Hail dents steel and aluminum panels, cracks window inserts, splits weatherstripping and can bend a section so the door binds in the track. After a storm, look at the door from the outside and inside before you press the button. If a panel is bent, the door is crooked or it scrapes, stop using it and call a technician.
What hail does to a garage door
A garage door is a large, flat surface facing the weather, so it takes more hits than most parts of a house. Hail leaves round dents in steel and aluminum panels, cracks or chips glass and plastic window inserts, and splits or flattens the rubber and vinyl seals along the bottom and sides. A hard hit near a hinge can bend the section itself.
The National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning when a storm is expected to drop hail of at least 1 inch across, about the size of a quarter, or produce winds of at least 58 mph. Its higher damage tiers start at 1.75 inches, about a golf ball, and 2.75 inches, about a baseball. A storm in the higher tiers is the kind that bends panels, not only dents them.
What you see and what it means
| What you see | What it likely means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Round dents in one or two panels | Cosmetic damage; the door may still work normally | Photograph it, then check the door runs smoothly by hand |
| A crease or a bent section edge | The section may no longer sit square in the track | Stop using the door and call for service |
| Cracked or missing window panes | Loose glass or plastic can fall and let rain in | Keep people clear and cover the opening |
| Torn or flattened bottom seal | Water, leaves and pests get in under the door | Replace the seal; see bottom seal replacement |
| Door scrapes, jerks or hangs crooked | A bent section, hinge or track | Do not run the opener; call a technician |
Hail damage varies. We confirm the cause on site.
Check the door in this order
Look from the driveway
Walk the whole door. Note dents, creases, cracked panes and any gap along the edges.
Look from inside
Check the hinges, the rollers and the track on both sides for bends, gaps or a section that sits crooked.
Disconnect the opener
Pull the red release handle so the opener cannot push a damaged door.
Lift it a little by hand
A sound door moves smoothly and stays where you leave it. If it binds, scrapes or feels heavy, stop.
Photograph everything
Take wide and close photos with the date on your phone before anything is moved or repaired.
When to stop using the door
A bent section, a crooked door or a door that scrapes puts extra strain on the springs, cables and opener. Do not adjust a spring or cable yourself and do not keep running the opener. See spring repair and garage door repair for what a technician checks.
Dents alone do not stop a door from working. A door that moves smoothly by hand with only cosmetic dents can usually keep being used while you sort out the claim.
Hail damage and your insurance
The Texas Department of Insurance says wind and hail coverage on a home policy should pay for hail damage, and that you should file as soon as you can. Photograph and record all damage, and do not throw damaged items away until your insurer says you can.
Your policy may pay for temporary repairs, so keep receipts. Be available when the adjuster visits and point out every damaged part, including the garage door. The department also warns that contractors who offer to waive your deductible are acting illegally under state law, and it advises getting more than one estimate and never signing a contract with blank spaces.
Repair a panel or replace the door?
A panel or part may be enough when
- Only one or two sections are damaged
- The door model is still available
- The track and hinges are straight
- The rest of the door is in good shape
A new door makes more sense when
- Most panels are dented or creased
- The model is discontinued, so a panel will not match
- The door was already old or worn
- The track or frame also took damage
Price depends on the door, the number of sections and the hardware, so a quote should list each part. See new garage doors if the damage is widespread.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Texas, including Arlington, Plano and Amarillo. Call or send your details with a few photos and we book the soonest visit. We can tell you in plain words what the storm damaged and what a repair involves.
Questions people ask
Does hail damage a garage door?
Yes. Hail dents steel and aluminum panels, cracks window inserts, damages seals and can bend a section. Small dents are often only cosmetic, but a crease near a hinge can make the door bind.
Is hail damage to a garage door covered by insurance?
Wind and hail coverage on a home policy should pay for hail damage, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Read your policy and file a claim as soon as you can.
Can I use my garage door after a hailstorm?
If it only has dents and moves smoothly by hand, usually yes. If it is crooked, scrapes or feels heavy, stop using it and call a technician.
Should I fix the door before the adjuster comes?
Photograph the damage first and wait for the adjuster before permanent repairs. Temporary steps such as covering a broken window are fine, and you should keep receipts.