I get where you’re coming from with the metal mesh—plastic guards are basically a squirrel buffet in my experience too. But, I’d actually push back a bit on relying too heavily on the “sniff test” for attic checks. I’ve managed a few older properties where insulation or even stored boxes masked musty smells until things were already pretty far gone. Instead, I usually do a quick touch test on rafters and around vents after storms—if anything feels damp or soft, that’s an early red flag.
I also like to run a small fan in the attic for an hour after heavy rain, just to see if moisture beads up anywhere it shouldn’t. It’s not foolproof, but sometimes you’ll spot condensation on metal fasteners or near vent openings before any odor shows up. It’s one of those things where a combo of senses and simple hands-on checks can save some headaches down the road.
Curious if anyone else has found certain types of attic insulation make it harder (or easier) to catch issues early? Some of that old blown-in stuff seems to hide problems way too well...
That’s interesting—personally, I’m a bit skeptical about relying on touch tests alone, especially after a storm. In my experience, by the time you feel dampness or softness, you might already have hidden rot or mold brewing under the surface, especially with that old cellulose blown-in insulation. I’ve seen cases where everything felt dry up top, but pulling back the insulation revealed soaked decking underneath. Sometimes, I think a moisture meter is worth the investment, even if it feels a bit overkill. It’s saved me from some nasty surprises more than once.
Sometimes, I think a moisture meter is worth the investment, even if it feels a bit overkill. It’s saved me from some nasty surprises more than once.
Yeah, I get what you mean about touch tests not cutting it, especially with that old cellulose stuff. I used to just poke around and hope for the best, but after finding a patch of decking that looked like a wet sponge (and smelled worse), I caved and got a cheap moisture meter. Not fancy, but it’s caught a couple spots I’d have missed. Honestly, it’s less “overkill” and more “cheap insurance” at this point.
I used to think I could just eyeball it too, but after tearing into a roof and finding rot that looked fine from below, I changed my tune. Moisture meters aren’t perfect, but they’re way better than guessing. Especially with older insulation—sometimes it hides more than it helps.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled up a section of what looked like perfectly good decking, only to find the insulation underneath was basically a sponge. I used to be skeptical about moisture meters too, but after one nasty surprise in a 1960s ranch, I started packing mine every time. The old fiberglass batts had soaked up years of condensation—no visible clues from below at all. It’s wild how much trouble can hide behind that fluffy stuff, especially if you’re dealing with older homes where airflow was kind of an afterthought. I still trust my gut, but the meter’s saved me from a few headaches.
