Lone Tree Hail Re-Roofs and the 25% CWRC Rule

After a south-metro hailstorm, most roofing decisions come down to the insurer's scope: patch a few slopes or replace the whole roof. In Lone Tree there's a third variable. The city has adopted the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC), and on properties that appear on the city's wildfire map, replacing or repairing/reconstructing 25% or more of an existing roof applies the CWRC to that roof work.

Why the 25% line matters

On a mapped property, a small repair of a few shingles stays outside the code. Once the work reaches a quarter of the roof, the code applies. Lone Tree says that completing one of its listed improvements applies the CWRC to that improvement and may require additional mitigation activities on your property, giving the example of removing plants immediately adjacent to your home. The city also says these improvement activities require a permit from the City of Lone Tree.

For hail claims, that line is easy to cross. A single storm-facing slope on a hip roof can be close to a quarter of the total area, and two slopes usually exceed it. Before you agree to a partial replacement, ask your roofer to calculate what percentage of the roof is being replaced or repaired.

How it changes a roof bid

When the CWRC applies, the roof has to meet the code's roofing requirements, which in practice means a fire-rated roof assembly and attention to the details where embers lodge: edges, valleys, vents and gutters. Compare bids on:

• the fire rating of the proposed roof assembly, not just the shingle;
• how vents and roof-edge details will meet the code;
• whether gutters and gutter guards are included;
• who handles the city permit and inspections;
• whether the bid flags any plant clearance or other mitigation the city may require.

Some hail-resistant shingle lines also carry the fire rating you need, so impact resistance and fire performance don't have to be a trade-off. Ask for product data on both.

Insurance and the code

Code-required upgrades can be a point of negotiation in a claim, so tell your adjuster early that the property is mapped under Lone Tree's CWRC and ask how your policy handles code-required items. Keep the city's requirements in writing to share. The usual Colorado protections still apply: roofers can't pay, waive or rebate your deductible, and you can rescind a roofing contract within seventy-two hours after receiving the insurer's written notice that the claim is denied in whole or in part.

What's exempt

Lone Tree lists exemptions that matter to homeowners comparing projects: interior renovations, painting or staining exterior walls without removing or replacing wall materials, and certain small detached accessory structures. Re-roofing isn't on that list once it reaches 25%.

Steps for a Lone Tree hail claim

1. Check the wildfire map for your address, or call Community Development.
2. Get an inspection and a written estimate of the percentage of roof affected.
3. Tell your insurer whether the CWRC applies.
4. Choose a compliant assembly and confirm the roofer will pull the city permit.
5. Plan any mitigation next to the house that the city requires.

For roofing costs, materials and Colorado contract law, see the roofing and hail repair guide. For the full list of Lone Tree's CWRC triggers, including landscaping and fences, see the Lone Tree area page.