"Installed one near Cape Cod about five years back—looked solid at first, but salt spray is relentless."
Yeah, coastal areas are brutal on galvanized steel. Had a similar experience near the Outer Banks—thought I'd done everything right, but rust still popped up after a few years. Switched to aluminum roofing with a Kynar coating last time around, and it's holding up noticeably better. Might be worth looking into if you're tired of playing whack-a-mole with rust spots...
- Yep, galvanized steel near saltwater is always a gamble—seen it fail plenty of times.
- Aluminum with Kynar coating is a solid choice; good call there.
- Stainless steel can also hold up pretty well, but it's pricier.
- Bottom line: coastal roofing is tough, but sounds like you're on the right track now.
Interesting points, but I gotta say, stainless steel might not always be worth the extra cash. A few years back, my neighbor down the street went all-in on stainless steel roofing for his beach house—figured he'd never have to worry about corrosion again. Well, fast forward about five years, and he was already noticing some rust spots popping up. Turns out, not all stainless steel is created equal, especially when you're dealing with salty coastal air.
He ended up having to replace a few panels, and the whole thing turned into a bigger headache than he bargained for. Meanwhile, another friend of mine went with aluminum coated in Kynar, and his roof still looks brand new after nearly a decade. So yeah, stainless steel can hold up, but you really gotta know exactly what grade you're getting and how it's treated. Otherwise, you might just be throwing money away.
Also, just to throw another idea out there—has anyone considered copper roofing? I know, I know... it sounds crazy expensive at first glance, but hear me out. My uncle put copper roofing on his coastal cottage about 15 years ago, and it's aged beautifully. Sure, it develops that greenish patina over time, but that's part of the charm, right? Plus, copper naturally resists corrosion better than most metals. He hasn't had to touch it since installation, and honestly, it looks better every year.
Anyway, just food for thought. Coastal roofing is definitely tricky, and sometimes the pricier option isn't always the best long-term solution.
Copper roofing definitely has its perks, especially with that charming patina you mentioned. But honestly, from a practical standpoint, it might not be the best fit for everyone. I've managed properties along the coast for years, and copper can sometimes be a magnet for theft—sad but true. Had a client once who installed copper gutters and downspouts, and within a year, half of them disappeared overnight. Not saying it'll happen everywhere, but it's something to keep in mind.
Another option worth considering is Galvalume steel. It's basically steel coated with aluminum and zinc, and I've seen it hold up surprisingly well in salty environments. It's usually more affordable than copper or high-grade stainless steel, and if installed properly, it can last decades without much fuss. Just make sure you're getting a quality product from a reputable supplier—like you said, not all metal roofing is created equal.
Definitely agree with you on Galvalume steel—used it for my shed roof a few years back, and it's held up really well. Have you checked local metal supply places or roofing wholesalers near you? Sometimes smaller suppliers have better prices than big box stores. Also, curious if anyone's tried aluminum roofing sheets...heard they're decent in coastal areas too, but not sure how they compare cost-wise?
