If a closet hinge gets crusty, I just call it “patina” and move on.
That’s pretty much my approach too—inside, I’ll let things get a little “vintage” before I bother replacing them. Outside, though, it’s a different story. Deck railings and exterior door hardware seem to eat up most of the budget every year. I’ve tried a couple of those so-called miracle sprays on some gate latches, but honestly, after one season they looked about the same as the untreated ones. At this point, I just factor in a yearly refresh for anything metal that faces the salt air. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps things safe and functional.
I hear you on the exterior hardware—salt air is brutal. I tried saving a few bucks by using “weather-resistant” hinges and latches, but even those started rusting after one winter. Ended up swapping them for stainless steel, which wasn’t cheap, but at least I’m not replacing them every year now. If I had to do it over, I’d budget extra for anything metal outside, especially near the coast. The little stuff adds up fast.
Stainless is definitely the way to go, even if it stings a bit at checkout. I learned the hard way with galvanized stuff—looked fine for a year, then suddenly everything was pitted and orange. Now I just factor in the higher cost up front for anything exposed. Curious, have you found any brands or suppliers that hold up better than others? I’ve had mixed luck with the big box stores versus marine supply shops.
Stainless is pricey, but man, it’s saved me so many headaches. I once did a deck railing with “coastal rated” galvanized hardware—looked great for about eight months, then one storm later and it was like a science experiment gone wrong. Lesson learned. Now I just bite the bullet and go stainless, especially anywhere near salt air.
As for brands, I’ve actually had better luck with the marine supply shops than the big box stores. The stuff at the chain stores sometimes looks identical, but I swear it doesn’t hold up as well. Maybe it’s the grade? I try to stick with 316 stainless if I can find it, even though it costs more. There’s a local marine place here that carries Blue Wave hardware—pricey, but after three years, zero rust. Not sure if it’s overkill for every project, but for anything exposed, I’d rather not redo it in a year.
Funny thing is, sometimes the “budget” option ends up costing more in the long run. Learned that the hard way...
Funny thing is, sometimes the “budget” option ends up costing more in the long run. Learned that the hard way...
Couldn’t agree more. I tried to save a few bucks on “weather-resistant” fasteners for porch repairs—regretted it within a year. The corrosion was unreal, and I had to rip out half my work. Stainless 316 is my go-to now, even if it stings at checkout. Especially with old houses, you just can’t cut corners near the coast. The upfront cost hurts less than redoing everything later.
