Condo Complex Plagued With Ceiling Woes

For most Shelton residents, it was another snowstorm as usual last Wednesday. For others, the wintry weather brought along some less than pleasant surprises.

"[My mom's] screaming woke me dead out of sleep and I flew downstairs thinking someone was murdering her!” said Courteney Cuomo, who lives in Country Walk condominium complex.

Fortunately, there was a puddle of water, not blood, at the bottom of the stairs. A small section of their roof had given way under the weight of snow and ice buildup. “It was quite the circus,” Cuomo recalls. She and her mother were scrambling to clean chunks of sheet rock and collect water that was showering down into their home.

After clearing away the worst of the snow, they set up blankets and buckets to collect dripping water. Cuomo said despite being left “a little damp and cold,” she is relieved the cave-in was fairly minor.

This is just one of dozens of weather-related incidents to hit Country Walk. Cuomo estimates that about 35 units are currently experiencing problems, ranging from simple leaks and drafts to sectional collapses.

And this is all in spite of precautionary measures. Cuomo said just two days prior to her saga, the complex administration sent workers to inspect all roofs and remove snow. “They have good intentions, it’s just such a hard situation this winter,” she said.

In the aftermath, complex crews continue their hustle, visiting the afflicted units and trying to decide the best plan of action. Though fixing the damage and compensating residents will no doubt be costly, their main concern at the moment is making sure everyone is safe and as comfortable as possible.

“Our carpet may be totaled and the roof obviously needs to be worked on, but the big problem right now is mold,” Cuomo said. “They were here this morning and they installed dehumidifiers to prevent mold and put insulation in the hole because the draft was terrible.”

According to the National Weather Service, Shelton can expect more wet weather tonight into tomorrow. Chance of precipitation before midnight is 90 percent and snow accumulation of one to two inches is possible. With such conditions, construction repair is made all the more difficult.

“They can’t decide how much effort to put into it because it’s just going to snow again. Who knows if they can even fix anything until spring?" Cuomo said, adding in jokinlgy that "this is the worst winter ever!”

A representative from Country Walk was not immediately available for comment. Patch will update with details as they come in.