The Winter Walk-Through: Spotting Hidden Exterior Damage Under the Snow

When buying a home in Calgary during the winter, the snow cover acts as nature’s camouflage, hiding critical (and expensive) exterior problems. As a buyer, your realtor’s walk-through and your final home inspection become even more important.

At NexLevel Home Inspections, we specialize in seeing what the snow obscures. However, arming yourself with a few key visual checks can help you approach the negotiation table fully informed.

Here is your checklist for spotting hidden exterior damage during a winter showing.

1. The Roof: Look for Thermal Clues, Not Shingles

You can’t see cracked shingles under three feet of snow, but you can see the direct result of hidden damage: poor heat retention.

• Uneven Snow Melt: Walk away from the house and look at the roof. If the snow is melting quickly or unevenly across the roof surface, it’s a huge red flag. This indicates poor attic insulation and heat leakage. This heat loss is what causes expensive Ice Dams at the colder eaves.

• Ice Dams: Look along the roof edge for thick ridges of ice. Ice dams force meltwater under the shingles, guaranteeing a leak into the home’s structure. If they are present, you know the home has a major ventilation and sealing issue that needs immediate attention.

• Vents and Chimneys: Look for excessive frost build-up or ice plumes around vent pipes or chimneys. This suggests poor exhaust sealing or high levels of moisture being vented, which can damage the roof over time.

2. The Foundation: Watch the Water’s Direction

The key to a healthy foundation is proper grading—making sure the ground slopes away from the house. Snow and ice make this impossible to confirm visually, but we look for signs of inadequate drainage.

• Puddles Near the Walls: During a warm Chinook or thaw, check the base of the foundation. If meltwater collects in puddles right next to the concrete, the grading is improper. This forces moisture against the foundation, increasing the risk of water infiltration into the basement.

• Frozen Downspouts: Check that the eavestrough downspouts are clear and that their extensions direct water at least six feet away from the foundation. If the downspout exit is buried or frozen solid right next to the house, water damage is likely imminent.

3. The Exterior Walls and Siding

Snow accumulation around the base of the house, while normal, can create problems if it reaches the siding.

• Snow Line vs. Siding: Note how high the snow piles are against the home’s exterior walls. Siding materials (especially wood or stucco) should be kept clear of prolonged contact with snow and moisture to prevent rot and delamination.

• Vent Clearance: Ensure that all critical vents—like dryer vents, high-efficiency furnace intakes, and exhaust pipes—are completely clear of snow and ice. Blockages can lead to appliance failure, fire risk, or dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.

4. The NexLevel Advantage: Seeing Beneath the Surface

While your walk-through is valuable, only a professional inspector can confirm what the snow is hiding. Our winter inspections rely on technology and localized expertise to give you the full picture:

• Thermal Imaging: We use infrared cameras indoors to visualize heat loss (the source of the problems above). We can literally see where the insulation is missing or compressed beneath the walls and ceiling.

• Attic Inspection: We get into the attic to look for frost and moisture damage directly on the underside of the roof deck—the primary indicator of future water leaks and mold growth.

• System Stress Test: We operate the heating system under cold load to check for proper function and efficiency, something that can only be done effectively when the temperature is low.

Don’t let the beauty of a Calgary winter hide a five-figure problem. Be proactive and let NexLevel Home Inspections give you a transparent view of your next home.

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