Yeah, moisture's sneaky like that. Last year, I was repainting our deck railing and figured I'd give everything a quick once-over. Glad I did—found a loose support beam hidden behind some shrubs. Wasn't obvious at all, but could've been trouble down the road. Now I'm thinking twice a year sounds about right too...maybe even after big storms. Better safe than sorry, right?
"Glad I did—found a loose support beam hidden behind some shrubs. Wasn't obvious at all, but could've been trouble down the road."
That's exactly the sort of hidden issue I'm worried about with our deck too. We moved into our place last summer, and since it's our first home, I'm trying to be extra cautious about maintenance. I initially thought checking it once a year would be fine, but after reading your experience, twice a year does seem more reasonable. Especially since we get some pretty intense weather here—heavy rain, wind, you name it.
I recently did my first inspection and found a couple of boards that looked totally fine on top but were starting to rot underneath. Sneaky moisture, indeed. It's easy to overlook things when you're new to this kind of upkeep; I almost didn't even bother checking underneath until my father-in-law suggested it. Good thing he did. Now I make a point of crawling under there every few months just to be safe.
Anyway, sounds like you're doing the smart thing by upping your checks. Better a small inconvenience now than a bigger headache later. Thanks for sharing your experience—it helps hearing from others who've caught stuff early.
"Sneaky moisture, indeed. It's easy to overlook things when you're new to this kind of upkeep..."
Couldn't agree more—moisture damage is notoriously tricky. A few things I've learned from experience:
- Check after major storms, not just on a fixed schedule.
- Pay special attention to joints and fasteners; corrosion or rust there can be subtle but serious.
- Don't underestimate vegetation growth—plants near decks trap moisture and hide problems.
Caught a cracked joist last year that way... would've missed it otherwise. Glad you're staying proactive.
"Don't underestimate vegetation growth—plants near decks trap moisture and hide problems."
This is spot-on advice. I learned the hard way when ivy decided my deck was its new best friend. Thought it looked charming at first, until I realized it was hiding a rotting support beam... charming indeed. Ended up costing me more than I'd like to admit to fix it all.
One thing I've wondered about, though, is how often people actually inspect underneath their decks? I mean, it's easy enough to glance over the top and sides, but crawling underneath isn't exactly my idea of a fun weekend activity. Do you guys make it a regular habit, or just check under there when something seems off? Curious if I'm alone in my reluctance to squeeze into spider territory...
I totally get the spider territory hesitation, but honestly, I've found that regular crawling under the deck isn't always necessary. My house is over a century old, so I've learned a thing or two about spotting trouble without getting too close to creepy crawlies. Usually, just a solid visual check from the edges, combined with stepping on boards to feel for any give or bounce, can clue you in to potential issues.
Also, I've found that keeping plants trimmed back and ensuring good airflow underneath makes a huge difference. My deck had some lilacs planted close by when I moved in—beautiful in spring, but they were definitely trapping moisture. After moving them back a bit, the area underneath stays much drier and cleaner, meaning fewer inspections overall. Sometimes prevention beats regular inspections...especially if it means fewer run-ins with spiders.
