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 |
| $767.6 million | The July 20, 2009 Denver metro hailstorm caused $767.6 million in insured losses. Source: Denver7 (KMGH), citing Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, 2009 |
| 244 | Colorado ranked 6th among U.S. states for major hail events (hail 1 inch or larger) in 2025, with 244 events. Source: Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), 2025 |
| 50 | Colorado and Kansas share the highest property hail-damage risk index in the U.S. (50, versus 1 in the Southeast), per a national hail atlas. Source: Illinois State Water Survey / University of Illinois, 1950-2009 data |
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.
After hail damages a Denver roof, the work usually happens in a predictable order: protect the house and photograph the damage that night, get a roof inspection in the first week, file the claim and meet the adjuster, agree on a written scope, then the contractor pulls a Denver permit, installs the roof to the city’s wind and code rules, and calls for the final inspection. Your insurer pays in stages, usually with depreciation released after the work is done. Knowing the sequence keeps you from signing too early or waiting too long.
The night of the storm
- Stop water first. Move belongings, catch drips, and if water is coming through, ask a roofer to tarp the damaged area. Keep the receipt.
- Photograph everything with the date: hailstones next to a coin, dents in gutters and cars, ceiling stains like the one in the photo below.
- Stay off the roof. Hail-wet shingles are slippery and broken decking is hard to see.
Week one: inspection before you file
Have a roofer inspect before you open a claim. We check every slope, the ridge, valleys and the soft metal, and photograph each hit; our page on how a roofer inspects a roof for hail damage shows the method. If there is functional damage, file promptly. If not, you have avoided a claim. Wind often comes with Denver hail, so we also check edges and ridge caps for the damage described in how high winds damage Denver roofs.
Weeks one to four: claim, adjuster and scope
- File the claim yourself and write down the claim number. The claim stays yours.
- Meet the adjuster. We can be on the roof when your adjuster inspects, with our photos, so nothing gets missed in the scope.
- Compare the insurer’s estimate with the roofer’s scope line by line: tear-off, underlayment, starter, ridge, drip edge, vents and flashing.
- Sign a written contract. Colorado law requires the scope, approximate dates and costs, contact information, a 72-hour right to cancel, and a statement that the contractor cannot pay or waive your deductible. If the insurer later denies the claim in whole or in part, you can rescind within 72 hours of the written denial.
Permit and installation: what Denver requires
The City and County of Denver’s Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated April 11, 2024) shapes the job:
- Tear-off when there are two layers. Roofs with two or more layers must be removed to the deck.
- Decking gaps. No continuous opening between boards over half an inch.
- Wind-rated shingles by zone. 115 mph east of Federal Blvd, 125 mph from Federal to Sheridan, 140 mph from Sheridan to Kipling.
- Ice barrier. Not required at the eaves in Denver. We install ice and water shield as part of our standard system anyway.
- Insulation on uninsulated roofs whose sheathing is exposed: R-30ci above or R-38/R-49 below.
- Asbestos. Older roofs may need a certified asbestos inspection under state health rules.
- Inspections. A one- or two-family asphalt shingle reroof gets a final roof inspection, with a mid-roof inspection if needed.
After the install: final payment and depreciation
Once the city’s final inspection passes, the contractor sends the final invoice and completion photos, and you send them to your insurer to release the recoverable depreciation. Do not let that step slide: see how long you have to complete repairs and recover depreciation. If the adjuster missed items, the photos and code requirements above are how a supplement is documented.
Before the next storm
Denver has had hail nights that reached from Colorado Springs to Centennial, like the June 6, 2012 hailstorm. Our Denver summer roof checklist helps you get ready, and how to vet a storm roofer helps you choose who to call.
Talk to our Denver-area office
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our Denver-area office is at 13275 E. Fremont Pl, Suite 340, Centennial. Call (303) 209-0152, book a free Denver roof inspection, or read about Denver storm damage repair and Denver roof replacement.
Sources: City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist, updated 4/11/2024; C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-104 (unofficial reproduction).
Photos From Our Projects
