Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This weekend I repaired a deck that I built about 20 years ago. Had to replace a few planks. The deck sits over salt water but should only have rain water fall on it.
Back then I used 3-inch "Deckmate" brand of screw from Home Depot. In unscrewing the planks, I found that 100% of the screws have rusted, and 50% of the screws' neck area no longer has any strength; the head fell right off when I try to turn it. In close inspection they have become a rusty toothpick. By comparison, the green PT wood looks aged but is still absolutely strong.
Is this rate of deterioration for the screws expected? Since screws and PT wood board weaken at different pace (quite apparently), does a deck need an overall re-application of screws every so many years even if no sign of weakening?
This weekend I repaired a deck that I built about 20 years ago. Had to replace a few planks. The deck sits over salt water but should only have rain water fall on it.
Marine salt doesn't just exist in the water. It gets thrown around by chop and wave action, carried by wind and is also present in the soil and air. Rain/mist from Pacific storms coming onshore also deposit salt on the surface of the lumber where the metal fasteners pick it up. Anyone who lives along a marine coastline should be aware how much faster hardware and other materials tend to corrode there! Interesting factoid: marine salts have been detected in air samples over 50 miles inland.
Last edited by Parnassia; 09-05-2023 at 03:07 PM..
Marine salt doesn't just exist in the water. It gets thrown around by chop and wave action, carried by wind and is also present in the soil and air. Rain/mist from Pacific storms coming onshore also deposit salt on the surface of the lumber where the metal fasteners pick it up. Anyone who lives along a marine coastline should be aware how much faster hardware and other materials tend to corrode there! Interesting factoid: marine salts have been detected in air samples over 50 miles inland.
So if used in a truly salt free inland environment, is there a life expectancy for Deckmate screws? (Since HD carries them let's use these as example)
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,225,683 times
Reputation: 57825
It's most likely either your salt water, even if it's not sitting in it, or just lack of maintenance.
I have the same screws in my deck built in 1997, so that's now 26 years. This spring I replaced a few of the 5/4 Cedar boards that rotted on the ends, and the screws were in such good shape that I was able to reuse them. We get 55" of rain, but I have kept a tinted stain on my deck, re-doing it every 2-3 years. I just had to use an ice pick on some of them to get the stain out so the bit would grab.
Marine salt doesn't just exist in the water. It gets thrown around by chop and wave action, carried by wind and is also present in the soil and air. Rain/mist from Pacific storms coming onshore also deposit salt on the surface of the lumber where the metal fasteners pick it up. Anyone who lives along a marine coastline should be aware how much faster hardware and other materials tend to corrode there! Interesting factoid: marine salts have been detected in air samples over 50 miles inland.
Yes!
We go to the beach.
We park at the house.
The truck is 700+ feet from the water, behind the dunes, behind the house.
In no time, it is covered by salt from the air.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Marine salt doesn't just exist in the water. It gets thrown around by chop and wave action, carried by wind and is also present in the soil and air. Rain/mist from Pacific storms coming onshore also deposit salt on the surface of the lumber where the metal fasteners pick it up. Anyone who lives along a marine coastline should be aware how much faster hardware and other materials tend to corrode there! Interesting factoid: marine salts have been detected in air samples over 50 miles inland.
