Zinc staining – a costly mistake that is easy to avoid

Light-coloured and untreated wooden facades are becoming increasingly common. They are beautiful, but they also carry a certain aesthetic risk if you do not choose the right screw to fix the facade cladding. If you screw the facade cladding with a screw that is not corrosion-resistant, there is a risk that zinc deposits will appear around the nail or screw holes over time. These cause dark discolouration around the holes and can be really large and conspicuous.

Replacing a facade is expensive and time-consuming, so a discoloured facade is an unwanted and unfortunate outcome of a large investment. The discolouration is most pronounced on lighter and untreated wood species.

Tips on preventing zinc marks on wood cladding

• For installing cladding we recommend facade screws and cladding nails made of stainless steel A4 in corrosion resistance class C5. They have the highest corrosion resistance class and withstand the weather that acts on both the fasteners and the wood cladding.
• If, despite our recommendation, you do not choose acid-proof stainless steel, always paint the facade cladding with a water-repellent paint immediately after installation to minimise the risk of zinc staining on the wood.
  
  

The ESSVE range includes facade screws and cladding nails in stainless steel A4 in many versions. Both the facade screws and the cladding nails come in many colours, so the installation will look professional and discreet.