Colorado homeowners are paying more for insurance, carrying bigger deductibles, and getting less back on older roofs than ever before. The biggest reason is hail, and the part of your home that hail hits is your roof. That also makes your roof the one part of your insurance bill you can do something about.
This page explains what has changed in Colorado home insurance, what it costs you, how the right roof can lower that cost, and what Colorado's new resilient roof grant program means for homeowners in the Pikes Peak region.
In 2026, the Colorado Division of Insurance studied premium data from 20 insurance companies and found that hail is the single biggest cost driver in Colorado homeowners insurance, making up 26% to 54% of the premium, depending on the county. In El Paso County, about 40% of what you pay for homeowners insurance is for hail risk. For comparison, wildfire accounts for 0.9% to 24.6%.
Colorado already has some of the highest property insurance costs in the country, and premiums here have climbed much faster than the national average. Insurers have responded by changing how they cover roofs.
Put together, a homeowner with an ordinary asphalt roof can now pay a higher premium, carry a bigger deductible, and still get a smaller check after a storm.
Check your own declarations page for three things: your wind and hail deductible, whether roof damage is paid at replacement cost or at ACV or on a roof schedule, and whether you carry ordinance or law coverage, which pays for code upgrades such as those required by the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
Here is what percentage deductibles look like on homes like the ones we roof every week:
| Dwelling coverage | 1% deductible | 2% deductible | 3% deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| $600,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 | $18,000 |
| $800,000 | $8,000 | $16,000 | $24,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
That is the amount you pay every time hail damages your roof, before insurance pays anything. On the Front Range, a roof may take several damaging hailstorms over its lifetime. The cheapest roof claim is the one you never have to file.
You can't change the weather or your ZIP code. You can change what's on top of your house, and insurers and the State of Colorado are now rewarding homeowners who do.
Roofs rated Class 4 under UL 2218, the highest impact-resistance rating, are far less likely to be damaged by hail. Many Colorado insurers offer a premium discount for a documented Class 4 roof. Discounts vary by carrier and location. Industry sources commonly cite savings in the 10% to 30% range on the relevant portion of the premium, and some carriers offer more in the highest-hail areas. Our guide to Class 4 impact-rated roofing explains how the UL 2218 test works.
The Division of Insurance's own 2026 analysis estimated that a fortified, hail-resistant roof could save an El Paso County homeowner about $388 a year on average. Over 30 years, that is more than $11,000, before any future premium increases.
Colorado's HB25-1182 requires insurers that use wildfire risk models to account for property-level mitigation, disclose wildfire risk scores, and let homeowners appeal. A documented Class A fire-rated roof is one of the most important mitigation steps you can take, and in mapped wildfire areas it is now required by code when you replace 25% or more of your roof. See our guide to the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
On June 4, 2026, Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 26-155, creating the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise inside the Colorado Division of Insurance. Its job is to help Colorado homeowners install roofs that stand up to hail and wind.
The seven-member board is still setting up the program. Grant amounts, application dates, the exact roof standards and contractor requirements have not been published yet. We're following it closely, and we'll update this page as soon as the rules are released.
A standard asphalt roof costs less on the day it's installed. But in Colorado, the price of a roof isn't just the installation. It's every deductible, every premium payment, and every replacement over the years you own the home.
| Cost factor | Standard asphalt shingles | Stone coated steel (Unified Steel®) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 15 to 30 years; often less in Colorado due to sun, temperature changes, and hail | 50+ years; 50-year limited transferable warranty |
| Replacements over 50 years | Two or three | None expected |
| Hail rating | Usually not impact rated (Class 4 asphalt costs more) | UL 2218 Class 4, plus FM 4473 Very Severe Hail (VSH) |
| Hail claims and deductibles | More likely to be damaged, meaning more claims and more deductibles | Built to shed hail that damages standard shingles |
| Insurance premium | No impact-resistance discount | Eligible for Class 4 discounts with many carriers |
| Fire rating | Class A in rated systems | Class A with the manufacturer's designated assembly |
| At resale | A roof the buyer may have to replace | A transferable warranty and a selling point |
Add it up: two or three asphalt roofs, several hail deductibles, and decades without a premium discount, versus one roof, installed once. One stone coated steel roof that meets the new wildfire code can earn an insurance discount, may qualify for a state grant, and carries a 50-year transferable warranty.
If a storm has already damaged your roof, start with our insurance claim roof replacement guide.
It can. Many Colorado insurers give a discount for a Class 4 impact-resistant roof, and some price newer roofs more favorably. The amount depends on your carrier and location. Call your agent before you choose a roof and ask what discount applies to a Class 4 roof. We'll give you the documentation they need.
Yes. Unified Steel stone coated steel carries the UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, the highest available, and was the first stone coated steel roof in the U.S. to earn a Very Severe Hail (VSH) rating under FM 4473.
Senate Bill 26-155, signed in June 2026, created the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise to give grants to homeowners who install hail- and wind-resistant roofs. Funding begins in 2027. Grant amounts, eligibility rules and application dates have not been announced yet.
Not yet. The program's board is still writing the rules. We'll update this page as soon as applications open.
The law says insurers may not pass the 0.5% fee on to policyholders as a surcharge.
FORTIFIED Roof is a construction standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. It covers not just the roof covering but how the whole roof is attached and sealed, and it's verified by an independent evaluator. SB26-155 points to FORTIFIED or a similar certification as the benchmark for grant-eligible roofs.
It's a wind or hail deductible set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat dollar amount. A 2% deductible on a $600,000 home is $12,000 per claim. Check the declarations page of your policy.
That depends on the roof's age, your deductible, and how your policy pays for roof damage. If your roof is older and your policy pays on actual cash value or a roof schedule, the next hailstorm could leave you paying for much of a replacement yourself. A free review will show you the numbers.
Premiums and deductibles are going up. The state is putting money behind better roofs. And the roof you choose now will shape your insurance costs for decades. Schedule a free roof and insurance review, and we'll show you what a Class 4, Class A stone coated steel roof would cost, and save, on your home. Call Lianro Metal Roofs at 719-481-8026, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, or send us a message.
This page is general information, not insurance, legal or financial advice. Insurance discounts, deductibles and coverage vary by carrier and policy. Grant program details are subject to rules not yet adopted by the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise. Confirm specifics with your insurance agent.
Our comprehensive buyer’s guide is specially designed to help you make an informed choice about your roof today.
© Red Barn Media Group 2026