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 |
| 627 | NOAA's Storm Events Database logged 627 hail reports in Colorado in 2018, including 91 of 2 inches or larger. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 2018 |
| 1.0 | EPA's RRP rule applies to window work in pre-1978 homes unless all affected components test below 1.0 mg/cm² or 0.5% lead by weight. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| 40 | The NSF-funded ICECHIP field campaign (2025) is the largest U.S. hail study in 40 years, with about 100 researchers. Source: CU Boulder Today (University of Colorado Boulder), 2025 |
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.
Hail damages windows in four places: the glass, the frame or sash, the metal or vinyl trim around the window, and the screen. After a Colorado Springs hailstorm, look at the windows on the side the storm came from: cracked or chipped glass, splits or gouges in vinyl frames, dents in aluminum frames and wraps, and torn or dented screens. Photograph what you find before anything is repaired. Integrity Roofing and Painting inspects and documents window damage and replaces damaged windows in existing homes, usually with Simonton units or a brand you prefer. We do not file claims; that decision and that claim are yours.
Where hail damage shows on a window
| Part | What hail does | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Cracks, star breaks, chips at the edge | Run a finger along the glass; check corners |
| Vinyl frame and sash | Splits, cracks, gouges | Look at sills and the top of the sash on the storm side |
| Aluminum frame or wrap | Round dents, chipped paint | Sight along the metal in low-angle light |
| Wood frame and trim | Dents, split paint, bare wood | Look for fresh light-colored marks |
| Screen | Tears, dents, popped spline | Compare the storm side to the sheltered side |
| Seal | Fog appearing weeks later | Recheck after a few weeks of temperature swings |
Why the glass often survives
Research on window hail resistance is thin, but what exists points the same way. In Peter Flüeler’s hail-impact testing published in IIBEC Interface, 6 mm single and laminated safety glass and an insulated aluminum-framed window reached the highest hail-resistance class, and 7 mm wired glass failed at the lowest energy among the glass types tested. The Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center notes that impact-rated glazing standards address windborne debris, not hail specifically. In practice that means frames, wraps and screens usually show storm damage before the glass does.
Document it the same day if you can
Whether the storm crossed Briargate, Stetson Hills, Fountain or Monument, the steps are the same, and Pikes Peak Regional Building Department permit rules apply if windows are replaced.
- Photograph each window on the storm-facing sides, then close-ups of every crack, dent and tear.
- Record the storm date. Our Colorado Springs hail history page and the storm archive list major events.
- Photograph matching dents on gutters, downspouts and vents; they support the date.
- Cover broken glass or open frames to keep water out, but do not replace anything until it is documented.
- Check the roof and siding too; see hail-damaged siding and insurance and the Colorado Springs hail damage page.
Insurance basics for window damage
Window damage from one storm usually falls under the same claim and deductible as the roof and siding. Policies differ on cosmetic metal dents, on whether only the damaged sash or the whole window is replaced, and on how matching is handled. Ask your adjuster. If you disagree with the result, read options when an adjuster denies damage and the step-by-step claim guide.
Repair, reglaze or replace
- Cracked glass, sound frame: replace the glass unit, built for altitude with pressure equalization.
- Dented aluminum wrap: replace the wrap; the window may be fine underneath.
- Split vinyl frame or sash: replace the window; vinyl frames are not repaired well.
- Many windows damaged, or older units: replace them together so they match and seal the same way.
If replacement is the answer, see window replacement in Colorado Springs and repair or replace. On wildfire-area lots, a replacement is a good time to move to tempered glass.
Book a storm inspection
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 inspection; we respond the same business day.
Sources: Flüeler, Hail Impact Resistance of Building Materials, IIBEC Interface (2009); Building America Solution Center, Impact-Rated and Fire-Resistant Glass; Cardinal Glass, Capillary Tubes.
