MARCELLUS -- Just a tarp now covers the garage of this Marcellus home. About a week ago, the roof caved in under heavy snow.
"There was literally tons of snow. It was 2 1/2 feet thick," said Scott McClurg with McClurg Remodeling and Construction. "You can see the devastation, the garage roof looked very much like the house roof, and it's gone."
It's a problem that's been common in Central New York this winter. The past few weeks a number of roofs have crumbled including the Memphis Baptist Church Wednesday night.
McClurg has removed ice and snow on 65 roofs this year. Last year, that number was only 12. McClurg says it's because this winter has been extra tough on roofs. "We haven't had the melts that we usually have. With the amount of snow we've had, the roofs are not meant to take this kind of weight. It needs to be maintained like a driveway," he said.
He says you should shovel the snow off but it can be dangerous. McClurg says its best to call a professional. It's also important to know the signs of trouble. If you hear creaking a collapse could be coming. You should also look for new cracks in the walls.
"A building can be replaced but you can't replace people," said McClurg. Luckily no one was hurt when the Marcellus garage came down. But it will be costly, upwards of $60,000, to put on a new roof.
