How do I tell if hail damaged my gutters?

Look for dents along the front face and top edge, dimpled or bent downspouts, cracked or loosened end caps, and gutters pulling away from the fascia. Photograph everything from the ground and, if it is safe, from a ladder.

Is steel or aluminum better for hail?

Sources we reviewed describe steel as dent-resistant under heavy impact, though scratches in the coating can lead to rust. We found no independent hail test comparing materials, so ask installers what they would choose and why.

Does a thicker gutter resist hail better?

Vendors say heavier-gauge aluminum is more impact resistant, but we found no independent testing. Ask any installer to state the actual material thickness in writing rather than relying on a sales claim.

Should I replace gutters or my roof first?

If both were damaged in the same storm, it usually makes sense to coordinate them, since gutters attach to the roof edge and fascia. Ask each contractor how the sequence will work.

Hail and Gutters in Colorado Springs

Call (719) 628-1885

Hail is the reason many Colorado Springs homeowners start shopping for gutters. A gutter is thin metal bolted to the edge of your roof, which puts it right in the path of falling stones. This guide covers what recent storms looked like locally and how to think about material and thickness.

What local hailstorms have looked like

A storm on July 28, 2016 produced more than $352 million in insurance claims according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, as reported by Denver7. Coverage described the hail as tennis-ball sized and said more than 84,000 cars and homes were damaged. A June 2018 storm that hit the Fountain area was reported to have caused roughly $169 million in insured losses and nearly 26,000 auto and homeowner claims, with hail up to 3 inches. These are single-storm figures, not yearly averages, but they show how much damage one afternoon can do along the southern Front Range.

An insurance agency guide published in October 2025 reported 64 hail reports within 10 miles of downtown in 2025 compared with 14 in 2024, with the largest stones around 2 inches. That is an agency blog rather than official weather data, so treat it as a sign that hail frequency can swing a lot from year to year.

Signs of hail damage on gutters

Round dents on the top lip or front face, often concentrated on the side facing the storm
Downspouts with dimples or flattened sections
Seams or end caps that have popped or cracked
Paint or coating chipped where stones struck
Sections sagging or pulling from the fascia

Damage often shows up on the roof, siding, window screens, and vehicles too. Walk the whole property, because a dented gutter is a good clue to check the roof.

Choosing a material

Most gutters you will be quoted are seamless aluminum, steel, vinyl, or copper. A few points to keep in mind:

Steel is described by some sources as more dent-resistant than aluminum under heavy impact, but a scratch through the protective coating can lead to rust.
Aluminum is the common residential choice and is often offered in a standard and a heavier thickness. Vendors say the heavier one resists impact better, but we did not find independent hail testing.
Copper costs far more and is usually a design choice, not a hail strategy.
Vinyl is the cheapest option, and we have no local evidence about how it holds up in hail or temperature swings.

Because the evidence is thin, a useful move is to ask each installer to write the material, the thickness or gauge, and the width on the estimate. That lets you compare bids on actual specifications.

Gutter width

Six-inch gutters carry more water than five-inch gutters in a heavy downpour. Width is mainly about capacity, not hail resistance, so decide it based on your roof size and how much water comes off it.

Next steps

If you suspect hail damage, document it first, then read how hail insurance claims work in Colorado. When you are ready for quotes, call (719) 628-1885 or send a request below and we will connect you with a local gutter installer.