Write down what you're seeing
Note where it appears, when you first noticed it, whether it tracks with rain or humidity, how it's changed over time, and any work already done in that area. A few photos and rough measurements go a long way toward making the first call productive.
Read the local context
Durham combines nineteenth-century tobacco and textile districts, early streetcar neighborhoods, postwar ranches, and fast-growing suburban edges. Piedmont clay, mature tree cover, humid summers, and rolling watersheds make drainage and existing assemblies part of nearly every exterior or structural project.
Ask about what won't be visible later
A patch of visible growth is rarely the whole story — the prep work, drying time, and verification testing that happen before everything gets buttoned back up matter just as much. A good written scope spells out exactly what that hidden work will involve, so you're not just trusting that it happened.
Set proposals side by side
Line up what each proposal actually covers: surface protection, access needs, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, listed exclusions, warranty terms, and how change orders get handled.
What official local sources add
Durham maintains official floodplain guidance and separate procedures for historic district, landmark, and sign designations. Parcel-level flood status and local historic designation should be checked before structural, exterior, or drainage work is scoped.
Sources were reviewed June 20, 2026. Durham's floodplain and historic-district maps are drawn parcel by parcel, not by neighborhood in general — confirm your address's flood zone, historic status, and current permit requirements with the city before authorizing exterior or structural work.