ᐅ Issues with stainless steel V2A? Any experiences?

Hello everyone,
I’m currently getting quotes for French balconies and balcony railings. One metalworker offered me a price for V2A stainless steel with a brushed finish, while another said that the quality (alloy?) of V2A has declined significantly and that it’s definitely better to use V4A.
I asked the first metalworker if V2A is really durable and rust-resistant, and he said they have had positive experience with this material for over 20 years.
Have you also heard of problems with V2A or can you understand these concerns?
I’m a bit frustrated, especially since V4A makes a big difference in price.
Thanks a lot for your feedback!

V2A stainless steel can actually rust (e.g., contact rust, flash rust). However, with proper installation, this is not an issue. I would not use V4A.

V2A is, for example, 1.4301 and is suitable for standard outdoor use. In coastal areas or industrial environments, I would recommend using a higher-grade material. It is important during processing to strictly separate the work areas for regular steel and stainless steel and to use dedicated tools for each.

Thanks for your tips!

By the sea and on the ship, grade 4a is needed; inland, grade 2a is sufficient. Polished surfaces are more resistant to rust than matte finishes. If rust does appear, just use Unipol and a cloth—it’s that simple.

The terms V2a and V4a refer to different alloys. Therefore, V2a is not always the same as V2a.