A house’s construction era tells a roofer what is probably on the roof and walls, what was hidden under the last reroof, and which hazards need a plan. On the Front Range, pre-1940 homes bring steep, cut-up roofs and likely lead paint; 1940s and 1950s cottages and ranches may have asbestos cement siding; 1960s and 1970s split-levels and bi-levels have many roof-to-wall joints; 1980s to 2000s two-stories are on their second or third roof; and 2010s homes mix shingles, metal and low-slope sections. This overview compares the five eras; each has its own guide. It is general information, not an inspection.
Jump to: Housing age by county · Era comparison · Checks for every era · Safety rules · When to call
How old are Front Range homes?
Share of all housing units by year built, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (table B25034). These count every unit, owned and rented, single-family and multifamily.
| Built | Denver County | El Paso County |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 or earlier | 16.0% | 4.4% |
| 1940 to 1959 | 15.7% | 7.4% |
| 1960 to 1979 | 19.2% | 22.9% |
| 1980 to 2009 | 24.4% | 44.0% |
| 2010 or later | 24.7% | 21.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1990 |
In plain terms, Denver is a city of older homes, while most of the Colorado Springs area was built after 1980. That changes which era-related issues come up most on our jobs.
The five eras at a glance
| Era | Common forms | Typical original roof | Walls | Watch for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | Steep gables, hips, gambrels, flat Terrace rows | Wood shingle; tile or slate on some Tudors | Clapboard, wood shingle, brick, stucco | Lead paint, plank decking, multiple layers | Pre-1940 |
| 1940s and 1950s | Low side gables and hips | Asphalt | Asbestos cement shingle, brick, wood | Asbestos siding, low pitch, short overhangs | Post-war ranch |
| 1960s and 1970s | Multi-level low roofs, mansards | Asphalt; wood shake on mansards | Brick below, wood or aluminum above | Roof-to-wall flashing, shake mansards | Split-level and bi-level |
| 1980s to 2000s | Two-story cross gables and hips | Asphalt; some cedar shake | Wood, hardboard or OSB lap, stucco | Valleys, step flashing, swollen OSB siding | Two-story |
| 2010 and newer | Steep gables with low-slope and metal accents | Asphalt; standing seam accents | Fiber cement, stucco | Low-slope transitions, warranty paperwork | 2010s and newer |
Style dates come from History Colorado’s architecture guide. The roofing and wall columns describe what is typical, not what is on your house.
Checks before any reroof
- Count the layers. Colorado’s adopted residential code (2021 IRC, section R908.3) calls for removing all existing layers down to the deck when a roof is replaced.
- Look at the deck from the attic. Spaced plank boards, water stains and delamination all affect the scope.
- Find the ventilation. Note soffit vents, ridge or box vents, and any bath fans that end in the attic.
- Walk the walls where roofs meet them. Stains or soft siding below a roof-to-wall corner point to flashing work.
- Ask what the siding and trim are. Paint age and siding material decide which safety rules apply.
Lead and asbestos rules in brief
The federal government banned lead-based paint for homes in 1978. EPA estimates that 87 percent of homes built before 1940, 69 percent built from 1940 to 1959 and 24 percent built from 1960 to 1977 are likely to have it. Contractors who disturb paint on pre-1978 homes must be EPA lead-safe certified under the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.
EPA lists roofing and siding shingles among home products that may contain asbestos. In Colorado, CDPHE says buildings of any age may contain it, and on a single-family home a certified asbestos inspector must check suspect material before work disturbs more than 32 square feet. Homes built after October 12, 1988 can be exempt with a signed form stating no asbestos was used. Texas rules for single-family homes differ; ask us if you are in the Austin area.
When to call a roofer
Call before you sign anything on a house built before 1980, and any time you see stains at a roof-to-wall joint or soft decking from the attic. For the problems themselves, see the roof problems guide. The homeowner guides hub lists our measurement, installation and hail-rating guides too.
Ask us about your home
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. We install roofing and siding, so we look at both before quoting either. Colorado Springs area: (719) 488-2800 or a free inspection. Denver metro: (303) 209-0152 or a free Denver inspection. Austin: (512) 610-5897 or a free Austin inspection. Same-business-day reply.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, tables B25034 and B25035 (via Census Reporter); History Colorado architecture guide; EPA, Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead; EPA RRP program; EPA, Learn About Asbestos; CDPHE asbestos guidance; 2021 IRC Chapter 9, R908.3 (UpCodes).
