Above 6,500 ft — Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos, Angel Fire — ice dams and snow load are the two failure modes that quietly destroy roofs every winter. I map attic heat-loss with thermal imaging, verify ice-and-water shield coverage, and score structural snow load against your zip's design value.
Thermal imaging of attic heat-loss zones at the eave
Ice-and-water shield coverage verification per IRC R905.1.2
Structural snow-load scoring for your specific NM zone
Heat cable vs air-seal-and-insulate decision framework
Valley, dormer, and complex-roofline ice-risk mapping
Written scope with prioritized winterization fixes
Full winter-focused roof and attic inspection. Thermal imaging of eave heat-loss zones (best done morning after snow). Ice-and-water shield coverage verification against IRC R905.1.2 (24" past interior wall). Structural snow-load scoring against your zip's design ground snow load. Heat cable vs air-seal-and-insulate cost-benefit framework. Valley, dormer, sidewall, and complex-roofline ice-risk mapping. Written scope with prioritized winterization fixes and cost bands.
Northern NM homeowners with a history of ice dams or eave leaks. Buyers under contract on homes above 6,500 ft. Homeowners planning a re-roof wanting proper ice-and-water shield baked in. Property managers with short-term rentals in ski markets. Owners of historic adobes with structural snow-load concerns.
Verbal Walk — $149 Standard Winter Report — $399 Detailed w/ Thermal Imaging + Snow-Load Math — $649 Multi-Property / Commercial — Custom Most winter inspections are $399–$649. Catching under-shielded eaves before the next big storm saves $8,000–$25,000 in interior water damage.
Above 6,500 ft elevation, yes — Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos, Angel Fire, Red River, and the Jemez. Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the cold eave. I map heat-loss zones with thermal imaging and score ice-and-water shield coverage against IRC R905.1.2.
NM ground snow loads range from 15 psf in Albuquerque to 70+ psf in Taos Ski Valley. Most homes built before 2015 were designed to the minimum for their zip — which is often under-spec for actual observed snowfall. I check rafter sizing against your specific zone.
Sometimes. Heat cable is a band-aid, not a fix — the real solution is attic air-sealing and insulation. But for historic adobes and complex rooflines where insulation retrofit isn't practical, self-regulating heat cable at $8–$12/ft installed is the right call. I score which one you need.
Yearly punch-list + service-life estimate.
Pre-listing & buyer due-diligence reports.
Reserve study + per-unit documentation.
Party-wall + shared-roof attribution.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.