Been noticing some paint peeling and a bit of softness around my wooden window frames lately. I'm kinda torn between proactively checking for rot signs regularly (like poking around with a screwdriver, you know, being super cautious) or just waiting until the damage becomes clearly visible and then dealing with it. Curious what others usually do—do you prefer staying ahead of it or just handling things when they're obviously an issue?
I get the proactive approach, but honestly, poking around regularly with a screwdriver might be a bit much. As a first-time homeowner myself, I started out super cautious too—checking everything constantly—but it got exhausting pretty fast. Now I just do a quick visual check every few months or so and pay attention after heavy rains or winter thaws. If something looks off, then I'll investigate further.
One thing I'd suggest is maybe finding a middle ground: instead of waiting till it's obvious damage or constantly poking around, just keep an eye out for subtle signs like discoloration or paint bubbling. Catching it early-ish without obsessing over it has worked well for me so far. Plus, if you spot something minor early enough, repairs tend to be cheaper and easier to handle... learned that one the hard way last year when I ignored some peeling paint on my porch railing.
That's a sensible approach—visual checks really are enough most of the time. I've noticed that certain window styles or materials tend to show rot differently or earlier than others... anyone else found specific window types that seem more prone to subtle damage?