Friday 25th Jul 2025
We all know the risk of rust throughout the winter, but did you know that heat can cause your fasteners to corrode in the summer too?
Heat and humidity create the perfect environment for corrosion to thrive - moisture in the air combines with heat, which accelerates oxidation in unprotected metals. Due to this, summer is marked as high-risk when it comes to fastener failure, particularly in exposed or poorly ventilated environments.
In our news article, we will guide you through heat-caused fastener corrosion, and how you can protect your projects!
Why Do Summer Conditions Matter?
When the sun makes an appearance, heat and humidity aren’t far behind. These two factors are the perfect mix to create thriving corrosion.
When moisture and heat combine, oxidation is accelerated, especially in unprotected metals. The surface of a fastener will react and begin to form iron oxide – better known as rust. This corrosion will weaken the fastener and cause flaking, pitting, or total failure over time.
Does This Affect My Facility?
Corrosion is most problematic in industries with outdoor exposure or fluctuating temperatures. The most common examples include marine equipment, outdoor furniture, HVAC units, agricultural machinery, and summer construction projects.
To see if it’s affecting your project, look out for these signs:
Discolouration – Often reddish, brown, or black on the fastener surface
Flaking – Detachment or peeling of the surface material
Spiking – Formation of sharp, localised protrusions
Pitting – Small, deep holes on the surface
What Should I Do?
Consider what material is best for resisting fastener corrosion.
One option is stainless steel. The chromium content of stainless steel means it forms a protective layer on the surface. This saves your fasteners from any further oxidation and corrosion, even at elevated temperatures.
On the other hand, zinc plating provides corrosion resistance by acting as both a protective barrier and a sacrificial layer over fasteners. Therefore, when exposed to moisture and oxygen, the zinc corrodes instead of the underlying steel, thereby delaying rust formation. This, in-turn makes it a cost-effective choice for indoor or mildly corrosive environments.
How Can Clevedon Fasteners Help You?
At Clevedon Fasteners, we understand the challenges that heat, humidity and environmental exposure pose to fasteners – especially during the summer months. That is why our product range includes corrosion-resistant options designed to perform reliably in demanding conditions.
We have the right solutions to help safeguard your assemblies and reduce the risk of corrosion-related failure. To learn more, visit our
product page today!