Sometimes a thorough visual check and moisture meter gets you 90% there, without the extra expense.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen leaks hiding in the weirdest spots—stuff no moisture meter or eyeball could catch. One time, thermal picked up a slow drip that hadn’t even stained the drywall yet. Sure, it’s not perfect (and yeah, old houses throw it off sometimes), but after a hurricane? I’d rather have one more tool in the belt than risk missing something sneaky. Guess it depends on how much sleep you want to lose thinking about what’s above your head...
I’d rather have one more tool in the belt than risk missing something sneaky.
I totally get that. After our last big storm, I did the usual attic check and ran a moisture meter along the ceiling, but I still kept wondering if I missed something. Ended up borrowing a thermal camera from a buddy—found a cold spot behind a wall that turned out to be a tiny drip from a nail pop. If you can get your hands on one, even just once after a hurricane, it’s worth the peace of mind. Sometimes the “extra” step saves you from a way bigger headache later.
- Totally get the “toolbelt paranoia”—sometimes it’s just not enough to eyeball it.
- I’ve seen folks miss leaks for months, then a $10k ceiling job later... wish they’d used a thermal cam.
- Borrowing gear is smart. Those cold spots can hide all sorts of mischief.
- Peace of mind’s worth a lot, especially after your roof just survived a hurricane. Luck’s fine, but I’d rather not roll those dice twice.
I get the urge to go all-out with gear, but honestly, after our first big storm, I just did a slow walk around with a flashlight and a notepad. Maybe not high-tech, but I actually caught a loose shingle that way. Sometimes the basics still work, especially if you’re not super handy with gadgets.
Sometimes the basics still work, especially if you’re not super handy with gadgets.
Totally get this. I used to think I needed every tool under the sun, but honestly, after a gnarly windstorm last year, I just grabbed my old camping headlamp and did a slow lap around the house. Ended up finding a chunk of moss hiding a cracked tile—nothing fancy, just paying attention. I’m all for green roofs and new tech, but sometimes it’s more about being thorough than having the latest gear.
Funny thing is, my neighbor went all-in with a drone and thermal camera setup. He caught a couple spots I missed, but he also spent half the afternoon trying to get the drone out of a tree... Sometimes low-tech wins, especially when you’re just looking for obvious stuff like loose shingles or clogged gutters.
I do think luck plays a part, but I’d rather rely on regular checks than hope for the best. Even a quick walkaround can make a difference, especially if you know your roof’s trouble spots.