- Stainless hardware is like sunscreen—skip it and you’ll regret it fast.
- Hurricane clips: not sexy, but neither is your roof in the neighbor’s yard.
- Flashing and sealant? My “waterproof” porch turned into a slip-n-slide after one nor’easter... lesson learned.
- Weathered boards do look cool, but I’d rather not have to explain the “historic” water stains to guests.
I learned the hard way about skipping stainless—thought I could save a few bucks, and six months later I was swapping out rusty screws in the salt air. Did anyone here actually manage to keep their porch dry with just flashing and sealant? I feel like water finds a way no matter what...
Stainless is one of those things you only skip once, right? I tried to get away with galvanized on my old porch and it was a mess by the next spring. As for keeping things dry, I’ve never fully trusted just flashing and sealant—especially near the ocean. Water seems to sneak in no matter how careful you are. Have you looked into those new peel-and-stick membranes? I’m curious if anyone’s had luck with them long-term, or if it’s just another layer that eventually fails.
Peel-and-stick membranes are actually pretty solid, at least in my experience. I used Grace Vycor on a deck rebuild maybe six years ago, right by the coast, and it’s held up way better than the old-school flashing tape ever did. The trick is making sure all your overlaps are tight and you don’t skimp on prep—clean, dry surfaces or it’ll peel. Nothing’s totally bulletproof with salt air, but it’s a big step up from just caulk and flashing. Stainless is non-negotiable for fasteners though... learned that lesson the hard way with rust stains everywhere.
Stainless fasteners are a must, totally agree—learned that one the hard way too, replacing corroded screws after just a couple years. Curious, though: have you noticed any issues with the membrane edges lifting over time, especially with all the humidity? I’ve had mixed results depending on the brand and how much sun exposure the deck gets. Also, when you’re budgeting for a beach house reno, do you factor in extra for these coastal upgrades, or just treat it as part of the standard maintenance? Sometimes feels like the “beach premium” never ends...
