The roof maintenance that actually helps in Colorado is mostly done from the ground: a yearly inspection before hail season, a look after every major storm, clean gutters and valleys, trimmed branches, and quick fixes for small problems like a cracked pipe boot or a lifted shingle. What hurts a roof is just as important: walking on it, pressure washing it, and putting off small repairs. Do those few things and your roof will usually reach its expected life, unless hail decides otherwise.
A seasonal routine for Colorado Springs
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Schedule an inspection before hail season. Clear gutters and downspouts. Look for winter damage at the eaves. |
| Summer | After every hail or wind storm, check the yard for shingle pieces and granules, and look at gutters and vents for dents. |
| Fall | Clean gutters after leaves drop. Trim branches back from the roof. Check that attic vents are clear. |
| Winter | Watch for icicles and ice building at the eaves, which point to heat loss or poor ventilation. Do not chip ice off shingles. |
Three things never to do
- Walk on the roof. Foot traffic scuffs granules off shingles, breaks brittle ones and cracks old tile. It is also the easiest way to get hurt. Use binoculars from the yard, or take photos with a phone zoom.
- Pressure wash it. High-pressure water strips granules and drives water under shingles. In Colorado, algae and moss are rarely the problem anyway; windblown debris in valleys is more common.
- Patch with tar. Roof cement smeared over a leak hides the problem and makes the proper repair harder. Most leaks need shingles lifted and flashing fixed.
Small things worth fixing now
- Cracked pipe boots. The rubber collars around plumbing vents dry out in our sun. A cracked boot is a small, common leak.
- Lifted or creased shingles. A shingle that has unsealed will keep flapping until it tears off.
- Loose flashing at chimneys and walls.
- Dented gas vent caps after hail. The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department warns that hail-damaged vent caps can stop furnace and water heater exhaust from venting, which can expose a household to carbon monoxide. It suggests carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping rooms and having a qualified contractor check the roof vents.
Small repairs usually do not need a permit. PPRBD requires one when repair or replacement work is over 100 square feet. Our guide on when to fix a roof instead of waiting explains what delay costs.
Keep water moving
Clogged gutters overflow behind the fascia and, in winter, freeze into heavy ice. Clean them at least once a year, keep downspouts discharging away from the foundation, and clear needles and debris from valleys. If you are replacing gutters, choosing a gutter system covers sizes and snow protection.
When maintenance is not enough
If your roof is near the end of its life, has hail damage on most slopes, or leaks in more than one place, maintenance will not save it. A trained inspector can tell you which it is; what a HAAG-trained inspector checks explains a thorough inspection, and our glossary of roofing terms decodes the report. Denver homeowners can compare notes with signs you need a roofer in Denver.
Book a free checkup
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call our Colorado Springs office at (719) 488-2800 or book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection. If we find something small, see Colorado Springs roof repair.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Do You Have Roof Damage From a Storm? and Reroof Guidelines, rev. 03/05/2024.
