That pencil trick is pretty clever—simple and effective. I've done something similar before, but instead of a paper towel, I taped a small piece of aluminum foil under the stain. Water droplets show up clearly on foil, and it doesn't soak through or tear. Honestly though, leaks can be tricky... sometimes they're sneaky and travel along beams before dripping down. Good luck tracking yours down, sounds like you're on the right track.
- Foil's a neat idea, but I've found it can sometimes hide smaller drips if they evaporate quickly.
- Personally, chalk works better for me—it clearly shows fresh moisture and dries out fast.
- And yeah, leaks traveling along beams... been there, total headache.
"Personally, chalk works better for me—it clearly shows fresh moisture and dries out fast."
Chalk is definitely a reliable method, especially for pinpointing subtle moisture patterns. However, I've also had decent results with moisture meters—particularly the pinless variety. They can detect moisture levels beneath the surface without damaging finishes, which can be helpful when dealing with subtle leaks or water traveling along beams. Still, they're not foolproof... ever had issues with false positives from metal fasteners or hidden wiring? Curious if anyone else has run into that snag.
I've had those false positives too, especially around metal flashing or nails. Drove me crazy chasing phantom leaks until I realized what was happening. Chalk's simpler, but meters still save time if you know their quirks.
Yeah, those metal bits can really mess with moisture meters sometimes. I remember spending an entire afternoon convinced I had a fresh leak behind some drywall—turns out it was just old nails causing weird readings. Felt pretty silly afterward, haha.
I've mostly switched to chalk myself, but I still keep the meter around for tricky spots. One thing I've noticed is that old water stains can sometimes reactivate slightly in humid weather, making them look fresher than they are. Ever run into that? Makes me second-guess everything...
