Proudly American
Build a short component history
Separate work on the roof, flashing, chimney top and interior finish. Record approximate dates if exact ones are unavailable, and label uncertainty clearly. A description such as sealed chimney may not explain which joints or materials were treated. Bring that ambiguity to the assessment instead of translating it into a specific repair that may never have happened.
Look in the right records collection
Bonita Springs directs public-record inquiries for development records before June 29, 2008 to Lee County. Its current development resources provide a separate route for city records. That distinction can help when researching an older alteration. Missing records are not evidence that work was defective, and an available permit is not a present-condition chimney inspection.
Distinguish existing deterioration from active entry
An old rust mark or stain can remain after water entry has stopped. A fresh symptom may also arise along a different path. Tell us what you have actually observed recently and what is simply visible from earlier years. The findings should explain the evidence for active entry and any limitations, rather than treating every old mark as proof of a current leak.
Ask for a recommendation that can be checked later
A useful scope names the affected component, the proposed work and any unresolved adjacent condition. Keep the findings with the recovered records. If you are comparing estimates, compare these boundaries as well as the amount; one proposal may include water-damaged components while another addresses only the likely entry point.
