Hail damage to siding: what size hail does it, how to spot it, and what replacing it costs
What size hail damages vinyl, wood and fiber cement siding, how to check your walls after a storm, repair or replace, and what new siding costs on three sizes of house — from our pricing engine and NOAA hail reports around Austin.
Hail hits siding on the side the storm came from, so one wall can be wrecked while the others look new. Here is what size hail does damage, how to check, when to repair or replace, and what new siding costs — from our pricing engine and NOAA's hail reports.
What size hail damages siding
- Vinyl: usually cracks or holes from hail around 1.5 inches and larger — sooner in cold weather, when vinyl is brittle.
- Aluminium and metal trim: dents from smaller stones.
- Wood and engineered wood: dents and split boards; exposed wood then takes on water.
- Fiber cement: shrugs off most hail but can chip at edges and corners with very large stones.
Around Austin, NOAA logged 15 reports of 1.5-inch hail or larger in the 24 months to 7 October 2026, on 4 days: 22 Apr 2025 (south of Georgetown and Weir); 16 May 2025 (Leander); 22 May 2025 (Uhland and Kyle); 28 May 2025 (Cedar Park and Leander). Check your address with the Austin hail check.
How to check your walls
- Start on the side that faced the storm — usually west or north in Central Texas spring storms.
- Look for cracks, holes and chips in vinyl, and dents in trim, downspouts and the AC unit.
- Look for spatter: clean marks where hail knocked dirt or oxidation off the surface.
- Photograph everything with the storm date; it is what an inspector and an insurer will ask for.
Repair or replace
A few cracked vinyl panels on one wall can be replaced if matching panels are still made — older colours fade and may not match. Damage across several walls, discontinued profiles, or water behind the siding point to replacing at least the damaged walls.
What new siding costs
| Type | 1 storey, 180 ft around | 2 storeys, 160 ft around | 2 storeys, 220 ft around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $14,967 | $26,258 | $35,936 |
| Engineered wood | $22,225 | $39,162 | $53,679 |
| Fiber cement | $31,298 | $55,292 | $75,857 |
Installed, at our engine's starter rates, on the wall area (perimeter × storeys × 9 ft, less 15% for windows and doors) with 10% for waste and a setup fee — which is why the larger material prices sit at or above the per-sq-ft ranges in our siding cost guide. One damaged wall costs roughly its share of these. Insurance claims for hail work as they do for roofs — see how a hail claim works.
Common questions
What size hail damages siding?
Around 1.5 inches and larger for vinyl; smaller for aluminium; fiber cement resists most hail.
How do I check my siding for hail damage?
Start on the storm side: cracks, holes, dents, spatter marks — photographed with the date.
How much does it cost to replace siding after hail?
About $26,258 in vinyl for a two-storey house with 160 ft of walls around; one wall costs its share.
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