how often do you actually check your deck for safety?

Yeah, once a year usually covers it, but do you ever check the finish or paint too? I've noticed even minor peeling or fading can hint at moisture issues lurking underneath - worth a quick glance while you're at it.

Good point about the paint and finish - I've definitely overlooked that before. Last year, I noticed some minor peeling on mine and thought it was just cosmetic wear. Turned out there was moisture trapped underneath, and it had started to rot the wood slightly. Thankfully, caught it early enough to avoid major repairs. Do you usually just eyeball it, or do you have a specific method for checking moisture levels? I've heard some people use moisture meters, but I'm not sure if that's overkill for a typical deck inspection...

I've used moisture meters before, and honestly, they're not as overkill as you'd think. Eyeballing works fine for obvious stuff, but moisture can hide pretty deep. A quick meter check once or twice a year can save you from bigger headaches down the road...just my two cents.

I get the moisture meter thing, but honestly, I've found that just giving the deck a good once-over every spring works pretty well for me. Had a client last year who swore by his meter, checked religiously twice a year, and still missed some rot underneath the stairs because he didn't physically crawl under there. Meters are handy, sure, but nothing beats actually getting down and dirty to inspect those hidden spots...just saying.

"Meters are handy, sure, but nothing beats actually getting down and dirty to inspect those hidden spots...just saying."

Totally agree on the crawling around part - learned that lesson the hard way myself. Had a moisture meter save me from surface issues plenty of times, but missed some nasty rot under the joists once because I trusted tech too much. Now I do both...better safe than sorry, right?