In the wake of severe weather events that frequently impact Colorado Springs, homeowners face not only property damage but also the challenge of navigating insurance claims and finding reputable contractors. Unfortunately, this vulnerable time can attract unscrupulous roofers who waive deductibles. Understanding the laws designed to protect you is essential for making informed decisions about your home repairs. It’s crucial to consider Roofers Who Waive Deductibles and their implications for your insurance claims.
The Deductible Waiver Law in Colorado Springs
When searching for Roofers Who Waive Deductibles, be vigilant and ensure you choose a reputable service provider who adheres to the law.
In Colorado, a law known as SB38, specifically codified as CRS 6-22-105, prohibits roofing contractors from paying, waiving, or rebating a homeowner’s insurance deductible for roof repairs or replacements. This means a roofer cannot offer to cover your deductible or promise to reduce the cost of your roof replacement by absorbing the deductible.
What SB38 Prohibits:
- Advertising or promising to pay all or part of a homeowner’s insurance deductible
- Billing insurance companies for the full cost of a project when intending to waive the deductible
- Inflating bills to effectively cover the homeowner’s deductible obligation
- Providing any rebate or compensation to offset deductible payments
Why These Laws Matter
When contractors offer to “waive” your deductible, they typically employ one of several fraudulent strategies:
- Inflated Billing: They submit inflated claims to your insurance company
- Ghost Damage: They may add damage that doesn’t exist to increase the claim amount
- Substandard Work: They cut corners on materials or labor to make up the difference
- Insurance Fraud: Both you and the contractor could face legal consequences for insurance fraud
How to Find Trustworthy Roofers (And Avoid the Bad Ones) in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs experiences frequent severe weather events—from intense hailstorms to powerful chinook winds—that attract what industry experts call “fly by night roofers.” These out-of-town contractors follow severe weather patterns across the Front Range to solicit business. While not all traveling contractors are dishonest, many deductible waiver schemes and roofing scams originate with these temporary operations.
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Contractors who approach you unsolicited after a storm
- Offers that seem “too good to be true” (like waived deductibles)
- Pressure to sign contracts or make decisions immediately
- Requests for large upfront payments
- Limited or suspicious contact information (no physical address, P.O. Box only)
- No proof of proper licensing or insurance
- Magnetic door signs instead of permanent vehicle lettering
- Claims they’re “working in your neighborhood today only”
Protecting Yourself from Roofing Fraud
Research Before You Hire
Verify Colorado Registration: All roofing contractors in Colorado must register with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). You can verify licenses at colorado.gov/dora.
Check Reviews: Look up the company on:
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Google Reviews
- Angie’s List
- Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
Ask for References: Request and contact references from previous customers in the Pikes Peak region
Verify Insurance: Ask for certificates of liability and workers’ compensation insurance
Local Presence: Choose contractors with established Colorado Springs offices and local phone numbers (719 area code)
During the Estimation Process
Get Multiple Written Estimates: Compare quotes from at least three local contractors
Understand Your Insurance Policy: Know your deductible amount and coverage limits—many Colorado policies have separate hail deductibles
Read the Fine Print: Never sign contracts with blank spaces or vague language
Be Wary of Assignment of Benefits (AOB): These agreements sign over your insurance rights to the contractor
Working with Insurance in Colorado
Report Claims Promptly: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after hail or wind damage occurs
Attend Inspections: Be present when both insurance adjusters and contractors inspect your property
Review Scope of Work: Compare your insurance company’s scope of work with contractor estimates
Understand Replacement Cost Value (RCV) vs. Actual Cash Value (ACV): Know how your policy handles depreciation
Hail and Wind Deductibles in Colorado
Many Colorado Springs homeowners are surprised to learn they have separate hail and wind deductibles that differ from their standard homeowners insurance deductibles. These specialized deductibles are extremely common along the Front Range due to frequent severe weather.
Types of Deductibles to Know:
Standard Deductible: A fixed dollar amount (like $1,000 or $2,500)
Percentage Deductible: Calculated as a percentage of your home’s insured value (typically 1-5%)
Hail/Wind Deductible: A separate, often higher deductible specific to hail and wind damage
For example, if your home is insured for $400,000 and you have a 2% hail deductible, you would be responsible for $8,000 out of pocket before insurance covers the remaining costs.
Colorado’s Deductible Laws
Important: Colorado law prohibits contractors from paying, waiving, rebating, or absorbing insurance deductibles. Any contractor offering to “handle” your deductible is proposing insurance fraud, which can result in criminal charges for both the contractor and homeowner.
Reporting Suspected Fraud
If you believe a contractor is engaging in deductible waiver schemes or other fraudulent practices:
- Colorado Division of Insurance: (303) 894-7499
- National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB): 1-800-TEL-NICB or nicb.org
- Colorado Attorney General’s Consumer Protection: (720) 508-6000
- El Paso County Sheriff’s Office: (719) 390-5555
- Notify your insurance company of the suspected fraud
Finding Legitimate Help in Colorado Springs
- Colorado Roofing Association: Can provide referrals to reputable contractors
- Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado: Check contractor ratings and complaints
- Your insurance company: May have a list of preferred contractors
- Local building supply stores: Often know reputable contractors who regularly purchase materials
- Consider contractors who have been established in Colorado Springs for several years with verifiable local references
The Storm After the Storm: A Colorado Springs Homeowner’s Experience
Part 1: The Promise
Jennifer Martinez stood in her driveway in the Briargate neighborhood, surveying the damage to her roof. The previous afternoon’s hailstorm had been typical for Colorado Springs in late spring—golf ball-sized hail that lasted nearly twenty minutes, followed by torrential rain. Her gutters were filled with granules from her damaged shingles, and several pieces of siding showed impact marks.
