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 |
| 4.89 million | Ceramic or clay tile was the main roofing material on 4.89 million U.S. homes in 2020, and concrete tile on 2.14 million. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
| 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 |
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.
Most Colorado Springs homes with tile roofs have clay or concrete tile, and the right replacement depends on what the framing can carry and how much hail the roof sees. Clay lasts the longest and holds its color; concrete costs less; synthetic tile is far lighter and some versions carry high impact ratings. Every tile reroof here also gets a PPRBD dry-in inspection before a single tile goes on the roof.
Clay, concrete, or synthetic?
| Clay | Concrete | Synthetic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy | Heaviest | Light |
| Color | Fired in, does not fade | Can fade over time | Varies by product |
| Freeze-thaw | Choose a grade rated for freezing climates | Absorbs some water; rated products matter | Not affected |
| Hail | Can crack | Can crack | Check the UL 2218 rating |
Clay and concrete tile roofs have an underlayment layer that does the real waterproofing, and that layer is often what wears out first. A tile roof with leaks may need the tile lifted, the underlayment replaced, and the same tile reinstalled.
Weight, snow, and your roof frame
PPRBD designs roofs in the region for a flat-roof snow load of 30 psf below 7,000 feet and 40 psf at or above it, and tile adds a heavy dead load on top of that. A house built for tile was framed for it. A house built for shingles may not have been, which is why switching to tile starts with a structural check, and why synthetic tile and stone-coated steel are common choices when the framing cannot take more weight.
What PPRBD requires on a tile reroof
- A permit pulled by a licensed contractor.
- A dry-in inspection after the underlayment, battens, and flashing are installed, before tile is stocked on the roof.
- An ice barrier at the eaves on properties above 7,000 feet.
- A final inspection scheduled by the contractor who pulled the permit.
Is tile right for your house?
Tile fits Spanish, Mediterranean, and Southwest architecture, and it is noncombustible. If you like the look but not the weight, slate roofing has the same synthetic-versus-natural trade-off, and synthetic cedar covers the wood look. Our article on why homeowners choose clay tile goes deeper on clay.
Work with a team that knows tile
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, with 650+ Google reviews. See every material on our residential roofing page, or book a free tile roof inspection and we will tell you whether your tile needs repair, an underlayment replacement, or a new roof.
Sources: PPRBD, Reroof Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); PPRBD, Basic Design Information (updated 06/30/2026).
Photos From Our Projects
