I’ve run into a few cases where the deck looked solid, but once I started probing with a meter, the readings were off the charts—especially near old plumbing penetrations. I still use the screwdriver for quick checks, but honestly, the meter’s caught stuff I’d have missed otherwise. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that high readings can sometimes just be surface moisture from condensation, not rot. It’s worth double-checking before tearing into things.
Had a similar thing happen last fall after a nasty hailstorm—deck looked fine at first glance, but the meter was lighting up like a Christmas tree around an old vent stack. I almost started pulling up boards, but after letting things dry out for a day, the readings dropped way down. Turned out it was just condensation from a cold snap the night before. That’s when I started carrying a cheap infrared thermometer too, just to see if there’s a temp difference that might point to trapped moisture versus surface stuff.
I still trust the old screwdriver for soft spots, but I’ve learned not to panic over every high reading. Curious if you’ve ever run into hidden damage that didn’t show up on the meter at all? Sometimes I feel like there’s always one spot that surprises me once the underlayment comes off...
Funny you mention that—last spring I had a spot right by the chimney that looked and felt solid, meter barely moved, but once we pulled the old felt off there was a patch of rot about the size of my hand. Must’ve been leaking for ages and just dried out on the surface. Now I always check seams and around any old flashing, even if the tools say it’s fine. Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut (and maybe your nose—wet wood has a smell).
- Gut feeling and sniff test are good, but I wouldn’t rely on them alone, especially after a big storm or if you’re dealing with older decks.
- Moisture meters can miss stuff, sure, but I’ve seen just as many folks tear up “suspicious” spots that turned out fine. Sometimes you end up chasing ghosts and wasting time (and money) on solid wood.
- Around chimneys and valleys, I always probe with an awl or screwdriver—if it sinks in, you’ve got rot. If not, move on. No need to rip up everything just because it looks a little off.
- Flashing is tricky. Even if it looks tight, water can sneak under. I usually pull up the first row of shingles around any suspect flashing and check the deck underneath. That’s caught more hidden rot for me than just sniffing around.
- One thing I’d add: check from the attic side too if you can. Stains or mold on the underside of the deck are dead giveaways, even if the top looks okay.
- End of the day, trust your tools, but don’t ignore what you see and feel. Just don’t go overboard tearing up good wood unless you’re sure.
I’ve definitely learned the hard way that looks can be deceiving, especially on older roofs. I always check from the attic when possible—caught a nasty patch of rot once that was totally hidden from above. Probing around chimneys has saved me a ton of headaches too. I still use a moisture meter, but yeah, it’s not gospel. Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut, but I agree, no sense in ripping up everything unless you’re sure there’s a problem.