I hear you on wanting to just tear into anything that looks sketchy—sometimes it’s tempting, especially when you’ve seen rot sneak up before. I’m a bit old school, so I still poke around with a screwdriver and check for soft spots, but I’ve seen those thermal cameras in action and they do catch stuff you’d miss by eye. Still, I don’t totally trust tech alone... sometimes it’s just weird grain or staining, not actual damage. If it feels solid underfoot and passes the “poke test,” I usually leave it. No sense making more work unless you have to.
If it feels solid underfoot and passes the “poke test,” I usually leave it. No sense making more work unless you have to.
That’s pretty much my approach too. I’ll use a screwdriver or even just the heel of my hand—if it gives, it’s coming out, but if it’s solid, I don’t see the point in ripping up good wood. I’ve had a few times where the grain looked off or there was some old staining, but it turned out to be nothing once I checked underneath. Those thermal cameras are neat, but I’ve seen them flag spots that ended up being totally fine.
One thing I do is check the fasteners—if nails are rusted out or pulling up, that’s a red flag even if the wood seems okay. Also, I always look around any old vent holes or plumbing cutouts. Water loves to sneak in there and rot can hide under the flange. If I’m on the fence, I’ll drill a small hole and see what comes out—sometimes you get dry sawdust, sometimes it’s mush.
At the end of the day, I’d rather patch a small spot later than tear up half the deck for no reason.
I’m with you on not tearing up more than you have to—my wallet definitely appreciates it. I’ve had a couple of spots where the wood looked sketchy but was totally fine after a quick check, and I’d rather not spend extra on new plywood if I don’t need to. That said, I always get a little nervous about stuff hiding under old vinyl or tile, especially in bathrooms. Sometimes it feels solid but there’s just enough give that I start second-guessing myself.
Curious if anyone’s ever regretted leaving questionable spots? Like, has anyone patched over something that seemed okay and then had issues down the line? I’ve heard stories about soft spots showing up months later, but I haven’t run into that yet (knock on wood). Also, for those who patch instead of replacing whole sheets—do you bother with any kind of sealer or just screw down the patch and move on?
I’m also wondering about fasteners. I usually just replace any rusty nails with screws as I go, but is there a better way to make sure everything stays tight long-term? Especially in high-traffic areas like hallways or kitchens. My last project, I thought I did a decent job, but now there’s a faint squeak near the fridge that’s driving me nuts.
Anyway, just trying to find that balance between saving money and not having to redo things later.
I’ve definitely been burned by trusting my gut on questionable subfloor spots, especially in bathrooms. Once patched over a spot that seemed “fine” and sure enough, it got spongy about six months later—had to rip up everything and redo it. Now I’m a bit more ruthless if there’s any hint of softness or water staining. If I’m patching, I always seal the edges with wood hardener or primer, just in case. For fasteners, screws are my go-to, but I use construction adhesive too—cuts down on squeaks a lot. Those little noises can drive you nuts after all the work’s done.
If I’m patching, I always seal the edges with wood hardener or primer, just in case.
I’ve done the same, but sometimes I wonder if it’s overkill for spots that don’t show any staining or softness. Do you ever pull up whole sheets if there’s just a little bit of give, or do you try to reinforce from below? I’ve had mixed luck sistering joists when there’s minor flex.