Does insurance cover hail damage to siding?
What counts as damage, by material
- Vinyl: cracks, holes and shattered corners. Older vinyl turns brittle in the sun and breaks more easily.
- Fiber cement: chips, fractured edges and cracks, plus damaged paint that exposes the board.
- Aluminum and steel: dents. Whether dents are covered depends on your policy's cosmetic damage wording.
- Wood: split boards and spatter marks that broke the paint film.
Cosmetic exclusions reach past the roof
Some cosmetic damage endorsements apply only to roof surfacing; others cover siding and exterior metal too. Read yours. If dents are excluded but cracked vinyl is not, the adjuster will separate the two.
Depreciation and the deductible
Siding is depreciated for age like the roof, and on a replacement cost policy the withheld amount is paid back after the work is done. The deductible is shared with the roof and other items from the same storm, so siding added to the roof claim often costs you nothing extra in deductible.
Matching
Replacing a few panels with a different color or profile can leave a patchwork. Insurers commonly pay for the damaged elevation; whether they pay for matching beyond that depends on your policy and the insurer's practices. Find out whether your siding is still made, since a discontinued profile strengthens the case for more.
Other exterior items to check
- Window wraps, shutters and screens.
- Air conditioner fins.
- Painted decks and fences.
- Light fixtures and mailboxes.
More: cosmetic damage exclusions and matching on partial replacements.