Anyone who has experienced a hailstorm knows that those ice balls hurled from the sky can sound like hard-pelting gravel when they hit your home. Whether they’re as big as baseballs or as small as peas, they can do a lot of damage, as evidenced by dents, cracks or holes in your siding.
But does that hail-damaged siding need to be replaced?
Vinyl Siding
Fierce hail is not kind to vinyl siding, especially if that hail comes along with really strong winds that can whip debris along with the hail itself. You may notice that one side of your home has taken the brunt of the storm. That damage may be manifested as small chips in the surface or something more serious like cracks or even a peppering of small holes.
Aluminum siding
Aluminum siding is a lot more durable than vinyl siding when it comes to hail, but it’s certainly not immune. You’re more likely to see the damage as dents and scratches in the surface, probably similar to the damage you might see in any car that had been left outside. Depending on the strength of the wind and whether the edges of the siding had loosened over time, you may find entire sections of aluminum ripped off completely.
To Replace Or Not To Replace?
Good siding is a shield for your home, so its structural integrity is vital. Any crack, split, break, hole, or missing section means moisture can seep into the space behind the siding, promoting rot as well as the growth of mold. While it’s usually plain to see damage in vinyl siding, you may have to look a lot more closely at aluminum siding to ensure it’s still solid. Consider a professional inspection before filing for an insurance claim.
If only one side of your house has suffered hail damage, then only one side will need to be fixed. However it can be difficult to find an exact match, depending on the age of the siding. Be sure to check your insurance policy for details, as some policies allow provisions for re-siding the entire house. If you’re in any doubt about whether a re-siding is necessary, contact a trusted contractor for a professional opinion.