You nailed it with the ocean air—my “eco-friendly” deck stain lasted about as long as a popsicle in July. Thought I was clever with recycled composite, but the salt just chewed it up.
- Labor’s a wild card, for sure. I once waited three weeks for a plumber who was “just finishing up down the street.” He never came.
- Hardware: stainless or bust. Anything else is just future landfill.
- Budget-wise, I always add a “coastal surprise” line item. It’s never enough, but it softens the blow when something inevitably rots, warps, or grows barnacles.
That “coastal surprise” line item is spot on—no matter how much you pad the budget, salt and humidity find a way to sneak in extra costs. I’ve seen folks regret skimping on flashing and waterproofing details, too. Curious if you’ve had any luck with alternative fasteners or hidden hardware, or does everything eventually surrender to the salt?
Curious if you’ve had any luck with alternative fasteners or hidden hardware, or does everything eventually surrender to the salt?
Honestly, even the so-called “marine grade” stainless stuff starts showing rust after a few seasons—especially if you’re within a block of the water. I’ve had better luck with coated screws (like GRK or ceramic-coated) for decking, but nothing’s totally immune. Hidden fasteners look great at first but can be a pain to replace when they inevitably corrode. Have you tried any of those composite trim boards? I’m wondering if they hold up better than fiber cement in salty air.
I’m wondering if they hold up better than fiber cement in salty air.
I hear you on the “marine grade” stuff—had my hopes up, but the rust creeps in anyway. I actually tried composite trim on a window surround last year. It’s holding up better than the old fiber cement, but the color’s fading a bit faster than I expected. Might just be the brand. Have you noticed if the composite swells or warps at all, especially after storms? I’m still debating if it’s worth the extra cost for the rest of the place.
I’ve noticed the same thing with composite—no swelling so far, but the color definitely doesn’t last as long as I hoped. It’s weird because I thought it’d be more “set it and forget it.” Maybe a UV-resistant paint or stain helps? The salty air just seems to find every weakness. Fiber cement was a pain with chipping, though, so I’m still leaning composite for trim, even if it means repainting sooner. Anyone tried PVC for this? Wondering if that’s worth the price jump.
