Hail, Wind Damage to your Siding

Your siding is durable, but it isn’t invincible. Hail and wind can batter the exterior of your house and leave scars on your siding. These marks aren’t only eyesores; they can lead to further damage if not repaired, which is why it’s important to fix them quickly.In some cases, your homeowners insurance policy can cover the repairs to wind and hail-damaged siding. But, it depends on a few factors. The extent of the damage and the language in your policy need to be considered, in addition to how well you’ve maintained your siding as a homeowner.Keep reading to understand when and how homeowners insurance covers wind and hail damage to siding.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wind Damage to Siding?

Homeowners insurance likely covers wind damage to your siding. Wind damage can come in multiple forms, and it’s usually covered unless specifically excluded by an endorsement to your policy. However, your deductible will differ.Homeowners insurance usually covers wind damage to your home. This includes damage caused by:

• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Other windstorms
• Debris blown by the wind

The dwelling coverage portion of your home insurance plan covers the structure of your house, such as the roof, windows, floors, and siding. The instances listed above are typically covered perils in standard homeowners insurance policies, called HO3 policies. If the exterior of your house, including siding, was damaged by covered perils, you should be covered.If you’re thinking about filing a claim for wind damage to your siding, be sure the damage is higher than your deductible. If high winds blew a few panels of siding clean off your home, it may be more cost-effective to just have the damaged siding fixed by a professional without contacting your insurer. Check with a local siding professional.If the damage is limited to a small area, the cost to repair may only be a few hundred dollars, especially if the siding that got blown off didn’t get damaged too badly and can be slid back into place on your house. But, if you’ll need new pieces of siding, you may run into more problems if the existing siding on your home can’t be matched because it’s been discontinued since it was installed.In this case, you may need to replace all the siding on your home. If the initial amount of damage wasn’t greater than your deductible, your insurer may not cover the job. Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay when filing a claim before your insurer can pick up the rest of the tab. In some areas, you may have a separate wind deductible for damages caused by wind.