No matter how durable your exterior is, it’s bound to suffer some form of damage during a storm. Being the largest part of your exterior, your siding is the most likely part to have sustained damage. Here’s how you can deal with siding damage:
Visual Inspections
Certain types of siding are vulnerable to storm damage or impact from wind-driven debris. If you have vinyl siding installed, you should look for:
1. Cracks – Half-circle cracks are usually found between the valley and ridges of siding panels.
2. Chipping – Small pieces of wind-driven debris may have knocked pieces of vinyl siding off. If you have aluminum siding, wind-debris may have dented your siding.
3. Holes – You need to have a siding contractor inspect extensive siding damage such as large holes.
Here’s an inspection tip: Early morning and late evening are the best times to inspect your siding. Since the sun is still low in the sky, subtle signs of damage won’t be obscured by glare. And similar to conducting roofing inspections after a storm, you should document storm damage. You’ll need to present these later on when you file a claim with your insurer.
Replace or Repair Siding?
You don’t necessarily need to re-side your entire home—you can simply replace one of the siding panels, provided you can find one that matches your existing siding. This shouldn’t be a problem if you used a reputable national brand.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Don’t forget to check your insurance policy before making any decisions. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t assume your insurer will cover all the labor and material costs.
Contact Your Contractor and Insurance Agent
Once you have all the necessary documents, have a contractor inspect your siding and ask for an estimate. It’d also be a good idea to have your roof inspected as well—it might have also sustained damage and need roof repair.
One more thing: Before filing an insurance claim, contact your insurance agent. They can help you decide whether to file a claim or not. Remember: If you file too many claims within a short period, your insurer might drop you.
Patriot Roofing LLC, an A-rated contractor with the Better Business Bureau®, offers a wide range of professional roofing services, including storm damage repair and gutter installation services. To get a free estimate, call us at (405) 996-6787 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Moore, OK, as well as the surrounding communities.
