Hail Damage Doesn't Have To Result In Re-Siding

Not long ago, we used the term "Hail Zone" to describe those unfortunate places in mid-America that frequently experience devastating hail storms. But these house-battering storms are no longer confined to Oklahoma, Kansas and west Texas. In fact, they've occurred in all 50 states.

Severe storms have caused over 10 $ billion in home damage every year since 2007 – and 70 percent of that damage comes from hail storms. Hail usually doesn't fall straight down, but gets blown horizontally and really hammers a home's siding.

What Do I Do After a Hail Storm Damages My Home?

Most homeowner's insurance covers hail damage. Before calling your insurance adjuster, you should take smartphone photos of the size of the hail and the damage it's caused before attempting any repairs. Your adjuster will visit to determine whether the hail damage is minor or calls for a complete re-siding. In either scenario, you'll need to get a written estimate for the repair and get it approved by your insurance company, and you will receive a settlement from the insurance company for the agreed upon amount.

If you're facing a total siding replacement, this is the perfect time to consider switching to a durable siding material that's better able to withstand future punishment. In independent testing, hail of 1,25″ diameter punched through vinyl siding – and hail of 1,75″ diameter dented fiber cement siding. Engineered wood siding fared much better, showing no signs of impact after being hit with 1,75″ hail at 81 miles per hour. That's almost the velocity of a major league fastball.

So take a deep breath and know that you may be covered for hail damage to your home's siding. The tougher decision is whether to replace the damaged siding with the same material or switch to a top performance engineered wood siding that's proven to be more durable and optimal for hail.