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 |
| 15 | NAHB's 2007 study says interior and exterior paint can last 15 years or longer, though homeowners often repaint sooner. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| 7 | Paints and coatings for stucco should have a perm rating of 7 or higher so the wall can dry, per the Northwest Wall & Ceiling Bureau. Source: Northwest Wall & Ceiling Bureau, undated (posted 2021) |
| About 28 | Sika recommends stucco reach pH 9.5 or less and fully cure, normally about 28 days, before painting. Source: Sika USA (manufacturer), undated |
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.
In Colorado Springs, the best time to paint a house exterior is late spring through early fall, on dry days when air and surface temperatures stay inside the paint’s rated range and above the dew point for the next day or two. Paint makers set the limits: Sherwin-Williams rates Duration Exterior for application down to 35°F, Behr lists Premium Plus Exterior for 35 to 90°F with at least four hours in that range afterward, and Sherwin-Williams advises keeping fresh paint above the dew point for 48 hours. Here, the real risks are cold nights with dew, strong midday sun and summer afternoon storms, so we pick each painting day by the forecast. Integrity Roofing and Painting uses Sherwin-Williams and Behr exterior paints.
Season by season
| Season | Strengths | Risks | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mild days, low humidity | Cold nights and dew, late snow, wind | Start after dew burns off; stop early for dry time |
| Summer | Long, warm drying days | Hot sun on walls, afternoon storms, hail | Follow the shade; finish walls by early afternoon |
| Fall | Steady weather, cooler sun | Shorter days, first freezes | Watch overnight lows; earlier finish times |
| Winter | Occasional mild stretches | Cold surfaces, little drying time | Touch-ups only, on rated products and dry days |
The limits that matter more than the month
Temperature. Air and surface temperatures must be inside the paint’s range when it goes on and for hours afterward. A wall in shade on a cold morning can be much colder than the air reading.
Dew point. When a warm afternoon gives way to a cool night, dew forms on fresh paint and can stop it curing properly. Sherwin-Williams advises staying above the dew point for at least 48 hours. On spring and fall days here, that means starting after the morning dew is gone and stopping early enough for several hours of dry time before evening.
Direct sun. Purdue Extension’s paint-failure guide, written with the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, says temperature blisters form when fresh paint is heated by direct sun, especially dark colors and thick coats. We paint west walls in the morning and east walls in the afternoon. Our high-altitude UV page explains why sun is harder on paint here.
Rain. Fresh paint needs dry time before rain. Product data sheets list dry-to-touch and recoat times, and those assume 77°F and 50 percent humidity; cool or damp days stretch them.
Colorado Springs weather notes
Conditions differ across the city: Monument Hill and Black Forest run cooler and catch more late snow than Fountain or Security-Widefield, so their painting season starts later and ends sooner. HOA color approvals in neighborhoods with covenants can take weeks, so submit colors before booking a date.
- Hail season runs through late spring and summer. If a storm chips paint, hold the repaint until after the claim inspection, if you file one; see Colorado Springs hail damage.
- Wind carries dust onto wet paint and makes spraying impractical. We roll or brush on windy days, or reschedule.
- Dry air helps paint dry, but it also dries it fast in sun, which is another reason to stay in the shade.
Planning around other exterior work
Paint goes on last. Roof replacement, gutter work, siding replacement and window replacement should be finished first, so new flashing, trim and caulk are painted once. Read when to repaint to judge whether your house is due, and our Colorado Springs painting page for the full service.
Book your painting season early
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred roofing contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 or book a free walkthrough; we respond the same business day.
Sources: Sherwin-Williams, Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex; Sherwin-Williams, Exterior product application FAQs; Behr, Premium Plus Exterior Flat Paint No. 4050 data sheet; Cassens and Feist, Paint Failure Problems and Their Cure (Purdue NCR-133).
