Home Inspection Calgary During Freeze: What NexLevel Can See That Snow Covers

Winter in Calgary brings its own unique set of challenges to the real estate market. While a snow-dusted property might look charmingly picturesque, for a home buyer, that snow cover is often hiding expensive secrets.

At NexLevel Home Inspections, we know that snow and ice can conceal critical deficiencies in the roof, foundation, and grading. Our specialized winter inspection techniques are designed to bypass the surface camouflage and deliver a clear, honest assessment of the home’s true condition.

Don’t let the beauty of winter lead to costly surprises. Here is what we can see, even when the ground is frozen and the roof is buried.

1. The Secrets Revealed by the Snow (Thermal Evidence)

While we can’t always lift every layer of snow, the way snow melts (or doesn’t melt) is a crucial diagnostic tool for a winter inspection.

• Ice Dams and Heat Loss: If the snow on the roof is melting unevenly or if large chunks of ice (ice dams) have formed near the eaves, it is a clear sign of poor attic insulation and ventilation. Heat is escaping, melting the snow, and causing massive moisture damage potential.

• Thermal Bridging: We use thermal imaging (a key winter inspection tool) to locate specific points where excessive heat is escaping—often around poorly insulated can lights, attic hatches, and exterior rim joists. These hidden heat leaks are major causes of high utility bills.

• Foundation Footprint: Even with snow, uneven settling or excessive soil movement can be detected. If snow is visibly melted in certain spots near the foundation, it can indicate a hidden heat leak that may be accelerating the freeze-thaw cycle directly around the concrete.

2. Seeing Through the Snow: Critical Exterior Checks

Even when the weather forces us to focus on the interior, the winter season allows us to assess systems under their maximum stress.

• The Attic’s Story (The “Attic Rain” Check): We spend extra time in the attic in winter. We look for frost build-up on the underside of the roof deck. This frost is caused by poor interior air sealing and high humidity. When a warm Chinook arrives, this frost becomes attic rain, leading to rot and mold.

• Furnace Performance: We test the furnace under cold load. A furnace struggling to maintain temperature or cycling incorrectly during a deep freeze will reveal itself, providing concrete evidence of required service or a replacement timeline.

• Window and Door Seals: Cold weather makes drafts obvious. We can easily identify failed caulking, poor weather stripping, and structural gaps that were undetectable in the summer.

3. What We Note for Spring Follow-Up

Some elements, like the condition of the asphalt shingles themselves or the perimeter grading, cannot be fully evaluated with a thick snow cover. In these cases, your NexLevel report provides:

• Conditional Findings: We clearly document what the snow may be obscuring (e.g., condition of the back deck, potential grading issues).

• Actionable Advice: We advise buyers on what areas to budget for and what steps should be taken as soon as the snow melts (e.g., scheduling a dedicated spring grading or roofing check).

Don’t pause your home search just because of the weather. A winter inspection with NexLevel Home Inspections provides the specialized data needed to make an informed, confident purchase, turning the season’s hidden threats into transparent facts.

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