Hail Damage to Aluminum Siding in Bel Air, MD: What Homeowners Often Miss
- Staff
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Most homeowners understand that aluminum siding dents easily. A baseball, a ladder, or even a stray piece of yard equipment can leave a noticeable mark. What many homeowners in Bel Air and throughout Harford County do not realize is that hail can quietly damage entire elevations of aluminum siding without leaving obvious, eye-catching dents.
At JP Construction Services, we specialize in hail damage inspections and aluminum siding replacement, and we consistently find serious storm damage on homes where the homeowner was completely convinced their siding was still in good shape.
Why Hail Damage to Aluminum Siding Is So Easy to Miss
Unlike large impact dents, hail creates clusters of small, shallow dents spread across the surface of the siding. Instead of a few obvious damage points, there may be hundreds of tiny impacts across one or more sides of the home.
Homeowners naturally look for:
Large dents from obvious impacts
Visible creases or punctures
Damage to corners or trim
Meanwhile, hail damage typically affects the flat face of the panel, which is much harder to notice without the right lighting.
A phrase I hear often is: “It looks like someone took a BB gun to my siding!" That comparison is surprisingly accurate. Hail rarely leaves one dramatic dent. Instead, it leaves a pattern of subtle impacts that only become visible under the right viewing conditions.
Lighting Determines Whether You See the Damage or Not
One of the biggest reasons homeowners remain unaware of hail damage is the lighting angle. Aluminum siding dents often disappear in flat lighting and only become visible when:
The sun is low in the sky
Light rakes across the siding surface
Shadows form inside each dent
This is exactly why a homeowner can walk outside, look directly at their siding, and still say, “I took a look, and my siding is fine.” In many cases, the siding is far from fine. The damage just is not visible at that moment.
Hail Often Damages Only One or Two Sides of a Home
Another major reason aluminum siding hail damage goes unnoticed is storm direction.
In many storms, hail will strike:
One elevation very heavily
One elevation moderately
And completely miss the remaining sides
If the damage is mostly on the rear or side elevation, the homeowner may simply never see it. Even when the damage is on the front of the home, it can remain hidden unless the sun hits it just right. This creates a situation where:
The homeowner sees no damage
The insurance claim window quietly passes
And the opportunity for full siding replacement is lost
Why Hidden Hail Damage Still Matters
Even when the dents appear small, hail damage creates real long-term problems:
Permanent cosmetic damage
Reduced resale value
Increased oxidation on aluminum panels
Inconsistent appearance between elevations
Difficulty matching replacement panels later
Higher long-term replacement costs
Once aluminum siding is damaged by hail, it does not self-correct. The appearance typically becomes more noticeable over time, not less.
Why Homeowners in Bel Air Trust JP Construction Services
JP Construction Services specializes in:
Hail damage inspections
Insurance claim documentation
Aluminum siding replacement
Full exterior remodeling
Because we work with aluminum siding every day, we know exactly what to look for, where to look, and how to properly document storm damage. Many times, we are the first people to ever show a homeowner the true extent of their siding damage.
The reaction is often shock once the damage becomes visible under proper lighting.
“I Looked and My Siding Is Fine” Is One of the Most Common Mistakes
We hear it all the time: “I already took a look and my siding is fine.” In most cases:
They viewed it under flat lighting
They checked the wrong elevation
Or they did not know what hail damage actually looks like
Hail damage to aluminum siding is not always obvious to the untrained eye. This is exactly why a professional inspection is so important.
A Free Inspection Can Reveal Thousands in Covered Damage
If your home in Bel Air, MD or surrounding areas has experienced hail at any point in recent years, there is a real possibility your aluminum siding has storm damage that you simply have not seen yet.
A professional inspection can:
Identify hidden hail damage
Document storm-related impacts
Determine if the damage qualifies for insurance coverage
Prevent long-term cosmetic and resale issues
And the inspection is completely free.
Schedule Your Free Aluminum Siding Hail Inspection Today
If your home still has aluminum siding and your area has seen hail, it is absolutely worth getting a second look — this time with a trained professional.
JP Construction Services proudly serves:
Bel Air, MD
Harford County
And surrounding Maryland communities
Contact JP Construction Services today at (410) 816-5544 to schedule your free aluminum siding hail damage inspection (or schedule online) and find out for yourself what your eyes may have missed.
