Thousands of new roofs failing inspections

Thousands of new roofs in El Paso County are failing inspections. They are not up to code, according to the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

The code change involves what sort of materials can be used for a roofing project including the use of felt and metal drip edge. Several roofers tell 11 News, they had no idea there was a change to the code and they were installing roofs that comply with the old code. Pikes Peak Regional Building says they believe they did everything they could to notify contractors.

“It was a 90 day public comment period, it then went through our Regional Building Committees and then went through public hearings at each one of the jurisdictions served by Pikes Peak Regional Building. After that, the code was adopted June 1, 2018,” said Roger Lovell with Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

In addition to a post on the department’s website, the department said they sent an email about the new code to contractors.

Some roofers said they missed that email.

“I don't go to their website, I don't go to their public meetings. I have roofing licenses in over 30 cities. I don't go to everybody's meetings,” said Calvin Turner of Calvin Turner Roofing.

Since the code change last year, more than 23,700 roofs have been inspected, 2,807 are not in compliance with the new code.

The Building Department is offering two solutions for contractors to possibly approve the roofs that have already been done. Those include applying for a

or an

. Inspectors add, they expect any newly installed roofs to follow the current code.

If your roof has already passed inspection, your roof complies with the current code.