Before you begin: do not walk steep, wet, icy, or suspect roofs. Use ground observations and interior records until qualified personnel can inspect safely.
Records and resident reports
- [ ] Gather winter work orders, leak reports, photos, and temporary repairs.
- [ ] Identify recurring buildings, units, or elevations.
- [ ] Confirm warranty and prior-project documents are available.
- [ ] Record the date, weather, and inspection limitations.
Roofing and rooftop drainage
- [ ] Check for displaced materials, open seams, loose flashings, and damaged penetrations.
- [ ] Review known ice-dam and drifting locations.
- [ ] Inspect gutters, scuppers, drains, and downspouts for blockage or separation.
- [ ] Photograph stained or suspect areas from repeatable viewpoints.
Siding, trim, windows, and doors
- [ ] Look for loose panels, cracks, impact marks, open joints, peeling finishes, and failed sealant.
- [ ] Check transitions at windows, doors, decks, roofs, utilities, and wall penetrations.
- [ ] Record interior drafts or staining without assuming the exterior source.
Decks, balconies, and site drainage
- [ ] Look for movement, corrosion, loose guards, damaged surfaces, and drainage obstructions.
- [ ] Confirm water moves away from foundations and pedestrian routes.
- [ ] Escalate structural or life-safety concerns immediately to qualified professionals.
Close the loop
Give every finding an owner, next step, and target date. Separate immediate safety or active-water needs from investigation, planned maintenance, capital candidates, and monitor-only items. Store the completed work and final photos with the original finding.
Need a board-ready exterior record?
Hoyt Exteriors can organize aerial, thermal, and written observations into a condition baseline for Twin Cities associations.
See the Property Baseline Program