STEADY CRAFTSMAN — SAFE WOOD-CONDITION OBSERVATION CHECKLIST
Educational staging resource • September 2026
This is not a diagnosis, estimate, booking or proof that a territory can accept a job.
No information is collected by this file. Keep notes and photographs privately.

1. START WITH SAFETY
Observe only from stable, safe ground or a sound walking surface. Do not climb a ladder, lean on a loose railing, test a suspect step, open a wall, remove a fixture or probe structural timber. Keep people away from a deck, rail, floor or stair that may be unsafe. Seek appropriate professional help for an immediate hazard.

2. NAME THE AFFECTED PART
Is the change at a window or door trim joint, roof-edge fascia, siding-to-trim transition, fence post, gate hinge, deck connection or floor near a fixture? A finish can fail without proving that the wood behind it is decayed. Similar-looking damage can have different causes.

3. RECORD WHAT YOU CAN SEE
Note returning stains, lifting paint, open joints, visibly crumbling edges, missing fasteners or a change you noticed during normal use. Do not deliberately load or move the component to reproduce a symptom. Record when you first noticed it and whether it changes after rain, irrigation or a known leak.

4. PREPARE THREE USEFUL VIEWS — ONLY IF SAFE
- Overview: the entire affected opening or assembly and its surroundings.
- Detail: the visible change, without touching or dismantling it.
- Context: nearby gutter, flashing, ground clearance or sprinkler location when visible from a safe position.
Avoid faces, house numbers, license plates, paperwork and neighbors' private areas. Photos may contain location metadata; share only through an approved private intake once it exists. Possessing a photo is not permission to use it in marketing.

5. DESCRIBE WATER AND DRYING CONDITIONS, WITHOUT GUESSING
Record known leaks, repeated sprinkler wetting, debris, shade and whether the area remains damp. Fungal decay needs moisture; heat or age alone does not diagnose rot. On a coast, connector corrosion and wood decay are separate questions. In freezing weather, ice or thaw-related wetting does not by itself establish which material has failed.

6. NOTE SCOPE AND ACCESS
Approximate dimensions from a safe position, the result you want, who can authorize work, shared access restrictions, and known previous repairs are useful. Do not buy replacement parts until fit and responsibility are agreed. A small visible damaged area can conceal a larger problem; photos cannot prove hidden extent or structural safety.

7. FLAG OLDER PAINT AND OTHER SPECIALIST QUESTIONS
Before disturbing older painted surfaces, ask about lead-safe assessment and applicable requirements, particularly for pre-1978 housing. Historic-resource review, structural design, permits, plumbing, electrical work, roofing and hazardous materials may need separately qualified professionals. This checklist claims no license, certification or exemption for Steady Craftsman or any individual.

8. CONFIRM THE TERRITORY BEFORE A REAL REQUEST
A full municipal polygon on a reference map is not a guarantee for your property or project. Partial intersections require an address check. Fresno, Sacramento and Farmington Hills use proposed working boundaries pending owner confirmation; their outlined edge jurisdictions are address-review areas, not measured partial intersections. These defaults do not establish current availability. All seven staging estimate flows are demo-only: do not enter real personal information or try to upload photos.

WHAT A FUTURE APPROVED INQUIRY CAN ASK
What can be assessed from these views? What needs an on-site inspection? Which material or connection is affected? What moisture-source work is separate? What approvals, permits or specialist reviews are needed? What could change the scope after agreed investigation?

No prices, warranties, turnaround commitments or local project claims are made.
General lead-paint guidance: https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program