I’ve used moisture meters from the attic side a few times—definitely less invasive than pulling up shingles, but access is hit or miss, especially with low slopes or tight rafters. Sometimes you just can’t reach the problem area. IR scans helped me spot a leak above my kitchen, but I still had to open up a section to confirm. Nothing’s foolproof, but I’d rather poke around with a meter than start cutting blindly.
I get where you’re coming from with the meters and IR scans, but I’ve always wondered if we lean a bit too hard on gadgets sometimes. I mean, I’ve seen folks spend a ton on tech and still end up cutting into the roof anyway. For my place (low-slope, lots of trees), I started doing visual checks from the outside after storms—especially around flashing and seams. It’s not high-tech, but it’s caught a few issues early, like moss creeping under the edge or a popped nail.
I’m also a big fan of green roofs, so I’ve got an extra layer to deal with. Honestly, sometimes just getting up there and poking around (carefully) tells me more than any meter. Not saying skip the tools—they’re super helpful—but sometimes old-school works too. Just depends on your setup and what you’re comfortable with, I guess.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen some folks whip out every gadget under the sun—moisture meters, IR cameras, drones—and still miss a spot where water was sneaking in. Meanwhile, my uncle (old-school as they come) just runs his hand along the seams and somehow finds every soft patch. Maybe it’s a sixth sense you get after enough years on ladders.
I’m with you on visual checks, especially after storms. Where I’m at (Pacific Northwest), moss is a nightmare. If I waited for a fancy scan to tell me there’s a problem, I’d probably have a tree growing up there by now. Not hating on the tech—some of it’s saved my butt on flat roofs that hide leaks way too well—but sometimes just poking around with a flashlight does the trick.
I guess it’s like cooking: gadgets can help, but you still gotta taste the soup yourself.
I’m with you on visual checks, especially after storms. Where I’m at (Pacific Northwest), moss is a nightmare. If I waited for a fancy scan to tell me there’s a problem, I’d probably have a tree growing up there by now.
Yeah, moss is relentless up here. I’ve got a low-slope roof and it’s like a magnet for the stuff—if I don’t get up there every couple months, it starts looking like a chia pet. I’ve tried the zinc strips and they help a bit, but honestly, nothing beats just scraping it off and checking for soft spots while I’m at it.
I do like some of the gadgets, though. Picked up a cheap moisture meter last year and it actually caught a little leak around my chimney flashing before it turned into a real headache. But you’re right, it’s easy to get caught up in the tech and forget the basics. I still trust my eyes and hands more than anything else.
Funny thing, my neighbor spent a fortune on a drone inspection and they still missed a cracked vent boot. Sometimes it’s just about getting up there and poking around.
I hear you on the zinc strips—they slowed things down a bit for me, but didn’t stop the moss entirely. My place is shaded most of the day, so it’s a constant battle. I’ve wondered if anyone’s had luck with those moss-killing sprays? I’m always a little skeptical about what they might do to the gutters or plants below. And yeah, tech is cool, but I’ve found more issues just by feeling around for spongy spots than any gadget has caught so far. Sometimes old-school works best.