Sometimes I’ll even poke around with a screwdriver if I’m not convinced by the gadgets.
I get the urge to double-check, but honestly, I’d be careful with the screwdriver method—especially on older roofs or near known weak spots. You can cause more harm than good if you’re not careful. Personally, I lean on a combination of thermal, moisture meter, and visual inspection. Sometimes those “false positives” from thermal actually lead me to issues I wouldn’t have spotted otherwise, like hidden air leaks or even pest activity. It’s not perfect, but when you layer the tools, you get a much clearer picture.
Sometimes those “false positives” from thermal actually lead me to issues I wouldn’t have spotted otherwise, like hidden air leaks or even pest activity.
That’s spot on. Layering tools really does give you a better shot at catching the weird stuff. I’ve had thermal pick up spots where insulation was missing—never would’ve found it just poking around. The gadgets aren’t perfect, but they’re worth it.
Couldn’t agree more about the value of those “false positives.” I’ve had thermal imaging flag stuff that looked like a glitch, but when I checked it out, it turned out to be a spot where water was creeping in behind a gutter. Would’ve missed it for sure if I’d just relied on the naked eye.
Honestly, I think people get too hung up on the idea that every tool has to be perfect. In reality, it’s about stacking the odds in your favor. Thermal, moisture meters, even just a flashlight and a good nose for musty smells—they all catch different things. I’m a big fan of using whatever tech you can get your hands on, especially if you’re dealing with older roofs or anything with a lot of layers (flat roofs are notorious for hiding problems).
And yeah, sometimes you chase a “ghost” and it’s nothing, but I’d rather have a few wild goose chases than miss a leak that turns into mold.
In reality, it’s about stacking the odds in your favor. Thermal, moisture meters, even just a flashlight and a good nose for musty smells—they all catch different things.
That’s exactly it. I used to think if a tool wasn’t 100% accurate, it wasn’t worth the hassle, but after seeing how much stuff gets missed with just a visual check, I’ve changed my tune. Last week I was helping out on a flat roof job—old modified bitumen, lots of patchwork over the years—and the thermal cam picked up a weird cold spot near the parapet. Looked like nothing at first glance, but when we peeled back the top layer there was wet insulation underneath. Would’ve never caught it with just a moisture meter or by poking around.
I get why people get frustrated chasing “ghosts,” but like you said, I’d rather double-check something that turns out fine than let a hidden leak fester. Especially with older roofs or anything that’s been layered over a few times... you just can’t see everything from the surface. Sometimes you gotta trust the tech and your gut at the same time.
I hear you on the “ghost chasing”—I used to roll my eyes at all the gadgets, but after living under a 30-year-old roof with more layers than my grandma’s lasagna, I’m a convert. My last leak hid out for months, right above the kitchen, and it took a thermal scan to finally spot it. I still trust my nose for that musty smell, but these days, if a tool helps me avoid another surprise waterfall in the pantry, I’m all for it. Sometimes the tech finds stuff you’d never even guess was there... even if it does make me feel like I’m on an episode of CSI: Roof Edition.
