Celeste Home Improvements
Celeste Home Improvements — Field Notes

Celeste·Field Notes

From the field.

What we find on assessments, what it means for your home, and how to think about the systems that protect it.

Field Notes is Celeste's homeowner education platform. These articles are written from direct field experience — not from manufacturer literature or contractor marketing. They're organized by system and topic so you can find what's relevant to your home. No email required.

Why flashing fails — and why it matters more than the roofing material
Roof·6 min read·

Why flashing fails — and why it matters more than the roofing material

The roofing material gets replaced. The flashing gets reused. That decision is where most roof failures begin.

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Reading window performance numbers — what U-factor and SHGC actually mean for your home
Windows·7 min read·

Reading window performance numbers — what U-factor and SHGC actually mean for your home

The NFRC label on a window tells you a lot — if you know how to read it. Most homeowners don't. Here's what matters.

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Stucco is a system — why the finish coat is the least important part
Exterior·8 min read·

Stucco is a system — why the finish coat is the least important part

When stucco fails, it almost never fails at the finish. The failure is behind the wall — in the layers you can't see.

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Designing for Santa Ana winds — what every Southern California homeowner should know
Southern California Homes·6 min read·

Designing for Santa Ana winds — what every Southern California homeowner should know

Santa Ana events are not unusual weather. They're a design condition. Your home's envelope should be built for them.

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Engineering an outdoor room — why a pergola is a structure, not a decoration
Outdoor·5 min read·

Engineering an outdoor room — why a pergola is a structure, not a decoration

Most pergolas are built without engineering review. In Southern California's wind environment, that's a significant risk.

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Why mini-splits make sense in Southern California — and when they don't
Climate·7 min read·

Why mini-splits make sense in Southern California — and when they don't

Ductless mini-split systems are the right specification for most Southern California homes. Here's the reasoning — and the exceptions.

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The case for clay tile — why Southern California's most traditional roofing material is also one of its best
Materials·5 min read·

The case for clay tile — why Southern California's most traditional roofing material is also one of its best

Clay tile roofs routinely outlast the buildings they protect. When the system is right, there's nothing better for Southern California.

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Fiber cement vs. wood siding — the performance case for a material that looks like what it isn't
Materials·6 min read·

Fiber cement vs. wood siding — the performance case for a material that looks like what it isn't

Fiber cement siding is often dismissed as a substitute for wood. The performance data tells a different story.

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