How to Spot Hail Damage on Your Siding

In Calgary, hailstorms are a fact of life. While they may pass quickly, the damage they leave behind on your home's exterior can be significant and lasting if not addressed. Your siding is your first line of defense, but it can be difficult to tell if it has been compromised. Here’s a guide to help you identify potential hail damage on the two most common types of siding.

Identifying Damage on Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is durable, but not invincible. Hail damage on vinyl is often more obvious and can present as:

• Cracks and Chips: Look for distinct, semi-circular cracks or chips, often with sharp edges. These can be small or large, depending on the size of the hail.
• Punctures or Holes: Larger hailstones can puncture vinyl siding, leaving clean holes that expose the underlying wood sheathing to moisture.
• Breaks and Splits: Severe impacts can cause entire sections of the siding to break or split, often along the bottom edge of a panel.

It's important to inspect your siding from multiple angles, as light can affect how visible the damage is. What might not be visible in direct sunlight could be obvious in the morning or evening.

Identifying Damage on James Hardie® (Fiber Cement) Siding

James Hardie siding is incredibly tough and known as a "hail resistant" material, but it's not completely immune to severe storms. Damage here can be more subtle:

• Chipping or "Craters": Look for small, localized chips where the surface has been impacted. It might look like a small crater with the paint and a bit of the board missing.
• Cracks: While less common than with vinyl, very large hail can cause hairline cracks. These are serious as they can allow water to penetrate the board.
• Paint Damage: Sometimes, the impact isn't enough to damage the board itself, but it can chip or crack the paint, exposing the primer or board beneath. This compromises the siding's first layer of weather protection.

What to Do if You Find Damage

If you suspect your siding has been damaged by hail, it's crucial to act quickly.

1. Document Everything: Take clear photos of all suspected damage from various angles and distances.
2. Call a Professional: Contact a reputable local siding contractor, like Golden View Exteriors. We can provide a thorough, expert assessment to confirm the extent of the damage and determine if it's cosmetic or structural.
3. Contact Your Insurer: Your professional assessment will be invaluable when filing an insurance claim. We have extensive experience working with insurance companies in the Calgary area and can help make the process as smooth as possible.

Don't let hail damage compromise your home's integrity. A quick inspection after a storm can save you from significant water damage, mold, and other structural issues down the road.