El Paso County Hail Guide
Colorado Springs averages more than 7 hail events per year. The decisions made in the first 48 hours after a storm matter more than most homeowners realize. Here's exactly what to do — before, during, and after.
Be Prepared
The best time to prepare is before a storm hits. Two things you can do today that will protect you significantly if you get hit.
Pull out your homeowner's insurance policy and find your roof coverage section. The two most important things to understand:
ACV vs. RCV: Actual Cash Value pays you the depreciated value of your roof — on a 15-year-old roof, that may be almost nothing. Replacement Cost Value pays to actually replace the roof at current material costs. RCV is significantly better and worth the premium difference. If you have ACV and your roof is older, call your agent about upgrading.
Your deductible: Know the exact dollar amount. Some Colorado policies have a separate hail deductible that's a percentage of your home's insured value — not a flat dollar amount. A 1% hail deductible on a $400,000 home is $4,000 out of pocket regardless of damage extent.
Do a pre-season documentation pass. You don't have to get on the roof — binoculars from the yard or photos from a ladder at the eave edge are enough to establish condition. Date the photos (your phone does this automatically in metadata).
This matters because insurers can and do try to attribute post-storm damage to pre-existing wear. Dated pre-storm photos prove condition before the event. Without them, you're relying on the adjuster's judgment about what's old versus new damage.
Also photograph gutters, window screens, A/C unit fins, and any exposed metal on your property. These are easy-to-show indicators that hail reached your property.
The Critical Window
The decisions you make in the first two days matter more than anything that comes after. Follow this order.
Before you call your insurance company, before you call a roofer, before you let anyone on your roof — photograph everything. Walk your entire property and document:
Ground-level evidence: dented gutters and downspouts, bruised or torn window screens, dented A/C fins, damage to any painted metal surfaces (mailbox, fence hardware, outdoor furniture). These items prove hail reached your property at a specific size and density — and they're the first things an adjuster looks for.
Date and timestamp everything. Email the photos to yourself or upload to a cloud folder immediately — this creates a time-stamped paper trail that's independent of your phone.
Within hours of a significant hail event — sometimes the same afternoon — roofing contractors begin canvassing neighborhoods. They monitor weather radar. They know which streets got hit. They move fast, and they will knock on your door before you've had time to think clearly about what just happened.
This is one of the most stressful parts of getting hailed on that nobody prepares you for. You're already dealing with the shock of the storm, you don't know how bad the damage is, and suddenly there's a lineup of strangers on your porch with clipboards and a sense of urgency they're trying to make yours. Many homeowners find it completely overwhelming.
One thing that helps: print a No Roofing Solicitors sign and tape it to your door. It sounds simple, but it works — it stops most of the knocking so you can think. We've made one you can print in about 30 seconds.
And here's something worth remembering: a contractor who knocks anyway — who ignores a clearly posted sign — is already showing you how they communicate and how they respect boundaries. That's useful information before you've signed anything.
Storm chasers — out-of-state roofing contractors who follow hail events — will knock on your door within 24 hours of a significant storm. This is not an exaggeration. Some of them do legitimate work. Many do not.
Do not sign a contract, an Assignment of Benefits (AOB), a "contingency agreement," or any document on the day someone knocks. Take their card, thank them, and tell them you'll call if you're interested. A contractor who pressures you to sign the same day you've been hit is telling you something about how they operate.
Call your insurance company directly — not through a contractor. You file the claim. You schedule the adjuster appointment. You are present when the adjuster inspects your property.
A contractor who wants to "handle everything" including your insurance claim is inserting themselves between you and your own policy. Your insurer works for you — not for your contractor. Maintain visibility into every step.
Schedule the adjuster appointment yourself and be home for it. Walk the property with the adjuster — don't let them inspect alone. Point out everything you documented. Show them the dented gutters, the A/C fins, the screen damage.
Adjusters during high-volume storm seasons can be rushed. They work for the insurance company. Their job is to accurately assess damage — but they're human and they miss things. Your job is to make sure they see everything.
