Every couple months sounds diligent, but honestly, is tapping boards really enough? I've seen decks that passed the screwdriver test but still had hidden rot around the joists. Moisture can be sneaky—especially if your deck's shaded or near plants. I usually recommend clients crawl underneath at least once a year (yeah, spiders and all...) to check the framing closely. It's not fun, but better than finding out the hard way your deck's secretly plotting against you.
I get your point about crawling underneath, but realistically, how many homeowners are actually gonna do that regularly? Especially if you're not comfortable with tight spaces or bugs. Wouldn't it make more sense to invest in a decent moisture meter or something similar? Seems like a practical compromise—less hassle than crawling around, and probably more reliable than just tapping boards. Has anyone tried this approach, and did it actually help catch hidden issues early?
"Wouldn't it make more sense to invest in a decent moisture meter or something similar?"
That's actually a really smart idea—I mean, crawling under decks isn't exactly my favorite weekend activity either, haha. I picked up a moisture meter last spring after noticing some weird discoloration on my porch. It was surprisingly easy to use and did catch a spot that was starting to rot underneath. Saved me from a bigger headache down the road. Definitely worth trying out if you're hesitant about tight spaces and creepy crawlies...
Yeah, moisture meters are handy, but they're not foolproof. I've seen decks that looked fine on the surface but had structural issues deeper down. Moisture meters won't catch everything—like loose bolts or weakened supports. I usually do a quick visual check every spring and then use the meter to confirm suspicious spots. It's a good combo to stay ahead of problems without spending hours crawling around underneath...
That's a solid routine. Personally, I like to do two quick checks a year—once in spring and once again in late fall. Moisture meters are helpful for sure, but like you said, they won't catch loose hardware or structural shifts. I usually start by giving the railings a firm shake to see if anything feels loose. Then I walk slowly, feeling for soft spots or uneven boards underfoot. After that, I'll peek underneath with a flashlight to eyeball the joists, beams, and posts for any obvious rot or insect damage. Takes maybe 20 minutes tops.
One other thing that's easy to overlook is checking the ledger board where it attaches to your house. I've seen decks that looked great everywhere else but had hidden rot there because water was sneaking behind the flashing. It's worth an extra minute or two to make sure that area stays solid...
