After last weekend's heavy snowfall, homes and businesses in the Charleston area are still feeling the impact of the storm, with roofs collapsing and gutters falling off.
Jay Marino, owner of Al Marino Inc., said homeowners shouldn't attempt to clear snow off of their roofs, and to call a professional if they feel they are in danger of their roof collapsing.
Even after more than a foot of snow was dropped on the Kanawha Valley this past weekend, he said his company hasn't seen much roof damage on residential properties. He said structures with low-sloping and flat roofs, such as car ports, awnings and storage units, have a higher risk for collapsing.
"When a flat roof is damaged, we see catastrophic failure; we see a major roof collapse," Marino said. "In our area, fortunately, we don't see a lot of that."
If residents are concerned about their roofs failing, they should listen for unusual noises, such as cracking or popping sounds, according to Marino.
He said almost all pitched residential roofs are designed and built for snowfalls like this, so homeowners shouldn't panic.
Although the snowstorm is over, Marino said homeowners aren't out of the clear yet. Rain and a rise in temperatures after a heavy snowfall can cause problems with the gutters, where the roof is most vulnerable.
He said some homeowners also might see excessive moisture on their roofs, and water getting underneath the shingles, which can cause minor damage.
Steve Korsen, owner of MDI Construction, said his company has been seeing an increase in calls from homeowners with gutters falling off houses.
He said the recent weather didn't affect one specific type of house more than others, and added that any gutter can fall off during a storm like last weekend's.
"It's just the luck of the draw," Korsen said. "You see houses where you say, 'How did that gutter fall off?' and you see houses where you say, 'How did that gutter stay on?' "
Korsen said that, as far as preventing your roof from collapsing or gutter from falling off, the best homeowners can do is "just pray."
He said, if a gutter falls off, it's important to get it fixed as soon as possible - but to wait until it's safe to do so.
"You should wait for everything to come off your roof before you send people up there," he said.
Korsen cautioned those with metal roofs to ensure they have proper ice guards and diverters installed. He also advised not getting on a snow-covered roof to get the snow off, because it is too dangerous in icy and snowy conditions.
When hiring a contractor to repair a gutter, Korsen advised making sure the worker has credentials, has a license and the company covers its employees under workers' compensation. He said he's seen too many horror stories of homeowners hiring someone off the street and having legal trouble when the worker gets hurt.
"You don't want your gutter falling down to go from bad to worse," Korsen said.
He also said to research the company online to make sure it's credible, with good reviews, and watch out for scams.
"Never, ever, ever give someone money up front for a repair," Korsen said.
Additionally, he said it's always wise to get a second opinion if a simple roof repair turns into a full replacement.
"Never go on one opinion," Korsen said. "You might just need a repair for $600 but that company wants to secure a replacement."
Bollinger Funeral Home lost a gutter during the snowstorm. Owner Terry Bollinger said it will take at least a week to repair it.
He first noticed the damage Sunday after the snow stopped.
"I thought, if it keeps falling, someone would get hurt or killed," Bollinger said. "An air-conditioning window unit caught it."
He said the window unit "saved the day," by preventing the gutter from falling off completely.
The funeral home was built in 1922, and Bollinger said this has never happened before.
He said he doesn't think the gutter damage will affect business at all, since only the rear entrance is blocked off as a result. The parking lot also wasn't affected.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.