Key numbers
69 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Adams County, which includes Henderson, 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: 21, 2010s: 27, 2020s: 16 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 36.6% | About 36.6% of Adams County's housing units (71,575 of 195,793) were built in 1979 or earlier, the Census bin closest to the 1978 federal lead-paint ban. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
A storm counts when the library lists Adams 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.
Roofers working in Henderson follow unincorporated Adams County’s roofing rules, because Adams County lists Henderson as one of its unincorporated communities. Those rules are specific: one layer of roofing maximum, no permit for repairs under one square (100 square feet) on a slope, but once a repair goes past one square the entire slope with the damaged shingles must be replaced. Asphalt shingles must carry an ASTM D3161 wind rating (Adams County’s design wind speed is 115 mph), and every permit ends with a final inspection. A mailing address does not always match the jurisdiction, so the first step is confirming which building department applies to yours.
Adams County roofing rules at a glance
| Topic | Adams County requirement (July 2026 checklist) |
|---|---|
| Code | 2024 International Residential Code plus the manufacturer’s instructions |
| Small repairs | Under 1 square on any slope: no permit |
| Bigger repairs | Over 1 square on a slope: the whole slope is replaced |
| Layers | One maximum, sloped or flat |
| Mixing materials | Allowed if the change happens at a ridge, hip or open valley |
| Shingles | ASTM D3161 rated; 115 mph wind speed; no shingles below 2:12 |
| 3-tab shingles | Invoice or a leftover bundle showing the brand and type on site for the final |
| Underlayment | Two layers of 15# felt below 4:12, one layer at 4:12 and up; ice and water shield optional |
| Drip edge | Required at eaves and rakes, minimum 2 inches |
| Switching to tile | Engineer’s approval of the framing |
| Inspections | Sheathing (when new sheathing goes on) and final |
| Wildfire | New construction in the county’s mapped wildfire areas must meet the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code; check your parcel on the state map |
What the slope rule means after hail
Because Adams County requires the whole slope to be replaced once damage on it passes one square, an insurance scope that only covers patches may not match what the county requires. The claim stays yours; our photos document each slope so nothing gets missed in the scope. See Denver storm damage repair for the full storm process and the cost of a Denver roof replacement for pricing.
Roofing services in Henderson
Shingle roof replacement, repairs, tile (with the required engineering), metal and commercial roofing. Nearby: Aurora and Broomfield. See all Denver-area towns we serve.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, with 650+ Google reviews, and we reply the same business day. Call our Centennial office at (303) 209-0152 or book a free roof inspection.
Sources: Adams County, Cities and Towns; Adams County Community and Economic Development, Residential Roofing Requirements (July 2026).
