Celeste·The Inspection
See what we see.
Every Celeste project begins with a documented condition assessment. Here's what that looks like — and why it changes what gets built.
Our Approach
Most contractors quote. We assess.
The standard contractor visit is a sales call. Someone walks the property, looks at what's visible from the ground, and produces a price. The scope is based on what the homeowner describes, not what the building actually shows.
Celeste's process is different. Before we produce a proposal, we produce a condition assessment — a documented record of what we found, where we found it, and what it means for the scope of work. The proposal follows from the assessment. Not the other way around.
This matters because the things that drive project cost and complexity are almost never visible from the ground. They're in the flashing details, the substrate condition, the moisture readings behind the finish surface. You can't price what you haven't seen.
Inspection Tools
How we document what we find.
A Celeste condition assessment uses three documentation tools beyond the standard visual inspection. Each one reveals something the others can't.
Drone Aerial Survey
Full roof and exterior coverage from above — safely, without ladder access to every surface.
A drone survey gives us a complete aerial record of the roof plane, ridge, hips, valleys, penetrations, and perimeter flashing — the areas most likely to show early failure and least accessible from a ladder. We fly every project before the assessment meeting.
What we document
Shingle or tile condition across the full roof plane
Flashing condition at all penetrations, valleys, and perimeter
Ridge and hip detail
Gutter and drainage condition
Chimney, skylight, and equipment curb conditions
Thermal Imaging
Infrared imaging reveals moisture intrusion, insulation gaps, and air leakage that are invisible to the eye.
A thermal camera detects temperature differentials in building surfaces — differentials that indicate moisture, missing insulation, or air infiltration. We use thermal imaging on roofs, walls, and around window and door openings to find problems before they become visible damage.
What we document
Active moisture intrusion in roof decks and wall cavities
Insulation voids and thermal bridging
Air infiltration at window and door perimeters
Wet substrate beneath finish surfaces
Moisture Content Testing
Pin and pinless moisture meters give us actual readings — not estimates — of substrate moisture content.
Visual inspection can identify staining, efflorescence, and surface damage. It can't tell you how wet the wood framing behind the stucco actually is. Moisture meters give us quantitative readings at specific locations — readings we document and include in the assessment report.
What we document
Substrate moisture content at suspect locations
Framing moisture content at window and door openings
Sheathing moisture content beneath roofing and siding
Baseline readings for comparison after remediation
What We Find
The things most contractors miss.
These are the categories of findings that most commonly change project scope — and that most contractors don't document because they don't look for them.
Flashing failures
HighFlashing at penetrations, valleys, and perimeter transitions is the most common source of water intrusion in Southern California homes. It's also the most commonly overlooked item in a standard contractor quote. We document every flashing condition — not just the ones that are obviously failing.
Failed window seals
MediumDual-pane window seal failure is endemic in Southern California homes built between 1985 and 2005. Failed seals allow moisture into the glazing cavity, reducing thermal performance and eventually causing permanent fogging. We test every window on the assessment.
Stucco system failures
HighCracks in stucco are rarely just cosmetic. They indicate movement in the substrate, failure of the weather-resistive barrier, or inadequate control joint placement. We probe and document every crack — and distinguish between surface crazing and structural cracking.
The Assessment Report
What you receive.
Every Celeste condition assessment produces a written report — not a verbal summary, not a handwritten note on a proposal. The report documents every finding with photographs, location references, severity ratings, and recommended action. It is yours to keep regardless of whether you proceed with Celeste.
Executive summary
A plain-language summary of the overall condition of the home's envelope systems and the recommended scope of work.
Findings by system
Roof, windows, exterior, outdoor, and climate systems documented separately — each with photographs, location references, and severity ratings.
Drone photography
Full aerial photographic record of the roof and exterior, annotated with finding locations.
Thermal imaging results
Thermal images with annotations identifying moisture, insulation, and air infiltration findings.
Moisture content readings
Tabulated moisture content readings at all tested locations, with reference to acceptable thresholds.
Recommended scope
A prioritized list of recommended work — separated into immediate, near-term, and long-term categories.
"The report is yours to keep — regardless of whether you proceed with Celeste."
Ready to start?
Request a condition assessment.
The assessment is the starting point for every Celeste project. It's how we know what to build — and how you know what you're paying for.