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 |
| Over 50 | NAHB's 2007 study says slate, copper and clay/concrete tile roofs have the longest life expectancy, over 50 years. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| 1.49 million | Slate or synthetic slate was the main roofing material on 1.49 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, synthetic slate is the practical choice: it gives the look of a slate roof at a fraction of the weight and cost, and some products carry the highest hail impact rating. Natural slate is the longest-lasting roof you can buy, but it is heavy, expensive, and can crack in large hail, so it belongs on homes framed to carry it and owners who plan to stay.
Natural vs synthetic slate
| Natural slate | Synthetic slate | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Quarried stone | Engineered polymer or composite |
| Weight | Very heavy | Light |
| Hail | Can crack | Some products rated UL 2218 Class 4 |
| Lifespan | Generations, with flashing upkeep | Set by the product warranty |
| Repairs | Slate-by-slate | Product-specific |
On a natural slate roof, the slate often outlasts the flashing and fasteners. Copper or other long-life flashing is part of a good slate job; if you are pairing them, read our notes on copper roofing.
What weight means in Colorado Springs
PPRBD’s design criteria set a flat-roof snow load of 30 psf below 7,000 feet and 40 psf at or above 7,000 feet. Slate’s own weight comes on top of that, so a house built for asphalt shingles generally cannot simply switch to natural slate. Synthetic slate avoids the structural question in most cases.
Permit and inspection
A slate reroof needs a PPRBD permit pulled by a licensed contractor, an ice barrier at the eaves above 7,000 feet, and a final inspection scheduled by that contractor. Inside city limits the roof must carry a Class A fire rating; natural slate is noncombustible, and synthetic products must be checked for their Class A listing.
Caring for a slate roof here
- Stay off it. Natural slate cracks under foot traffic. Repairs should be done from roof ladders or hooks by someone who works on slate.
- Watch the flashing. Valleys, chimneys, and wall flashing usually fail before the slate does, and that is where most slate leaks start.
- Check after hail. Cracked or broken slates are easiest to spot from the ground with binoculars, and individual slates can be replaced before water gets in.
- Watch the eaves in winter. Snow that sits on a slate roof can form ice dams at the eaves, which is why the ice barrier matters above 7,000 feet.
The look for less
If you want the slate look on a tighter budget, luxury asphalt shingles come in slate profiles, and tile roofing offers another heavy, long-life option. For the wood look, see synthetic cedar. Our article on how long a roof should last compares lifespans across materials.
Talk to us about slate
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Compare every material on our residential roofing page, or book a free slate roof consultation.
Sources: PPRBD, Basic Design Information (updated 06/30/2026); PPRBD, Reroof Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024).
