Just got a roof inspection PDF that's straight outta sci-fi

Those thermal scans always look like something out of a Marvel movie, but I’ve learned not to trust them blindly. Had one light up a whole corner of my roof last summer - turned out my neighbor’s grill had been cranking away all afternoon and the heat just drifted over. I still end up crawling around with a flashlight every time there’s a big storm. The tech’s handy, but it’s not catching everything, and yeah, the prices are creeping up. I’d rather spend that money fixing something I can actually see.

- Thermal scans can be thrown off by stuff like grills, but they’re still way better at finding hidden leaks than just eyeballing it, especially under green roofs or heavy insulation.
- Manual checks with a flashlight are good, but I’ve missed slow leaks that only show up in the scan - had a patch of mold in the sheathing last year that would’ve cost way more if I’d waited to see it.
- Yeah, prices are up, but the tech’s catching up too. Some scans now filter out ambient heat sources, so grill mishaps don’t mess with the results as much.
- I’d rather pay for a scan every couple years than rip up a section of living roof just to check for moisture... those repairs aren’t cheap.

I’m with you on the scan vs. demo debate - tearing up a living roof just to “check” feels like burning money. That said, I’ve had a scan miss a tiny drip near a vent once, so I still poke around in person now and then. Maybe I’m just paranoid after that insurance claim last winter… but yeah, tech’s getting better every year.

I’ve had a scan miss a tiny drip near a vent once, so I still poke around in person now and then.

Same here - those scans look cool on paper, but I still trust my own eyes (and nose) for weird damp spots. My routine: scan first, then check vents and edges by hand, especially after a storm. Not super high-tech, but it’s caught stuff the PDF missed... and saved me from another soggy insulation fiasco.

my routine: scan first, then check vents and edges by hand, especially after a storm.

That’s pretty much my process too - tech’s great, but nothing beats getting up there and poking around, especially near the flashing. Ever tried using a moisture meter along the seams? I’ve found it picks up stuff my nose misses, especially with green roofs where things stay damp longer. Curious if you’ve had any luck with that, or if you just go by feel?