Post-Storm Exterior Inspection Guide

After the Storm: Inspect the Entire Metal Exterior, Not Just the Siding

Wind and hail do not respect product categories. A storm that dents aluminum siding may also loosen soffit panels, deform fascia coverings, scratch custom-formed trim, change gutter pitch, damage downspouts, or open seams around exterior penetrations.

Inspecting only the most obvious wall can leave part of the exterior undocumented. The safer and more useful approach is a systematic review of every elevation and roofline component.

The Illinois Department of Insurance recommends photographing or recording damaged areas, taking notes, making essential temporary repairs when needed to prevent additional damage, and keeping receipts.^[1] Safety and documentation come before permanent repair.

Start With Safety

Do not begin the inspection until local authorities have determined that it is safe to enter the area. Storm damage can create hazards that are more serious than the siding itself.

Watch for:

• Downed or damaged electrical lines
• Broken gas lines or the smell of gas
• Unstable trees and hanging branches
• Loose roofing, siding, soffit, and metal trim
• Broken glass, nails, and sharp sheet metal
• Floodwater or standing water near electrical equipment
• Unstable ladders, decks, porches, or exterior stairs
• Wet, icy, or wind-exposed roof surfaces

Conduct the initial inspection from the ground. Do not climb a wet roof or unstable ladder to obtain better photographs. Use a qualified professional when elevated access is required.

Photograph the Property Before Touching Anything

Begin with wide photographs of every elevation, including walls where damage is not immediately obvious. The wide views establish the building's layout and provide context for later close-ups.

Use this sequence:

1. Wide image of the complete elevation
2. Medium image of the affected wall section
3. Close-up of the specific condition
4. Reference image showing the close-up location
5. Comparison image of an apparently undamaged area

Label photographs by elevation and location. Record the inspection date, reported loss date, and the areas the owner says were affected. Keep reported information separate from independently observed facts.

Inspect the Aluminum Siding

Examine each wall under consistent lighting. Dents may become more visible when sunlight travels across the panel at a low angle.

Look for:

• Round or irregular dents
• Sharp creases
• Punctures and split edges
• Scratched, chipped, or fractured finishes
• Loose or disengaged panel locks
• Panels displaced by wind pressure
• Distortion around fasteners
• Damage from branches or windborne debris

Distinguish apparent storm damage from prior dents, ladder marks, installation distortion, oxidation, fading, dirt, and normal weathering. Do not aggressively clean, polish, chalk, or pry questionable areas before documenting their original condition.

Compare current repair options through Suburban Wholesale's Gentek aluminum siding collection.

Inspect Corners, Channels, and Starter Areas

Field panels may appear secure while corners or terminations have loosened. Check inside corners, outside corners, starter locations, receiving channels, and areas where siding meets roofing or another material.

Look for opened joints, displaced accessories, sharp exposed edges, and panels that no longer engage correctly. Photograph any condition that may allow water entry or require temporary protection.

Inspect Soffit Panels

Wind pressure can lift or displace soffit panels, especially at corners, gable peaks, porch roofs, and open exposures. Hail may dent the panel face or damage vented areas.

Check for:

• Missing or partially disengaged panels
• Loose receiving channels
• Bent panel edges
• Dents and punctures
• Blocked or damaged ventilation openings
• Water staining behind displaced panels
• Nesting material or debris entering open areas

Do not push a loose panel into place from an unsafe ladder. A displaced soffit panel may be supporting sharp debris or concealing damaged attachment components.

Review replacement options through Suburban Wholesale's Gentek soffit and fascia products.

Inspect Fascia and Roof Edges

Fascia coverings can be dented, loosened, creased, or pulled away by wind. Inspect rakes, gable peaks, boxed returns, corners, and locations where gutters attach.

A distorted fascia covering may conceal damaged wood, failed roof-edge flashing, or loose gutter attachment. Do not assume the problem is purely cosmetic until the underlying condition has been evaluated.

Photograph opened laps, exposed wood, damaged drip edges, and sections where the covering no longer directs water toward the exterior.

Inspect Window and Door Capping

Custom-formed trim coil can be scratched, creased, dented, or pulled away from windows and doors. Windborne debris may open seams or distort the capping enough to affect drainage.

Examine:

• Head, jamb, and sill coverings
• Seams, hems, returns, and laps
• Fasteners and attachment points
• Sealant joints where sealant is part of the detail
• Opened edges that can catch wind
• Damage around shutters, lights, and mounting blocks

Decorative capping does not replace flashing. Interior water staining or exterior trim damage may require evaluation of the entire opening and its connection to the wall's drainage system.

