Into every life, a little rain must fall, but when it’s hail, you should really take note. Often a homeowner won’t be aware that the exterior of their house, including the siding, has been damaged by hail.
Cracks and other impacts from the hail damage could be high up on the home and not readily viewable from the ground. Sometimes, it can take a year or more for the siding damage to show up, with leaks. It sometimes takes an expert’s eye to spot the damage before it gets worse down the road.
Spotting Hail Damage to Siding
Hail damage can include denting, cracking, and visible holes in your siding, roof, fascia, eaves trough, or windows. One or two visible impacts on your siding or roof, or a few dents in your fascia, shouldn’t be cause for great concern. But more damage than this can compromise the structure of your house, leading to leaks and water damage. So you need to determine the extent of your siding damage as soon as possible.
Subtler Signs of Siding Damage
A siding and roofing contractor will look for the subtler signs of damage, including cracking, splitting, and warping. Hail and storm damage can also be more insidious, causing mold and mildew to form underneath siding that has been loosened or damaged.
Storm damage can also clog house gutters, which can cause leakage problems in the roof and siding. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for watermarks on siding near gutters.
Check Your Insurance Policy
If your home and siding have suffered hail damage, and you need siding replacement or repair, you should check your insurance policy and call your insurer to see what is covered and what is not. Some insurance companies in areas with frequent hailstorms might have modified their policies with higher deductibles that you need to know about before contracting work.
Consider Your Options
If the hail damage requires siding replacement, this is a good time to consider your options, to get the siding that provides the best, long-lasting protection and creates a curb appeal that adds to your home’s value.
Vinyl siding, for example, is relatively low cost, easy to install, and low maintenance. Wood siding looks nice but requires more maintenance and falls prey more easily to rot and other damage.
For greater quality, a better look, and the strongest protection from weather extremes, more and more people are turning to fiber cement siding. James Hardie siding is one of the best siding products in Denver – it lasts for years; it’s flexible durable and low maintenance; and it keeps its looks and value.
Expert Siding Installation by Refined Exteriors
Again, if the damage is serious and obvious, then there is no question: you have to contact a siding professional for a repair or siding replacement. If the damage is less apparent but you still have concerns, then you should call experts like our team at Refined Exteriors, the trusted Denver siding and roofing contractor, for a free consultation.
