Key numbers
103 verified hail storms with stones of 1.5 inches or larger reached El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, from 2000 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 2000 to 2025 | 2000s: 35, 2010s: 44, 2020s: 24 Source: Storm library: El Paso County hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $352.8 million insured losses (2016 dollars), July 28, 2016 Source: RMIIA |
| 110 | Colorado law (HB16-1005) allows up to two rain barrels per household with a combined capacity of 110 gallons, filled only from rooftop downspouts and used outdoors. Source: Colorado State University Extension, 2016 law |
| About 30 | Copper downspouts last 100 years or more, while aluminum downspouts last about 30 years, per NAHB's 2007 study. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| About 620 | One inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof produces about 620 gallons of water that gutters must carry away. Source: Texas A&M AgriLife |
A storm counts when the library lists El Paso County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Half-round gutters make sense on older and traditional Colorado Springs homes where the look matters, and on houses without a flat fascia board to mount a K-style gutter. They are a smooth half-circle trough hung from visible or hidden brackets, with round downspouts. The smooth shape flushes debris more easily than a K-style profile, but at the same width it carries less water, so the system is sized with that in mind. Integrity Roofing and Painting will tell you on a free assessment whether half-round fits your roof’s drainage, not just its style.
Half-round versus K-style at a glance
| Half-round | K-style | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Smooth half circle | Flat back, molded front |
| Capacity at the same width | Lower | Higher |
| Mounting | Brackets, can work without fascia | Fastens to fascia |
| Cleaning | Flushes easily, no inside corners | Corners hold debris |
| Look | Traditional, craftsman, historic | Trim-like, most newer homes |
What to plan for
- Size up when needed. Because the round trough is shallower, larger roof planes may need a wider half-round gutter or more downspouts.
- Choose the brackets. Exposed brackets are part of the look; they are spaced along the run to carry snow and ice weight. On a shingle roof the gutter also has to sit under the drip edge that the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department requires at the eaves.
- Plan round downspouts and where they discharge, away from the foundation and walkways where ice can form.
- Match the metal to the roof and trim. Ask how each option handles hail; softer metals dent more easily.
- Decide on guards. Round guards are made for half-round gutters; our gutter guard page compares types.
Snow, ice and hail on half-round gutters
Snow and ice add weight that a gutter carries on its brackets, which is why bracket spacing matters. Clear outlets let a half-round gutter drain in a thaw. If ice keeps building at your eaves, the cause is usually in the attic; see our snow and ice damage page. Hail dents on a round gutter are easy to see from the ground and are a reason to have the roof itself checked.
Other options
Older homes sometimes have built-in box gutters behind the trim instead. For the most common choice, see seamless gutters. Our gutter installation overview compares every style we install, and what new gutters cost covers pricing factors.
About us
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, licensed and insured, and BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Call (719) 488-2800 or start with a free inspection.
