Storm situations common on the southwest side

  • IfA windstorm brings down a pine or scrub oak onto the houseThenGet the weight off with a tree service that can work on steep ground, then tarp. Check for damage to decks and retaining walls too.
  • IfTile, slate, wood shake or specialty roofing was damagedThenFind a roofer experienced with that material before temporary work, so the tarp does not crack more of it.
  • IfA long, steep driveway is blocked by trees or snowThenTell any contractor about access ahead of time; larger equipment may not reach the house.
  • IfRunoff from the slope above is reaching the houseThenNote the path the water took and ask a drainage contractor about swales or diversions.

What is typical here

Terrain
Rising ground toward the foothills, with sloped lots and drainage gullies
Housing
A mix of mid-century homes and larger custom homes from many decades
Roofing
More variety than most of the city: tile, slate, wood shake, metal and architectural shingles
Vegetation
Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, scrub oak and mature yard trees
Permits
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department for addresses in the city and county

Why wind matters more here

Some of the strongest gusts in the Colorado Springs area tend to be felt close to the mountains, where downslope wind first reaches the city. Homes on exposed ridges and the upper edges of neighborhoods feel this most. Large, unusual roof shapes, such as tall hips, wide overhangs and decorative chimneys, give wind more to grab.

Evergreen trees keep their needles through winter, so they catch both wind and snow year-round. On steep lots, roots may be shallow over rock, and a tree that has stood for decades can go over in a strong storm, sometimes taking a section of retaining wall or deck with it.

Specialty roofing is common, and it changes the emergency plan. Walking on clay tile or slate to install a tarp can break more pieces than the storm did. Ask whoever responds how they plan to protect the roof surface while covering the damage.

Getting ahead of the next windstorm

  1. Walk the property with an arborist

    Identify trees leaning toward the house, dead tops, and limbs over the roof.

  2. Document the roof material

    Record the manufacturer, color and profile of tile or slate if known, so replacements can be matched.

  3. Check fasteners and edges

    Ask a roofer about ridge, hip and edge attachment, where wind damage usually starts.

  4. Plan for access

    Know where a tree service or roofer could stage equipment on a steep lot.

Map of Broadmoor and southwest Colorado Springs. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.