Why Are My Neighbors Getting New Siding Through Insurance?
- Staff
- May 29
- 4 min read
Have you noticed several homes in your neighborhood suddenly getting new siding?
If so, you're not alone. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that storm damage—especially hail damage—can qualify their siding for replacement through their homeowners insurance policy. In fact, one of the most common questions we hear is:
"How are all these people getting brand-new siding through insurance?"
The answer often comes down to hail damage, older aluminum siding, and how insurance companies handle matching issues.
Hail Damage Isn't Always Obvious
When most people think of hail damage, they picture missing shingles or shattered windows. But hail often causes much more subtle damage.
On aluminum siding, even relatively small hailstones (about 1-inch in diameter or slightly smaller) can leave dents and dings across an entire elevation or two of a home. Depending on the lighting and viewing angle, these dents can be difficult to see at any given time of day.
Many homeowners live with hail damage for years without realizing it's there. Often, they only discover the damage after seeing a neighbor's siding replacement project and deciding to have their own home inspected.
Why Aluminum Siding Is Frequently Affected
Many homes throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania still have aluminum siding installed from decades ago. While aluminum siding is durable and can last a long time, it is also vulnerable to denting from hail impacts.
Unlike vinyl siding, aluminum does not flex and bounce back. Once dented, the damage is permanent. After a hailstorm, an aluminum-sided home may have dozens—or even hundreds—of dents spread across multiple walls.
The Matching Problem
One of the biggest reasons insurance claims result in full siding replacement is matching. Many older siding products are no longer manufactured. Even when a damaged section can technically be removed and replaced, finding a perfect match may be impossible.
Differences in color, profile, texture, weathering, and age can make repaired areas stand out dramatically from the rest of the home. In many cases, insurance companies determine that replacing only a portion of the siding would leave the homeowner with a mismatched appearance. Depending on the policy and circumstances, this can lead to a larger scope of replacement.
Note that all claims and policies are different. Some policies have specific riders or language regarding roofing and siding matching situations.
Why One Neighbor Gets Approved and Another Doesn't
Every claim is different. Factors that can affect the outcome include:
The angle of the home relative to the storm
The specific insurance policy
Involving a knowledgeable contractor
Based on experience, the two biggest factors that determine the claim outcome are (1) the particular insurance carrier and (2) whether or not the homeowner hires a contractor during the claims process.
How Do You Know If Your Home Has Hail Damage?
The truth is that most homeowners are not trained to identify hail damage to aluminum siding. Many dents are visible only under certain lighting conditions. Others may be hidden from common viewing angles. A professional inspection can often identify damage that isn't obvious from the ground or at other times of day.
If your neighbors have recently had siding replaced due to hail or storm damage, it is definitely worth having your own home evaluated, especially if your home has aluminum siding and was exposed to the same storm event(s).
Don't Assume You're Too Late
One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is that if a storm happened several months ago, they missed their opportunity. While every policy has deadlines and requirements, many homeowners discover damage long after the actual storm occurred. Most policies allow a 1-year window, but others may extend that.
If contractors are still working in your area, chances are it's not too late for you. It's better to find out now than be sorry later!
Wondering About Your Own Home?
If you've noticed neighbors receiving new siding through insurance, there's a good chance they experienced hail damage that qualified for replacement. The only way to know whether your home may have similar damage is through a professional inspection.
Since 2005, JP Construction Services has helped hundreds of homeowners throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania identify hail damage, understand their options, and navigate the restoration process when appropriate.
If your home has aluminum siding and you've seen replacement projects happening nearby, now may be a good time to find out why. Call us today at (877) 846-9566 to schedule your free hail/storm damage assessment or schedule a free consultation online.
