Not saying skip the meter, but don’t trust it alone. Sometimes your eyes and a flashlight beat any gadget, especially with these unpredictable Midwest seasons...
- I get what you’re saying about visual checks, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite problem a couple times—missed leaks that only showed up with my (admittedly mid-range) moisture meter.
- Visual inspections are great for catching obvious stuff like pulled flashing or missing shingles. But water can travel in weird ways under metal roofs, especially after a wind-driven rain. Sometimes there’s zero visible sign until insulation’s already soaked.
- Maybe it’s just my luck, but last March I caught a slow drip inside the attic that was totally invisible from outside. Meter picked it up before anything stained the drywall.
- Not saying meters are perfect—cheap ones definitely give weird readings in cold weather—but if you calibrate or use one that does both pin/pinless modes, you can catch stuff early.
- For me, it’s more about using everything together: quick outside look, then spot checks inside with the meter around trouble spots (chimney, valleys, etc). Layering tools seems to cover more bases.
Curious if anyone else has found certain brands of meters way more reliable? Mine’s a Protimeter, not cheap but saved my bacon twice now...
For me, it’s more about using everything together: quick outside look, then spot checks inside with the meter around trouble spots (chimney, valleys, etc). Layering tools seems to cover more bases.
That’s been my experience too—no single method catches everything. I’ve had leaks show up months after a “clean” visual check, and the meter was the only thing that tipped me off. Midwest weather is brutal on roofs, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles. Protimeter’s a solid choice—pricey, but honestly worth it if you’re managing multiple properties or just want peace of mind.
I’m with you on the Midwest weather—my roof’s taken a beating from all that freeze/thaw too. I’ve found even with regular checks, something always slips through. Ever tried using thermal imaging along with the meter? I borrowed one once and it actually picked up a cold spot near my skylight that I’d totally missed. Curious if anyone’s had luck with more eco-friendly sealants for those trouble spots... I’m always looking for greener fixes, but sometimes they just don’t hold up as well in these temps.
Thermal imaging’s a game changer, right? I borrowed one from a buddy last winter and found a drafty spot behind my chimney that I’d never have noticed otherwise. As for eco-friendly sealants, I’ve tried a soy-based one on a couple seams—worked okay in fall, but by February it started cracking. Maybe it’s just our wild temp swings here. Has anyone had better luck with those newer hybrid sealants that claim to be both green and flexible? I’m tempted, but not sure if they’re worth the extra cost.
Hybrid sealants are interesting, but I’m a bit skeptical about their claims in extreme climates. I’ve seen a few of the “green and flexible” types hold up okay on south-facing seams, but around chimneys or valleys—especially where temps swing hard—they can still crack or pull away after a tough winter. Honestly, I’ve had better luck with high-quality polyurethane or modified silicone, even if they aren’t as eco-labeled. If you’re sealing metal edging, surface prep is just as important. Clean, dry, and primed goes a long way, no matter what sealant you use.
