In some cases, I’ve found that a simple marble or even a bit of water poured through can highlight dips better than a level ever could—especially in those awkward crawlspaces. It’s not scientific, but it’s quick and sometimes more telling.
You know, I actually tried the marble trick under my porch last summer. My neighbor thought I’d lost it, watching me chase a rogue marble around like a cat with a laser pointer. But sure enough, it showed me exactly where the roots had pushed up the boards—not something my trusty level picked up on at all.
I do still keep my level handy for most jobs, but there’s no denying that sometimes you need to get creative. Water has saved me more than once too. Poured a little down the trench after digging out some gnarly maple roots and watched it pool up right where I suspected things weren’t quite flat. Not pretty, but effective.
Guess there’s something to be said for mixing old-school intuition with the “proper” tools. Sometimes you just have to improvise and hope the neighbors aren’t filming your DIY gymnastics under the deck...
- I’ve been there, crawling around with a flashlight and whatever random object was nearby—marble, tennis ball, you name it.
- Honestly, sometimes the “official” tools just don’t cut it for weird angles or bumpy old boards.
- Water’s my go-to too, especially since it’s eco-friendly and doesn’t leave a mess (unless you overdo it... ask me how I know).
- The neighbors probably think I’m building a secret tunnel with all the squirming under the deck, but hey, if it works, it works.
- Mixing up techniques is half the fun anyway—keeps things interesting and saves me from buying yet another gadget I’ll use once.
The neighbors probably think I’m building a secret tunnel with all the squirming under the deck, but hey, if it works, it works.
Right? Last time I was under there, I came out covered in mud and holding a busted-up root like some kind of weird trophy. Pretty sure the guy next door thinks I’m either digging for gold or hiding evidence. Tried the “official” root saw once—got stuck halfway and ended up finishing the job with a rusty bread knife and a lot of muttered cursing. Gotta say, nothing beats the feeling when water finally drains like it’s supposed to.
I totally get the “trophy” thing—last week I dragged out a chunk of root the size of my forearm and felt like I’d just won a prize at the fair. Did you ever try one of those root killer chemicals, or is it all manual labor for you? I keep wondering if there’s an easier way, but every time I look it up, it sounds like more trouble than it’s worth...
I’ve looked at those root killer chemicals too, but honestly, I’m a bit skeptical. Seems like you end up waiting forever for the stuff to work, and sometimes it just doesn’t get the job done. Manual labor’s brutal, but at least you know what you’re dealing with. Did you ever have roots come back after you thought you’d gotten them all out?