Once you have the adjuster's report and initial payment (or denial), have a trusted local contractor review it. Adjusters miss items — especially on complex roofs or during high-volume storm seasons. Your contractor can formally supplement the claim for any legitimate damage that was missed.
This supplement process goes through your insurance company — not around it. A contractor who says they'll "handle the difference" outside the insurance process is describing something problematic. A legitimate supplement is filed with your insurer and approved the same way as the original claim.
Know What to Look For
You don't have to get on the roof to find important evidence. Here's what to look for at ground level first.
Dents or dings in metal gutters are clear evidence of hail size and impact density. Significant granule accumulation in gutters after a storm means shingles are shedding — a major warning sign.
Torn, dented, or bruised screens are excellent photographic evidence. They show exactly where hail hit and at what angle. Don't replace them before documenting.
The thin aluminum fins on your outdoor A/C condenser are very sensitive to hail impact. Even moderate hail leaves visible damage. This is one of the strongest pieces of documentation you can provide.
On the roof itself, hail damage appears as random dark spots where granules have been knocked loose. The bruise may be soft to the touch (fresh) or hard (older). Random pattern distinguishes hail from wear.
Check metal flashing around chimney, skylights, and vents for dents. Metal valleys and drip edge also show impact clearly. These are often missed by adjusters but photographed easily.
Dents in vehicles parked outside, damage to painted wood surfaces, and marks on deck boards all document hail size and intensity. Don't overlook these before filing.
Protect Yourself
Out-of-state contractors follow hail events. Some are legitimate. Many are not. Here's how to tell the difference.
Not automatically a scam — but the speed is a tactic. They're competing for your signature before you've had time to think. Don't sign.
"This offer is only good if you sign now" is a sales tactic. Legitimate contractors have work next week too.
In El Paso County, roofing contractors need a local license. Ask for the number and verify it. "We're licensed in Colorado" is meaningless — Colorado has no state roofing license.
Any document that transfers control of your insurance claim to the contractor. Do not sign this under any circumstances.
This is insurance fraud in Colorado. A contractor making this offer is willing to commit fraud on your behalf — which tells you everything about how they operate.
If they can't give you a verifiable local address and license number, you have no recourse when something goes wrong. They'll be in another state by the time you find the leak.
Signs of a legitimate contractor after a storm:
Leaves information and invites you to call when you're ready. No pressure, no deadline.
Can provide names and numbers of El Paso County jobs from the last 12 months.
Doesn't suggest skipping the PPRBD permit. Knows the local code without being asked.
Encourages you to be home for the adjuster inspection — not to handle it on your behalf.
The Claims Process
Colorado sees more hail claims per capita than almost any other state. That makes insurers aggressive about documentation. Here's what you need to know.
ACV (Actual Cash Value) policies pay the current value of your roof after depreciation. A 20-year-old roof might be valued at 20–30% of replacement cost. If your deductible is high and the roof is old, an ACV policy can result in almost no payout.
RCV (Replacement Cost Value) policies pay to replace the roof at current material and labor costs. They typically pay in two stages: an initial ACV payment, then a final payment (the "recoverable depreciation") after the work is completed and documented.
Once your claim is approved, you'll receive an initial payment minus your deductible. If you have RCV coverage, you'll receive a second payment (recoverable depreciation) after the work is completed — but only if you actually complete the repairs and submit documentation.
Your contractor reviews the scope and can supplement for items the adjuster missed. This goes through your insurer as a formal request — not as a side deal with the contractor. You should receive and approve any supplement before work begins.
PPRBD Permit Note: Stocking roofing materials on your driveway or roof before a permit is issued is considered the start of a project by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Violations result in a triple permit fee and a stop work order. Do not let a contractor push you to start immediately after a storm. The permit process takes a few days — a legitimate contractor knows this and plans for it.
Get Connected
Connect with a local roofing professional — licensed, insured, and working El Paso County for years. Tell us what happened and we'll point you in the right direction.