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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Will aluminum rods with a dull chrome finish handle exterior weathering?

I've purchased 1-5/16" diameter aluminum rods that are extruded and anodized with a dull chrome finish. I'm wanting to use these rods for railings for a new deck. Will these rods handle the weather? I'll be spending about $500 dollars so I want to make sure they won't rust and discolor. If they do weather, is there anything inexpensive that I can prep them with so I have no issues?

Thank you,

Steve Molloy
homeowner - Kansas City, Missouri, USA
2004

2004

They certainly won't rust because aluminum contains no iron, and can't rust. Architectural anodizing is usually thicker than the anodizing on these decorative items, but they may be alright in a non-salty area like Kansas City if the house is wood or aluminum sided (masonry runoff is really hard on aluminum). But nobody can promise, especially sight unseen.

I wouldn't put anything on top of anodized aluminum, just leave them as is.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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