Compare replacement materials through Suburban Wholesale's trim and gutter coil selection.

Inspect Gutters and Downspouts

Hail can dent gutters and downspouts. Wind and falling branches can change gutter pitch, damage hangers, loosen outlets, or pull downspouts away from the wall.

Look for:

• Dents, punctures, and crushed sections
• Loose or missing hangers
• Gutters pulled away from the fascia
• Opened corners, end caps, or seams
• Changed pitch and standing water
• Loose outlets and elbows
• Disconnected or crushed downspouts
• Discharge extensions moved toward the foundation

Do not rely only on visible dents. A gutter can remain cosmetically intact while its pitch, attachment, or outlet has been affected.

Review Suburban Wholesale's rainware products when preparing a replacement scope.

Check Penetrations and Mounted Equipment

Inspect meters, exterior lights, vents, hose connections, electrical boxes, mounting blocks, and other penetrations. Movement or impact can open gaps around these components.

Do not disturb electrical, gas, ventilation, or utility equipment without proper authorization and qualified personnel. Photograph the condition and identify which trade must evaluate it.

Document Interior Conditions Without Guessing the Cause

Check accessible interior areas for new water stains, wet insulation, damaged finishes, or unusual drafts. Photograph the condition and record its location relative to the exterior.

Do not assume that an interior stain proves a siding failure. Roof damage, flashing, condensation, plumbing, windows, or another source may be responsible. Further investigation may be required.

Make Only Necessary Temporary Repairs

Property owners generally should take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, but permanent work should not begin before the claim and repair process is understood. The Illinois Department of Insurance advises consumers to keep receipts for emergency repairs and warns against making permanent repairs before communicating with the insurer.^[1]

Temporary measures may include safely covering an opening or securing a loose component when qualified personnel can do so without creating more damage.

Document:

• The condition before temporary work
• Why immediate action was necessary
• The materials and labor used
• The condition after protection
• Invoices and receipts

Preserve a Sample Carefully

An older aluminum panel may require physical analysis to identify the product. ITEL states that some siding samples can only be tested through physical submission and that its analysis evaluates characteristics such as material type, projection, profile, gauge, embossment, and color.^[2]

Obtain the owner's authorization before removing siding. Photograph the original sample location, label the material, and avoid creating unnecessary exposure. A qualified contractor should temporarily protect the opening.

An ITEL report helps identify materials and possible matches. It does not determine insurance coverage or guarantee that new siding will match a weathered wall.

Prepare an Organized Claim Package

The Illinois Department of Insurance recommends detailed contractor bids showing materials, prices, and labor on a line-by-line basis.^[1] Iowa also provides homeowners with post-disaster claim resources and recordkeeping guidance.^[3]

A useful submission includes:

1. A one-page summary of the inspection
2. Photographs organized by elevation and product
3. Measurements and an elevation diagram
4. Product-identification information
5. The ITEL report, when one was obtained
6. Written material-availability findings
7. A line-item repair estimate
8. Temporary-repair invoices and receipts

Document facts rather than guarantees. The insurance policy, endorsements, applicable requirements, claim facts, and carrier decisions control coverage.

Consider Steel Only as a Separate Product Decision

After a damaging storm, some homeowners reconsider whether aluminum remains the best long-term material. Steel generally provides greater resistance to ordinary denting, although severe hail and debris can still damage it.

Compare the current aluminum options with Suburban Wholesale's Gentek steel siding collection.

On an insurance project, keep any owner-elected steel upgrade separate from the accepted claim scope. Never promise that the carrier will pay for a different or more expensive siding system.

Review the Applicable Product Warranties

Gentek publishes separate warranties for aluminum siding, steel siding, soffit, fascia, and selected trim-coil products. Coverage, hail provisions, exclusions, transfer terms, remedies, and claim procedures vary by product.^[4]

A manufacturer warranty and a homeowners insurance policy serve different purposes. Contractors should not treat warranty language as proof of insurance coverage or vice versa.

The Complete Exterior Tells the Real Story

A storm inspection should follow the path of the exterior system: siding, corners, windows, doors, soffit, fascia, trim coil, gutters, downspouts, and penetrations.

The goal is not to classify every mark as storm damage. It is to identify observable conditions accurately, protect the property from additional damage, and give the owner, contractor, supplier, and adjuster a record they can evaluate.

This article provides general educational information and is not legal, insurance, public-adjusting, engineering, safety, or coverage advice. Do not enter unsafe areas or perform work beyond your training and authorization. Verify current manufacturer documents, policy terms, applicable requirements, and project-specific conditions.