Hailstorms are a familiar risk for homes throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, Le Claire, DeWitt, Muscatine, and the surrounding Quad Cities. One house may show obvious siding damage while a neighboring house appears nearly untouched.

That difference does not necessarily mean one homeowner is exaggerating damage or that the other house has indestructible siding. Hail does not fall with perfectly uniform size, speed, density, or direction. Roof lines, trees, nearby buildings, wall orientation, and wind can change exposure from one elevation to another.

Contractors should evaluate hail damage methodically. The goal is to determine what was damaged, whether the damage affects performance or appearance, whether repair is practical, and which product and color are required to restore the exterior correctly.

What Determines Whether Hail Damages Vinyl Siding?

Hail damage cannot be predicted from stone diameter alone. Several variables combine during a storm.

Common Signs of Hail Damage on Vinyl Siding

Some hail damage is obvious from the ground. Other damage appears only under angled light or when the elevation is examined from a safe, appropriate distance.

What VSI and ASTM Standards Say About Impact Performance

The VSI Product Certification Program, now administered through the Polymeric Exterior Products Association, provides independent verification that listed vinyl siding products comply with the applicable ASTM product standard.

Passing an ASTM impact requirement is not the same as being hail-proof. Laboratory tests create repeatable comparisons under defined conditions. Real hailstorms involve changing hailstone sizes, irregular shapes, wind-driven impacts, different temperatures, and varying wall support.

Understanding Gentek’s Hail Protection

Gentek identifies Sequoia Select as carrying a lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty with hail protection and lifetime fade coverage. Those terms sound strong, but the complete written warranty controls the claim.

Contractors and homeowners should verify:

• Whether the homeowner must first file a claim with their property insurer.
• Whether the warranty applies to material, labor, or both.
• Whether the insurance deductible is excluded.
• Whether the coverage changes after ownership transfers.
• Whether registration or transfer notice is required.
• What documentation must accompany the claim.
• Whether Gentek may repair, replace, substitute, or refund according to the warranty terms.

A “hail protection” statement should never be shortened into “hail-proof siding.” Warranty protection is a contractual remedy with conditions, limits, procedures, and exclusions.

How Contractors Should Inspect Vinyl Siding After Hail

Wait until the storm has passed and the property is safe. Do not inspect during lightning, strong wind, active hail, or unstable conditions.

1. 1

   Document the Date and Storm Direction

   Record the storm date and examine which elevations show the strongest exposure. Do not assume every wall was affected equally.

2. 2

   Inspect Every Elevation

   Check siding, corners, trim, soffit, fascia, gutters, downspouts, shutters, vents, utility blocks, window screens, and other exterior components.

3. 3

   Photograph Context and Details

   Take overall elevation photographs, medium-distance views, and close-ups. Include scale when appropriate without enlarging or creating additional damage.

4. 4

   Identify the Existing Product

   Record the manufacturer, product line, profile, exposure, texture, color, approximate age, and identifying marks when available.

5. 5

   Determine Whether a Match Exists

   Even when the original color remains available, years of exposure may create a visible difference between existing and new panels. Profile, lock, texture, and dimensions must also match.

6. 6

   Develop a Defensible Scope

   Base the repair or replacement recommendation on documented damage, product availability, repair feasibility, color compatibility, manufacturer instructions, and applicable policy terms.

Installation Still Matters After a Hail Claim

Storm restoration is not an excuse to rush the wall assembly. Damaged siding may reveal failed flashing, deteriorated sheathing, missing water-resistive barrier, or previous installation mistakes.

Proper replacement work should include:

• Inspecting the sheathing and framing where damage is exposed.
• Installing a code-compliant water-resistive barrier over the structural sheathing.
• Integrating window, door, roof-to-wall, and penetration flashing with the water-resistive barrier.
• Using the manufacturer-required fasteners and penetration.
• Centering fasteners in applicable slots.
• Avoiding tightly driven fasteners that prevent thermal movement.
• Maintaining temperature-appropriate clearances.
• Fully engaging panel locks without stretching the siding.

Our Practical Recommendation

After an Iowa hailstorm, inspect the entire exterior safely, document actual damage, identify the existing siding, and determine whether a technically and visually acceptable repair is possible.

When replacement is required, compare more than color and price. Panel thickness, profile design, lock construction, fastening hem, certification, wind-load data, impact-related testing, warranty terms, and installer experience all matter.

Gentek Sequoia Select gives contractors a premium .046-inch vinyl option with greater rigidity, a full-roll nailing hem, an engineered locking system, ASTM D3679 certification, and written hail protection. It is not hail-proof, but it is a credible upgrade for homeowners who want a more substantial siding system after storm damage.