Buildex® roof and cladding fasteners and the Climaseal® coating process has been proven to stand the test of time in Australia’s harsh marine environment, providing superior corrosion protection. Buildex® pioneered the use of real world outdoor exposure testing for coatings development in 1994 and has continually developed and improved the performance of its coatings, providing superior corrosion protection.
Don’t Put Your Roof at Risk with Inferior Fasteners
Fasteners are a small part of the costs of the roof construction (around 2%). Choosing the wrong fastener can cause the whole roof structure to fail. These failures are usually caused by the harmful effects of corrosion.
Why corrosion resistant fasteners are important in Australia
To protect Australian homes and builds against the harmful effects of corrosion, it’s essential to use a fastener with a trade-grade protective coating designed to hold up to Australia’s strong UV and coastal conditions.
Corrosion resistant screws are commonly used for outdoor applications such as decking, roofing, and cladding to help keep your fixings strong, and your structures sound for years to come, with less risk of cracking, chipping, or unsightly rust.
While fasteners may be one of the smallest costs in an outdoor project, investing in a screw with a quality finish can prevent costly repairs, structural issues, water ingress, and corrosion that compromises both performance and appearance.
What corrosion resistant fasteners should be used in Australia?
Strong corrosion protection matters where they are exposed to all types of harsh Australian weather, tough site conditions and even chemically treated materials that can accelerate wear and tear. Skimping on quality can lead to big headaches, so using a more durable and long-lasting fastener coating with high corrosion resistance will save you in the long run.
The Buildex range offer proven coatings such as Climaseal®, Climacoat® and Climashield® that have been tested against real Australian conditions to extend the lifespan of your fasteners where it matters most.
Environmental factors to consider when choosing your fastener
Depending on the severity of the climate and the level of exposure your fastener will face in outdoor environments, it is important to ensure the coating can withstand various elements that come in its way. These outdoor conditions include:
- Light industrial urban conditions (Category 2) where there is some exposure to low-level corrosive conditions, such as airborne pollutants and occasional moisture.
- Mild and moderate environmental exposure (Category 3) where some outdoor applications like patios, boardwalks, pergolas, furniture and fencing can be subjected to gradual corrosion over time.
- Severe marine conditions (Category 4) where exposure to humidity, salty coastal air and poolside areas can affect the finish of your fastener. This is especially relevant for most outdoor building applications, including roofing and cladding that are between 400m and 1km from the ocean.
- Very severe marine conditions (Category 5) where extremely harsh environments with high salt, moisture or chemical exposure is common and a superior fastener coating is required for maximum corrosion protection. This can include coastal residential homes, offshore structures, coastal power plants and heavy industrial sites that are up to 400m from the ocean.
Selecting the Right Fastener Corrosion Protection for your Environment
Some things aren’t worth cutting corners on, and that includes the fastener coating and material type for your screws. The Buildex® Warranty outlines the performance expectations of Climaseal® corrosion coatings for particular corrosive environments.
Here’s a simple comparison to help choose the right Buildex® screw coating for your decking, roofing and cladding fasteners:
| Fastener Coating Type | Level of protection | Application uses |
|---|---|---|
| Buildex Climaseal® 5 | Superior corrosion performance. Double corrosion resistance of Climaseal® 4. Climaseal® 5 fasteners are suitable for use in Category 5, 4 and 3 corrosive environments as described in ISO 9223-2012 and AS4312-2008. | Use in extremely harsh environments such as industrial areas and coastal areas with high salt concentrations. This is an ideal marine-grade coating for long-lasting protection of roofing and cladding fixtures. |
| Buildex Climaseal® 4 | High corrosion protection. Climaseal® 4 fasteners are suitable for use in Category 4 and 3 corrosive environments as described in ISO 9223-2012 and AS4312-2008. | Use in environments with high humidity and moderate chemical or salt exposure. This is an ideal coating when fixing metal roofing, cladding, pool-side decking projects, fencing and pergolas. |
| Buildex Climaseal® 3 | Reliable corrosion resistance against mild to moderate corrosion. Resists light chemical exposure and moisture. Climaseal® 3 fasteners are suitable for use in Category 3 corrosive environments as described in ISO 9223-2012 and AS4312-2008. | Suitable for general outdoor applications such as fencing, pergolas, and light structural fixings that are between 1km and 50km from the ocean. |
| Stainless Steel 304 Grade | Good resistance against corrosion and rusting in non-aggressive environments. It is best suited for inland, dry, and bayside suburbs. It also provides strong corrosion resistance necessary for timbers with high tannin content. | Commonly used for general timber projects such as decking boards and joist fixings that require a lasting flush finish. |
| Stainless Steel 316 Grade | Strong resistance to saltwater corrosion. Stainless Steel 316 is a marine-grade material that provides superior corrosion resistance for timber projects. | Commonly used for outdoor projects in harsh and demanding environments such as spray-exposed coastal installations and poolside areas. |
| Climacoat® | Designed specifically to resist highly corrosive chemicals in typical timber treatments, such as ACQ. | Timber projects with treated pine and hardwoods, such as decking. |
Best corrosion resistant screws for outdoor projects
The unique Climaseal® coat on Buildex fasteners have been proven in building applications and in Australia's demanding marine and high UV environments. For areas exposed to extremely high corrosivity, Buildex Climaseal® 5 coatings are recommended. This is the highest level of corrosion protection, designed for extremely severe environments with high salt, moisture, or chemical exposure. Climaseal® 4 is still suitable in high corrosivity environments where strong protection is required, such as metal roofing, industrial areas and swimming pools.
For strong, weather-resistant roofs and cladding, both coatings hold high levels of corrosion protection against rust and harsh outdoor elements. This ensures a long-lasting fixing solution for metal roofing on Australian homes.
Fasteners for Stainless Steel and Aluminium Sheeting
Stainless steel and aluminium sheeting are used in highly corrosive environments. For this roof sheeting, Buildex® Stainless Steel Fasteners are recommended.
Stainless Steel fasteners are not suitable for COLORBOND® or Zincalume®. Using Stainless steel screws on this type of roofing will cause the roof to corrode.
Buildex® roof and cladding fasteners and the Climaseal® coating process has been proven to stand the test of time in Australia’s harsh marine environment, providing superior corrosion protection. Click here for more information on Buildex® Guaranteed Corrosion Protection.