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 |
| About 93.4% | About 93.4% of Colorado's NOAA-logged hail reports from 2010 through 2025 fell in May through August. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 2010-2025 |
| About 3.5 million | About 3.5 million U.S. households reported missing roofing material, 1.9 million a sagging roof and 1.5 million a hole in the roof in the 2023 American Housing Survey. Source: Roofing Contractor (reporting Instant Roofer analysis of 2023 AHS), 2023 |
| $2778.8 million | NOAA lists 'Colorado Hail Storm (June 2018)' (2018-06-18 to 2018-06-19) among billion-dollar disasters affecting Colorado, at $2778.8 million CPI-adjusted ($2223 million unadjusted). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 2018 |
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.
Snow and ice damage roof repair in Colorado Springs usually means fixing what an ice dam did: shingles lifted at the eaves, rotted decking and fascia, stained ceilings, and gutters pulled loose by the weight of ice. An ice dam forms when attic heat melts snow on the upper roof and the water refreezes at the cold eave. The meltwater backs up behind that ridge of ice and runs under the shingles. The lasting fix has two parts, repairing the damage and stopping the heat loss, and Integrity Roofing and Painting looks at both on a free inspection.
How an ice dam forms
- Warm air leaks from the living space into the attic.
- The roof deck warms above freezing and melts the underside of the snow.
- Meltwater runs down to the overhang, which is as cold as the outside air, and freezes.
- Each freeze-thaw cycle adds to the dam, and the pool of water behind it climbs up under the shingles.
The root causes are almost always in the attic: thin or uneven insulation, unsealed penetrations, blocked soffit vents, and too little exhaust ventilation at the ridge. Balanced intake at the soffits and exhaust at the peak keeps the deck close to outside temperature so snow melts evenly instead of refreezing at the edge.
What the code requires here
The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) requires an ice barrier on a reroof only where the property is above 7,000 feet of elevation, and the permit receipt lists your property’s elevation. Where required, it is either two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet, running from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. Below 7,000 feet, the code does not require it.
We install ice and water shield on every roof we replace regardless of elevation, because ice dams do not read elevation maps. Our page on ice and water shield explains the product.
Safe snow and ice removal
- Do use a roof rake from the ground to pull the bottom few feet of snow off after a big storm.
- Do keep downspouts clear so meltwater has somewhere to go.
- Do not chip at ice with a hammer, shovel or ice pick; that breaks shingles and punctures flashing.
- Do not throw calcium chloride ice melt on the roof; it is corrosive to metal flashing and gutters.
- Do not climb onto a snowy roof. Thick ice is removed safely with low-pressure steam by a professional.
Gutters, guards and ice
Gutters full of ice are a symptom, not the cause, but they make the dam worse and can tear off the fascia. A properly pitched gutter with clear downspouts drains faster in a thaw. Some gutter guards hold snow on top of the gutter, so the choice matters in our climate; our gutter installation page covers what works on Colorado Springs homes.
Repairs and insurance
Policies differ on how they treat water damage from ice dams, so read yours before you file. The claim stays yours; we document the damage so nothing gets missed. If the roof is near the end of its life, a metal roof sheds snow more readily. For other storm damage, see hail, wind, or our emergency roof repair guide if water is coming in now.
Why homeowners call us
We are veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews, licensed and insured. Our install system puts ice and water shield, a felt underlayment and proper ventilation on every replacement. Book a free inspection or call (719) 488-2800.
Sources: PPRBD Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); PPRBD, Do You Have Roof Damage From a Storm?.
