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 |
| 20 | NAHB's 2007 study puts gutter life at more than 50 years for copper and 20 years for aluminum. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| About 0.02 | Without algae growth, asphalt shingle solar reflectance changes by about 0.02 or less over three years; algae staining in humid climates can cut it by up to 0.06. Source: LBNL / Cool Roof Toolkit (abstract), 2012 |
| 10 | In a 2019 IBHS ember-storm test, the half of a house with cedar siding, vinyl gutters and bark mulch ignited after 10 minutes, while the half with fiber cement siding, metal gutters and gravel survived. Source: IIBEC, 2019 |
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.
Integrity Roofing and Painting installs and replaces metal gutters on existing homes across Denver and its suburbs, in all common residential sizes and in copper, aluminum and steel, and we install LeafGuard gutter protection. A good gutter job in the metro is about four things: sizing for the roof area, hangers strong enough for snow, room for metal to expand through big temperature swings, and downspouts that carry water well away from foundations on swelling soils.
Materials compared
| Material | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Light, does not rust, many colors | Dents in hail; most expansion of the three |
| Steel | Stiffer under snow and impact | Coating must stay intact to prevent rust |
| Copper | Longest life, patina finish, least upkeep | Highest material cost; needs compatible fasteners |
Over a 100°F temperature swing, a 10-foot section moves about 0.15 inch in aluminum, 0.11 inch in copper and 0.08 inch in galvanized steel, according to Dennis Hall’s sizing guidance in Architectural Graphic Standards, which recommends expansion joints on straight runs longer than 40 feet. Denver sees swings like that between winter nights and sunny afternoons, so long runs get expansion joints or are broken at downspouts.
Sizing for the roof
Gutter and downspout size should follow the roof area draining into each run and the local rainfall intensity, not a rule of thumb. SMACNA’s sizing calculator, based on its Architectural Sheet Metal Manual, uses those inputs. Large or steep roofs, long valleys that dump into one corner, and second-story roofs draining onto lower ones often call for a larger gutter or more downspouts. We size each run and show you why.
Snow, ice and hail
- Snow load. Hangers fastened into solid fascia at close spacing keep gutters from sagging under snow and ice.
- Ice dams. These start with attic heat loss. The Building America Solution Center notes they can form with as little as 2 inches of snow. Gutters do not cause them, but gutters full of debris make the eave worse. See ice in gutters.
- Hail. Aluminum dents easily; steel and copper resist better. Dented gutters are part of every Denver hail inspection.
Downspouts and swelling soils
The Colorado Geological Survey calls swelling soil a common and sometimes serious Colorado hazard. The residential code (R801.3) requires that where expansive or collapsible soils are known, roof water discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation or into an approved drainage system, and R401.3 calls for the ground to fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet. We lay out downspouts and extensions to meet both. If you want a rain barrel, Colorado’s 2016 law (HB 16-1005) allows up to 2 barrels holding a combined 110 gallons at a single-family home, so tell us before we place downspouts.
Gutter guards
We install LeafGuard, a one-piece gutter with a built-in hood that replaces the gutter rather than covering it. Our gutter guard guide compares hood, micro-mesh, screen, foam and brush guards neutrally, including how each handles pine needles, snow and the roof edge.
Gutters with your roof
Gutters come off for a reroof and should go back on after the new drip edge and ice barrier are in. Doing both together lets the roof edge and gutters be fitted at once; see Denver roof replacement. We also handle siding and painting, so trim and fascia can be repaired and painted in the same project. Building and permit rules vary across Denver, Aurora, Lakewood and the counties; see Denver building code data.
Get a Denver gutter estimate
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred roofing contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our Denver office is at 13275 E Fremont Pl, Suite 340, Centennial. Call (303) 209-0152 or book a free inspection; we respond the same business day. Ask about financing.
Sources: Hall, Demystifying Gutter and Downspout Sizing (Architectural Graphic Standards, 2017); SMACNA, Downspout and Gutter Sizing Calculator; 2021 IRC R801.3 (UpCodes); 2021 IRC R401.3 (UpCodes); Colorado Geological Survey, SP-43 Swelling Soils guide; Building America Solution Center, Ice Dam Prevention; Colorado General Assembly, HB 16-1005.
