Five Colorado weather problems cause most of the roof repairs we see: shingles that never sealed because they were installed in the cold, ice dams at the eaves and valleys, heavy snow on low-slope roofs, high wind, and limbs or debris driven into the roof. Each one is fixed differently. Unsealed shingles need hand-sealing or replacement, ice dams need the attic heat loss fixed, snow damage needs the structure checked, and wind and tree damage need the deck repaired before new shingles go on. Hail is the sixth, and it is usually a claim rather than a repair.
The quick guide
| Weather | What it does to the roof | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Cold-weather install | Sealant strips never bond; nails over or under driven | Hand-seal or replace loose shingles; correct nailing |
| Freeze and thaw | Ice dams at eaves and valleys push water under shingles | Repair the leak; fix attic insulation and ventilation |
| Heavy snow | Strain on low-slope roofs; ice damage from careless removal | Check structure and drainage; replace punctured areas |
| High wind | Lifted, creased or missing shingles at edges and ridge | Replace and seal the shingles; check the whole slope |
| Trees and debris | Punctured shingles and decking | Re-deck and reshingle the damaged area |
| Hail | Bruised, cracked shingles and dented metal | Inspection, then repair or a claim-funded replacement |
Shingles that never sealed
Our milder winter days let Colorado roofers work most of the year, but the day has to be warm enough. Every shingle is held by nails and by a factory sealant strip that the sun softens so it bonds to the shingle below. Install on a day that is too cold, and the strip may not activate; one windy day can then coat it with dust so it never seals. The nails matter as much: nails should sit flush and straight, and cold shingles take more air pressure to drive than warm ones, so the gun has to be adjusted through the day. Over-driven and under-driven nails are a common reason shingles blow off. Denver’s code checklist calls for the manufacturer’s nailing pattern, with at least four nails per shingle strip. We cover the cold-weather details in cold weather roof installs, and how wind finishes the job in how high winds damage Denver roofs.
Ice dams
When snow on the upper roof melts from attic heat and refreezes at the cold eaves, it forms a dam that holds water against the shingles. That water finds any gap in the flashing or shingles, most often at the eaves and in valleys. Every winter we get calls about ice dams, and the most expensive damage we see comes from people chopping ice with axes, picks and pitchforks. Clear snow from the ground with a roof rake if you can do it safely, and fix the cause: attic heat loss and blocked ventilation. Denver’s code does not require an ice barrier at the eaves, but we install ice and water shield on our roofs as standard. For Colorado Springs, see snow and ice damage repair.
Heavy snow
Denver’s Roofing Guide lists a design ground snow load of 35 pounds per square foot. Steeper roofs tend to shed snow, but low-slope roofs on porches, additions, condos and commercial buildings can collect heavy, wet snow, and removing it is more dangerous than it looks. Have a professional check drainage and structure after a big storm rather than climbing onto a loaded roof.
Wind, trees and debris
Front Range winds drive branches across shingles and punch limbs through decking. If the damage is limited, the broken decking is cut out and replaced and the area reshingled to match. A large limb on the roof needs an emergency cover first. Lightning can cause similar punctures and split chimneys; see can lightning damage your roof.
When it is more than a repair
If repairs keep coming back on the same slope, the problem is usually the installation or the age of the roof. Our summer roof checklist for Colorado Springs helps you catch problems early, and what storm roofing is and how to hire a storm roofer helps when a storm makes the decision for you.
Book a repair visit
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. In Colorado Springs, call (719) 488-2800 or book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection. In the Denver area, call (303) 209-0152 or see our Denver roof repair service.
Sources: City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist, updated 4/11/2024 (design snow load, ice barrier, nailing, repair permits).
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