How to identify hail damage on vinyl, fiber cement, wood, and aluminum siding. Photos, insurance claim tips, and repair vs replacement guide.
Hail doesn't just damage roofs — it damages siding too. And unlike roof damage, siding hail damage is often visible from the ground if you know what to look for. Here's how to identify it by material type and what to do about it.
Hail Damage by Siding Type
Vinyl Siding
Hail causes cracks, holes, chips, and shatter marks in vinyl siding. Vinyl becomes more brittle in cold weather, so spring hailstorms hitting cold vinyl can cause more severe damage than summer storms hitting warm, flexible vinyl. Look for: cracked or broken panels, holes punched through the material, chips along panel edges, and shattered corners. Damage is often concentrated on the side of the house facing the storm direction.
James Hardie / Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement is more impact-resistant than vinyl, but large hail (1 inch+) can chip, crack, or dent it. Look for: circular impact marks, chipped edges, hairline cracks radiating from impact points, and areas where the factory finish is broken (exposing the raw cement underneath to moisture). Even small chips compromise the moisture resistance of fiber cement.
Wood Siding
Hail dents and splits wood siding. Look for: circular dents, split or cracked boards, and areas where the paint/stain has been knocked off by impact. Exposed wood quickly absorbs moisture and begins rotting if not addressed.
Aluminum Siding
Aluminum dents easily — it's actually one of the best indicators of hail size and severity. Look for: round dents of consistent size (indicating hail, not mechanical damage), and note the dent depth and diameter. Aluminum siding dents are often used by insurance adjusters to confirm hail size when shingle damage is ambiguous.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Siding Damage
If your siding has hail damage, it's typically covered under the same homeowner's policy that covers roof damage. In many cases, siding and roof damage from the same storm can be filed as a single claim. We handle siding insurance claims the same way we handle roofing claims — free inspection, complete documentation, adjuster meeting, and full installation.
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Repair vs Replace
Individual damaged panels can sometimes be replaced if matching material is available. But if damage is widespread (multiple walls, dozens of impact marks), full replacement is usually the better path — and it's what insurance typically covers when damage exceeds a certain threshold.
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What goes on the wall before the siding
Siding sheds most of the rain, but not all of it. What keeps the wall dry is the layer behind: a continuous weather barrier, taped seams, flashing above every window and door, kick-out flashing where a roof ends against a wall, and clearance above roofs, decks and the ground. Most of the failed siding we remove was missing one or more of those. Ask to see them on your estimate.
How Illinois weather tests siding
Walls here go from below zero to the nineties, with dozens of freeze and thaw cycles each winter. Materials that absorb water crack and swell. Hail tests impact strength, and summer sun on south and west walls tests color. Fiber cement made for freezing climates handles all of it well. Insulated vinyl handles moisture and cold but is more vulnerable to hail and heat. Wood and hardboard need constant upkeep.
Common questions
Free Storm Damage Inspection
We handle the entire insurance claim process — inspection, documentation, adjuster meeting, and full replacement. Call now.
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