Dear All,

I am trying to get to the bottom of the question of corrosion of fasteners in an unseasoned timber frame (oak) and the following years after the timber has dried in situ. Standard practice is to use stainless steel fastners where possible (nails, bolts & screws) in both structural and non structural situations. This is expensive and I would like to explore the use galvanised mild steel further. I have no doubts that the zinc coating protects the fastner in the short term but is this protective layer broken down quickly, ie before the timber has dried or is it likely to remain intact well into the buildings life (50-300 years)?
Your opinion and any further information would be very much appreciated, particularly any reference to research.

kind regards,

Cameron Scott