Gutter Repair in Colorado

Local know-how

Front Range hail, heavy snow and big temperature swings

Colorado's Front Range, including Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, is one of the most hail-prone regions in the country. Hail dents gutters and downspouts and strips shingle granules. Snow is heavy in winter, and temperatures can swing dramatically in a day, causing freeze-thaw ice at the eaves.

Mountain towns see much heavier snow and need gutters, snow guards and hangers built for the load. Many mountain homes forgo gutters on some roof planes because snow slides would tear them off, relying on drip edges and grading instead.

The Western Slope, around Grand Junction, is much drier, with hot summers and less snow. High-altitude sun everywhere in the state breaks down sealants and plastic quickly.

Wildfire risk in the foothills and mountains makes metal guards and regular cleaning sensible. Metal guards that shed snow and resist hail hold up best, and downspouts should discharge away from walkways that freeze when wet.

Denver and the Front Range in a year

Denver averages roughly 14 to 15 inches of precipitation a year and over 50 inches of snow, but the weather swings fast. A spring storm can drop a foot of heavy wet snow one day and melt it the next. March and April are often the snowiest months, and May and June bring the peak of hail season. Late summer thunderstorms build over the foothills each afternoon and can dump hail and heavy rain on the city for half an hour. Gutters on the Front Range need to handle all of this, often in the same week.

Hail claims and replacement gutters

The Denver metro and the corridor from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins see frequent hail, and several of the most expensive hail storms in US history have hit the area. After a big storm, roofing and gutter crews from out of state arrive quickly. Colorado law requires roofing contractors to give homeowners a written contract and allows cancellation within a set time after an insurance decision; ask any contractor to explain the terms. Gutters are often replaced alongside the roof when hail dents both.

Mountain towns and snow-shedding roofs

In Breckenridge, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Evergreen and other mountain towns, snowfall is measured in hundreds of inches on the peaks and tens of feet at some homes. Metal roofs are popular because they shed snow, but sliding snow can sweep gutters off the eave. Many mountain homes use snow retention bars and fences on the roof, extra-heavy gutters on brackets fixed into the rafters, or no gutters on the steepest planes. Heat cable in gutters and downspouts is common to keep meltwater moving on cold nights.

Colorado Springs, Pueblo and the south

Colorado Springs sits higher than Denver, with strong winds off the mountains, frequent hail and dry, sunny weather between storms. The Black Forest and the western foothills have pine-covered lots with high wildfire risk, as the 2012 and 2013 fires showed. Pueblo and the Arkansas Valley are hotter and drier, with less snow. Across the south, wind-blown dust and grit settle in gutters and should be flushed out before the summer storm season.

Expansive soils and downspout extensions

Much of the Front Range sits on bentonite clay and other expansive soils that swell when wet. Concentrated water from a downspout near the foundation can lift slabs, crack basement walls and heave sidewalks. Colorado builders and geotechnical engineers routinely recommend extending downspouts several feet from the house and keeping a slope away from the foundation. Splash blocks and extensions that get moved by mowers or snow shovels should be put back promptly.

UV, altitude and materials

At a mile high and above, ultraviolet light is stronger, and sealants, vinyl gutters and plastic parts age quickly. Baked-finish aluminum and steel last best, and copper is a good choice on mountain homes. Dark gutters absorb more heat in summer sun, which increases expansion and contraction at the joints. Seamless runs reduce the number of seams that can open over time.

Fort Collins, Boulder and the northern Front Range

Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Longmont and Boulder have older tree-lined neighborhoods with large cottonwoods, ash and maples, many of which have been lost to emerald ash borer in recent years. Cottonwood fluff in early summer clogs screens and outlets. Boulder's foothills homes face wind gusts that can exceed 100 miles per hour during downslope wind events in winter, which tear loose gutters and downspouts.

Questions to ask on the Front Range

Ask whether gutters will be fixed to the fascia or to the rafters, how far apart the hangers will be, whether snow guards are recommended above the gutter, and where each downspout will discharge relative to the foundation and the driveway. On hail-damaged homes, ask whether the gutter replacement is part of the insurance scope, and keep copies of every estimate and photo.

Ice at entries and walkways

Colorado's sunny winter days melt snow on the roof, and that water refreezes on shaded steps, driveways and sidewalks at night. Downspouts that discharge across a walkway create ice sheets that can last for weeks. Rerouting a downspout to a planted bed or adding a buried pipe under the walk prevents a slip hazard.

Grand Junction and the Western Slope

Grand Junction, Montrose and Durango sit west of the Divide. Grand Junction is high desert, with under 10 inches of precipitation a year and hot summers. Durango and the San Juan towns get more snow and pine debris. Along the Western Slope, dust storms and cottonwood fluff are bigger gutter concerns than leaves, and sealant life is short in the sun.

Hail-resistant choices

Thicker aluminum and steel gutters dent less than thin stock, and many Front Range homeowners pair Class 4 impact-rated shingles with heavier gutters when replacing after a storm.

Aurora, Lakewood and the Denver suburbs

Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster and Littleton have large stocks of 1960s to 1980s ranch and split-level homes, many with original gutters patched after repeated hail. Dented downspouts are common at corners.