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 |
| 7,500 | In Colorado State University burn tests at 7,500 feet, plywood charring under Class A asphalt shingles was about three times the area under metal roofing, and about twice under synthetic shake. Source: Colorado State University / EPiC Series in Built Environment, 2021 |
| 54.3% | According to Remodeling's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a metal roof replacement in the Mountain region cost $46,579 and recouped 54.3% at resale. Source: Remodeling / JLC (Zonda), 2025 |
| 9.69 million | Metal was the main roofing material on 9.69 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
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.
For most Colorado Springs homes, copper is best used as an accent: a bay window, porch, entry, turret, or dormer roof that frames the rest of a shingle or metal roof. A full copper roof is possible and can last for generations, but it costs far more than any other roof we install and dents in large hail, so it is usually reserved for historic or custom homes where the look justifies it.
Why copper is different from other metals
Copper needs no paint: it weathers from bright penny to brown and, over many years, toward green. It is soft and easy to form, which is why it suits curved and detailed roofs that are hard to cover with panels. It is also noncombustible.
Panel or continuous?
- Standing seam copper panels are formed in standard widths and joined at raised seams, like standing seam steel.
- Flat-seam or custom-formed copper is used on curves, domes, and small accent roofs where panels will not fit.
Rules for living with copper
- Keep it away from aluminum and galvanized steel. Copper in contact with those metals, or water running from copper onto them, corrodes them. That includes aluminum roofing, aluminum gutters, and galvanized flashing.
- Use copper-compatible fasteners and flashing throughout.
- Plan the runoff so it does not stain stucco, stone, or a concrete driveway.
Hail and snow
Copper dents more easily than steel, so in a hail-prone neighborhood an accent roof is a smaller risk than a full one. Snow slides off copper like other metals, so a copper entry roof over a door usually needs snow guards, and the roof below it has to be ready for the snow that lands there.
Permits and fire rating
PPRBD requires a permit and a licensed contractor for roof work over 100 square feet, so a full copper roof is always a permitted job; for a small accent roof we confirm with PPRBD whether one is needed. Inside city limits, homes need a Class A roof covering, and copper, being noncombustible, can be part of a Class A assembly.
What copper costs
Copper is the most expensive metal we install, and on a small accent roof the labor for forming detailed pieces is a large share of the cost. Our metal roofing cost guide for Colorado Springs shows how the metals compare. In an HOA, get the copper accent approved before ordering; El Paso County covenants vary widely on metal. Pairing a copper accent with a steel or asphalt main roof gives most of the look at a fraction of a full copper roof.
Plan your copper accent
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, with 650+ Google reviews. Compare all metals on our metal roofing page, or book a free consultation and we will look at where copper would make the most impact on your house.
