Winters in Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan counties are hard on the outside of a house. Ice dams lift shingles, wind loosens siding panels, and months of freezing and thawing open up small gaps where water gets in.
Walk around the house on a clear spring day. From the ground, look for missing or curled shingles, dark streaks, and flashing that has pulled away around chimneys and vents. Check the gutters for piles of shingle granules, which are a sign the roof is wearing out.
On the siding, look for cracked, loose, or warped panels, especially on the windward side and behind downspouts. Green or black growth on the north side can be power washed away, but it also tells you that wall stays damp.
Then go inside and check ceilings on the top floor and in the attic for stains. Small repairs caught in spring are inexpensive. The same problem left through another winter can mean replacing sheathing, insulation, and sheetrock. We inspect roofs and siding for free and give you a written estimate for anything that needs fixing.