Holland combines a historic core, established neighborhoods and lakeshore property, and it sits in one of the snowiest parts of the state. Lake-effect is not a detail here; it is the dominant force acting on a Holland house every winter.
Heavy, repeated snow load and long freeze-thaw cycles do specific things. Ice dams form at eaves where attic ventilation is poor or insulation is uneven, and the resulting water backs up under shingles and into wall cavities where it is invisible until the ceiling stains. Gutters pull away. Flashing at chimneys and valleys works loose. Flatwork and foundation walls take a beating. We look at all of it as a system rather than as separate items, because that is how it fails.
Nearer the water, sandy soils and a higher water table change the questions again, and crawl space moisture and drainage take priority over almost everything else. Older homes in the historic districts bring the wiring, plumbing and foundation questions that any century-old building brings.
Holland spans Ottawa and Allegan counties, both of which the EPA places in Radon Zone 3, with a predicted average indoor level below 2 pCi/L. That is the lowest of the three categories, though individual houses still test above the action level and testing is the only way to be sure.
