-over every year or two—especially after storms.
- Biggest tip: check under any debris or moss along the edge. That’s where moisture sits and starts trouble.
- If you’re seeing rust after just a couple years, don’t wait—swap out the bad fasteners before it spreads. It’s way easier to deal with a few screws now than replace rotted decking later.
