When you build a new house or an addition in Colorado Springs, seven roof decisions are yours to make, and they are cheapest to settle before framing: the material and its hail and fire rating, the pitch, the roof shape and where water and snow will go, attic ventilation, eave protection, color, and whether solar is coming. PPRBD sets the minimums, including Class A roofing inside the city, an ice barrier above 7,000 feet, at least a 2:12 slope for asphalt shingles, and crickets on new construction. Everything above the minimum is your call.
The seven decisions
| Decision | What to decide | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Material and rating | Architectural or Class 4 shingles, metal, tile | Hail and wind drive repairs and insurance costs |
| Pitch | Slope of each roof plane | Sets which materials are allowed and how snow sheds |
| Shape | Number of valleys, dormers and wall intersections | Every valley and wall joint is a future leak point |
| Ventilation | Intake and exhaust, or an unvented design | Controls attic heat, frost and ice dams |
| Eave protection | Ice barrier and drip edge | Required above 7,000 feet; useful anywhere ice dams form |
| Color | Shade that suits the house and HOA | Permanent for the life of the roof |
| Solar | Now, later or never | Panels must come off for any future reroof |
Material and rating
Decide how much hail and fire risk you want to buy down. Impact-rated (Class 4) shingles and metal resist hail better than standard shingles; inside the City of Colorado Springs, any roof must be Class A and solid wood is excluded. Our comparison of which roofing materials hold up in Colorado covers each option.
Pitch and shape
PPRBD does not allow asphalt shingles on a slope below 2:12. Under the 2021 International Residential Code that PPRBD builds on (as summarized in Denver’s roofing checklist), clay and concrete tile need at least 2-1/2:12 and metal shingles 3:12; flatter areas need a membrane. Simple shapes shed water and snow better than complex ones. Where a chimney or wide projection interrupts the slope, PPRBD requires a cricket on new construction to divert water around it.
Ventilation and eave protection
Balanced intake and exhaust ventilation keeps attics cooler in summer and drier in winter. Properties above 7,000 feet in the Pikes Peak region must have an ice barrier from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall. Drip edge is required at eaves and rakes on shingle roofs. Plan gutters and downspouts with the roof, not after: seamless vs sectional gutters compares the two main types, and the sizing logic in our Austin gutter guide applies to any heavy downpour.
Color
Color is permanent and affects how big the house looks, how it sits on the street and whether the HOA approves it. Light colors make a house look larger; dark colors make it look smaller and more grounded. Ask for full-size samples, compare them against your siding and stone in daylight, and look at finished roofs nearby. Energy effects are small in Colorado; see does roof color affect energy bills.
Solar
If panels are likely, plan their layout now and put a long-life roof under them. In the Pikes Peak region, removing panels for a future reroof requires a separate detach and reset permit pulled by a licensed contractor.
Already have a house?
Most of these decisions come up again at replacement time. Our guide to the big-picture decisions before roofing a home covers replacement planning.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 to talk through your roof plans, or book a free inspection for an existing home. We respond the same business day.
Sources: PPRBD Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated 4/11/2024) (tile and metal shingle slopes).
