Key numbers
45 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Denver County from 1984 to 2026 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1984 to 2026 | 1980s: 1, 1990s: 4, 2000s: 12, 2010s: 17, 2020s: 11 Source: Storm library: Denver metro hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $2.3 billion insured losses (2017 dollars), May 8, 2017 Source: RMIIA |
| About 20 | NAHB's 2007 study puts asphalt shingle roof life at about 20 years, fiber cement shingles about 25 years and wood shakes about 30 years. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| 5.19 million | Wood shingles or shakes were the main roofing material on 5.19 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
A storm counts when the library lists Denver 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.
Synthetic cedar roofing gives a Denver home the look of hand-split cedar shakes in a polymer or composite shake that does not rot, split, cup or attract insects, and many products are listed Class A for fire. That last point matters more every year: Lakewood requires a Class A roof covering on every roof, Louisville’s fire hardening code requires Class A, and inside mapped wildfire areas the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code does too. If you love the cedar look, synthetic shake is usually how you keep it.
Synthetic cedar vs real cedar
| Real cedar shakes | Synthetic cedar shakes | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Natural grain that weathers to gray | Molded from real shakes, holds its color |
| Upkeep | Needs treatment; moss, rot and splitting over time | Little routine maintenance |
| Fire | Not Class A on its own | Many products are listed Class A (check the specific listing) |
| Deck | Often laid over spaced boards | Needs a solid deck |
| Hail | Splits on impact | Many products carry an impact rating |
Our synthetic vs natural cedar article goes deeper, and the fire hazards of cedar shake roofs explains why insurers and fire departments care.
The fire rules that apply around Denver
- Lakewood: all roof coverings must be Class A under ASTM E108 or UL 790. See our Lakewood page.
- Louisville: the city’s fire hardening code requires Class A roof coverings for permits received on or after January 21, 2026. See our Louisville page.
- Mapped wildfire areas statewide: the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code requires a Class A roof covering, and replacing 25% or more of an existing roof covering triggers replacement of the whole roof to the new-construction standard. Foothill areas around Golden and Morrison are where this comes up most.
- Unincorporated Douglas County: wood shakes are not permitted at all; only a repair under 25% of the roof may be matched in wood. Our Franktown roofers page covers the county’s rules.
Moving off an old cedar roof
Many cedar shake roofs in the metro were installed over spaced board decking. Asphalt and synthetic products need a solid deck, so a cedar tear-off usually includes new sheathing over or in place of the boards, and the attic ventilation gets rethought. Our article on ventilation changes when moving from cedar explains why. The decking belongs in the quote so it is not a surprise.
Cost
Synthetic cedar costs more than architectural shingles and usually less than slate. See cedar roof cost in Denver and using a cedar roof to match the local look. If a designer asphalt shingle with a shake profile fits your budget better, see asphalt shingle roofing.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Call our Centennial office at (303) 209-0152 or book a free Denver roof inspection.
Sources: City of Lakewood, Roofing and Re-roofing handout; City of Louisville, Fire Hardening Code; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code; Douglas County, Roofing.
