You should always have a roofing contractor inspect your exterior after a storm. Along with your roof, your home’s siding—the largest part of your exterior—is the most susceptible to storm damage. Here are the signs of damage you need to keep an eye out for:
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Cracks – Look for half-circle cracks between the valley and ridges of siding panels.
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Chipping – Pieces of debris carried by strong winds might have knocked pieces of your siding off or, in the case of aluminum siding, left behind a few dents. Make sure to inspect your siding’s exterior painting as well. Wind-driven debris may have scratched some of the paint off and exposed parts of your siding to the elements.
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Holes – In severe cases, wind-driven debris may have punched holes in your siding.
Avoid conducting preliminary inspections during mid-day—the glare from the sun might be obscuring some signs of damage. Don’t forget to take pictures of siding damage. You’ll need to present documentation of storm damage when you file an insurance claim later on.
Replace or Repair Siding?
If your siding was damaged during the storm, you can have a contractor replace one of the siding panels with a new one. To preserve your home’s curb appeal, the new siding panel should match your old siding and preferably be from the same manufacturer as well.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Before making a decision, make sure to go through your insurance policy. Depending on the terms in your policy, re-siding projects might not be covered. Remember: You should never assume that your insurance will cover all of the labor and material costs.
Contact Your Insurance Agent
Before contacting your insurance company, consult your insurance agent on whether it’d be a good idea to file a claim or not. If you file too many claims within a short period, your insurer could cancel your policy.
One more thing: Make sure to hire a qualified contractor. It’s easy to miss subtle signs of siding damage after all.
Hynes Roofing & Siding, a locally-owned-and-operated contractor with an accreditation from the Better Business Bureau®, offers a wide range of professional exterior services, including roof repair and replacement , flat roof maintenance and repair services by being best roof contractors near me. To get a free estimate, call us at (610) 896-6388 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Ardmore, PA, as well as the surrounding communities.
(President, Hynes Roofing and Siding)
With over 35 years experience in the roofing and siding industry, Michelle Hynes has built a business from 2 people into over 45 people and 19 trucks!