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.
Steel is usually the right metal for a Colorado Springs home because it is the hardest of the common roofing metals, which matters in hail, and it costs less than aluminum or copper. The choice inside steel comes down to the coating and the look: painted Galvalume for standing seam and panels, or stone-coated steel if you want your roof to look like shingles, shake, or tile.
Coatings: galvanized vs Galvalume
- Galvanized steel is coated with zinc. It is common on agricultural and corrugated panels.
- Galvalume is coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy and is the usual substrate for painted residential panels.
The paint system on top matters as much as the metal coating. High-performance finishes resist chalking and fading under strong sun, so ask for the paint warranty in writing.
Stone-coated steel: the shingle look in metal
Stone-coated steel is pressed into shingle, shake, or tile profiles and finished with granules. It installs in interlocking pieces rather than long panels, so it fits complicated rooflines, and it is a popular “Best” option when homeowners compare Good, Better, and Best. PPRBD treats direct-to-deck metal shingles like asphalt for inspections: no mid-roof inspection is required.
How steel handles Colorado Springs weather
- Hail. Steel dents less than aluminum. Some steel products carry a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating; ask for the listing.
- Snow. Painted steel panels shed snow quickly. Stone-coated profiles hold snow more like shingles. Either way, we plan snow guards where people walk.
- Fire. Steel is noncombustible, and steel roof assemblies can meet the Class A rating required on homes inside city limits.
- Weight. Steel is far lighter than tile or slate, so it is a common replacement for a heavy roof when the framing is in question.
Permits and HOAs
Steel reroofs in Colorado Springs and El Paso County go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department: a permit for anything over 100 square feet, an ice barrier at the eaves above 7,000 feet, and a final inspection we schedule. If you are in an HOA (what Colorado HOAs can require), stone-coated steel is often the easiest metal to get approved because it reads as shingles or shake from the street.
Standing seam steel
Most standing seam roofs we install are painted steel. If you want long panels with hidden fasteners, start there.
What it costs
Steel costs more than asphalt and less than aluminum or copper. Stone-coated steel and standing seam fall in different price ranges; see our metal roofing cost guide, and ask about financing.
Get a steel roof quote
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and a member of the Colorado Roofing Association. Compare all profiles on our metal roofing page, then book a free steel roof consultation.
Source: PPRBD, Reroof Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024).
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