As she documented the damage with her phone, a white pickup truck with magnetic door signs reading “Rocky Mountain Storm Repair” pulled up. A man in his thirties wearing a company polo approached with a clipboard.
“Looks like that hail really got you,” he said, introducing himself as Mike. “We’re helping homeowners in your neighborhood get their roofs repaired after yesterday’s storm. I can do a free inspection if you’d like.”
Jennifer hesitated. She’d been planning to call a local contractor her neighbor had recommended, but the storm had hit the entire north side of town.
“The best part is, if your insurance approves the claim, we can take care of your deductible,” Mike continued. “Since everyone in Colorado Springs got hit, we’re offering a special program where you won’t pay anything out of pocket.”
The offer was appealing. Jennifer’s hail deductible was $7,500—2.5% of her home’s $300,000 insured value. It was money she didn’t have readily available, especially with her daughter starting college in the fall.
Part 2: The Reality Check
That evening, Jennifer called her neighbor Dave, who had lived in Colorado Springs for over twenty years and had been through several major hailstorms.
“He offered to waive my deductible,” Jennifer explained. “Said it was some kind of special program.”
“Jennifer, that’s illegal in Colorado,” Dave said firmly. “Colorado has specific laws that make it illegal for contractors to pay or waive your deductible. If someone’s offering that, they’re either planning insurance fraud or they’re going to inflate your claim to cover it.”
“But how would they make money if they’re covering my deductible?” Jennifer asked.
“They inflate the estimate they give your insurance company, use cheaper materials than what’s specified, or cut corners on labor,” Dave explained. “I’ve seen neighbors get new roofs that failed within two years because the contractor used inferior shingles or skipped proper installation steps.”
Part 3: Understanding the System
The next morning, Jennifer called her insurance agent, Carlos, who had been handling Pikes Peak region claims for over a decade.
“Let me explain how hail claims work here in Colorado Springs,” Carlos said. “You have Replacement Cost Value coverage, which is good news. We’ll pay for a new roof minus your deductible.”
“So if a proper roof replacement costs $25,000…” Jennifer began.
“We’d pay $17,500, and you’d be responsible for the $7,500 hail deductible,” Carlos confirmed. “Colorado homeowners often have higher deductibles because of our severe weather patterns. It helps keep insurance premiums manageable.”
Carlos explained that Colorado Springs sees an average of 2-3 significant hailstorms per year, making it one of the most hail-active areas in the country.
“The deductible issue has become more complex over the years,” Carlos added. “In the 1990s, most deductibles were flat amounts like $500. But with construction costs rising and frequent claims, percentage-based deductibles became standard. No legitimate contractor can afford to absorb a $7,500 cost.”
Part 4: Doing It Right
Jennifer contacted three established Colorado Springs roofing companies, all with Better Business Bureau A+ ratings and at least ten years of local history. She verified their Colorado contractor licenses through DORA’s website and confirmed their insurance certificates.
The estimates ranged from $24,000 to $26,500 for a complete roof replacement using impact-resistant shingles (which would qualify her for an insurance discount on future premiums). Each contractor provided detailed material specifications and timeline estimates.
She selected Pikes Peak Roofing, a company that had been serving the area since 1985 and had weathered multiple economic downturns. Their representative, Lisa, was transparent about the process.
“Yes, you’ll need to pay your hail deductible—that’s required by Colorado law,” Lisa explained. “But we can coordinate with your insurance company to ensure all legitimate damage is covered. We also offer a payment plan for your deductible if needed.”
Part 5: The Outcome
Six weeks later, Jennifer watched from her kitchen window as the roofing crew installed the final ridge caps on her new impact-resistant shingles. The project had taken four days, with Lisa conducting quality inspections each afternoon.
Her phone rang—it was her neighbor from two streets over, Michelle.
“Jennifer, I just signed with Rocky Mountain Storm Repair! They said they’d handle my whole deductible and I won’t owe anything. Isn’t that amazing?”
Jennifer felt her stomach drop. “Michelle, we need to talk right away. What they’re proposing is insurance fraud.”
As Jennifer explained Colorado’s deductible laws and the risks involved, she could hear the panic building in Michelle’s voice.
“But I already signed a contract and they’re starting next week,” Michelle said.
“Call your insurance company immediately,” Jennifer advised. “And contact the Colorado Attorney General’s office. You might also want to speak with an attorney about canceling that contract legally.”
The Lessons for Colorado Springs Homeowners
Jennifer’s experience highlighted several crucial points:
Hail deductibles in Colorado Springs are typically percentage-based (1-3% of home value) due to frequent severe weather, resulting in deductibles of $3,000-$10,000 for most homes.
Any contractor offering to waive deductibles is proposing something illegal under Colorado state law.
Impact-resistant shingles can qualify for insurance discounts and are highly recommended for the Pikes Peak region.
Storm chasers follow weather patterns up and down the Front Range, often targeting affluent neighborhoods like Briargate, Flying Horse, and The Broadmoor area.
Local contractors understand Colorado building codes, altitude considerations, and the specific challenges of Front Range weather.
Protecting Your Investment
By understanding Colorado’s insurance laws and recognizing warning signs of fraud, Colorado Springs homeowners can protect themselves when seeking storm damage repairs. Remember that legitimate contractors will work within the law, provide proper documentation, and never offer to circumvent your insurance deductible.
When severe weather strikes the Pikes Peak region—and it will—be prepared with knowledge, verified contractor contacts, and a clear understanding of your insurance policy. Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against Colorado’s unpredictable weather; make sure it’s installed by professionals who will be here when you need warranty service years down the road.
