I get the temptation to just go with stainless after a mess like that, but I’ve got to push back a bit. In my experience, the real culprit is almost always improper sealing or poor ventilation, not just the fastener choice. I’ve come across plenty of “premium” roofs with stainless everywhere, but if the attic’s trapping moisture or there’s a gap in flashing, you still end up with corrosion—sometimes even rot if it’s wood sheathing.
Honestly, I think folks underestimate how much airflow matters. If your attic can’t breathe, condensation builds up and finds its way into every nook and cranny. That’s when you get hidden rust showing up even on good hardware. I’ve seen cases where people spent a fortune on top-end materials but skipped adding soffit vents or blocked them with insulation. Six years later, they’re calling me out for weird stains and musty smells.
Here’s what I usually check for first: continuous soffit vents (not just little ones), clear ridge or roof vents (not covered by insulation or clogged with dust), and making sure bathroom/kitchen fans vent outside—not into the attic. Even basic coated screws last ages if water isn’t sitting against them all winter.
Not saying stainless is a bad investment—sometimes it’s worth it in places that get hammered by weather—but if you’re seeing rust pop up all over, it might be time to look at the big picture before dropping more money on hardware. Just my two cents from crawling through too many attics and seeing the same patterns play out... Fixing airflow usually does more good than just swapping fasteners.
Curious if anyone else has noticed similar stuff? Sometimes feels like ventilation gets ignored until there’s already damage.
I get where you’re coming from about airflow being the main thing, but I’m not totally convinced it’s always the bigger issue. When we bought our place last year, the inspector pointed out rusted fasteners on a section that actually had decent venting (ridge and soffit both clear). Turned out the screws themselves were just cheap and already corroding, even though moisture wasn’t crazy high. Maybe it’s a combo? I ended up swapping those for stainless in the worst spots and haven’t seen new rust yet... but yeah, I’m keeping an eye on insulation blocking vents too. It’s wild how many little things can go wrong up there.
