When is hail season in Wichita?
Kansas gets frequent spring hail, and strong storms can show up in other months too. A garage door is one of the largest, flattest surfaces on the front of a house, so it’s often one of the first places hail damage shows up.
If a storm just rolled through, here’s how to check the door, document it, and decide what to do.
How do you check a garage door for hail damage?
Wait until the storm has passed and it’s safe to go outside. Then:
- Look at the door from an angle. Dents are easier to see in low, raking light, early morning or late afternoon, or with a flashlight held flat to the surface.
- Run your hand over the panels. Small dents you can’t see are often easy to feel.
- Check every section, top to bottom, plus the trim and weatherseal.
- Look at the windows for cracks or broken glass.
- Look inside the garage at the back of each panel for cracks, split seams or loose insulation.
- Run the door once and watch and listen. It should move smoothly without binding, scraping or new noises.
How can you tell cosmetic from functional hail damage?
This matters for both the repair and an insurance claim.
Cosmetic damage affects the look but not how the door works:
- Small, shallow dents scattered across the panels
- Chipped paint without exposed bare metal
- Minor scuffs on trim
Functional damage affects how the door works or protects your garage:
- Deep dents that crease or kink the steel
- Cracked or split panels, or seams pulled apart where sections meet
- Dents at the hinges or roller brackets, which can make the door bind
- A door that sticks, scrapes, sits crooked or makes new noises
- Broken windows that let water in
- Bare metal exposed by chips, which can rust over time
Functional damage should be fixed soon. A bent section can stress the rollers, hinges, cables and opener, and a door that binds can come off its track. If the door is crooked or won’t move, don’t force it. Leave it closed and call us, since cables and springs are under high tension. See cable and track repair.
What photos should you take for an insurance claim?
Document the damage before any repair or cleanup. Take:
- A wide shot of the whole door and the front of the house, so the location is clear
- Medium shots of each section
- Close-ups of dents, with a coin, tape measure or ruler for scale
- Shots at an angle in low light, where dents show up best
- Inside photos of cracked panels, split seams or loose insulation
- Hail on the ground, if you can safely photograph it soon after the storm, with something for scale
- Other damage on the same storm date, like the roof, siding, gutters, car or outdoor equipment
- A short video of the door opening and closing, especially if it sounds or moves differently
Write down the date and approximate time of the storm. Keep receipts for any temporary repairs.
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage to a garage door?
Homeowners policies generally cover sudden storm damage like hail, minus your deductible. That said, every policy is different. Some have a separate wind and hail deductible, and some treat cosmetic damage differently from damage that affects function. Check your policy or call your agent before you assume anything.
A few practical points:
- Compare the repair cost to your deductible. If only the garage door is damaged and the repair is close to your deductible, a claim may not be worth filing. If the roof and siding were also hit, the garage door is often part of a larger claim.
- Report promptly. Policies usually have time limits for filing.
- Get a written estimate. We give free written estimates for door replacement and can note which sections are damaged and whether a matching panel is available. We can’t tell you what your insurer will pay, and the claim decision is between you and your insurance company.
Should you replace a panel or the whole door?
Hail-dented steel usually can’t be pulled out cleanly, so the fix is to replace sections or the door.
| Option | Typical Wichita cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Panel replacement | $350–$1,200 per section | One or two sections damaged, a matching panel is still made |
| New garage door | $900–$4,500 installed | Several sections damaged, door is older or discontinued, or you want a sturdier door |
These are ballpark figures based on published 2025–2026 cost data. Your written price depends on the door, the damage and the options you choose.
Matching is the catch. Many Wichita homes still have older steel doors from the 1950s–1970s, and those panels are often discontinued. Even when the same model exists, new panels can differ slightly in color or emboss pattern from sun-faded originals. Once you’re replacing two or three sections, a new door can cost about the same and look better. Our repair vs. replacement comparison goes deeper.
What garage doors hold up better to hail?
No garage door is hail-proof, but some resist dents much better than others.
- Heavier gauge steel. Steel thickness is measured in gauge, and a lower number means thicker steel. A heavier gauge door dents less than a thin one.
- Insulated, layered construction. Doors with insulation bonded to the back of the steel are stiffer and resist dents better than single-layer doors.
- Textured finishes. Wood-grain and textured surfaces hide small dents better than smooth, flat panels.
- Fewer windows, or tempered glass. Glass is the most vulnerable part of a door in a storm.
If you’re replacing a hail-damaged door, it’s worth pricing a heavier gauge insulated door against the basic option. See insulated vs. non-insulated garage doors and our new garage door cost guide.
Can you prevent hail damage?
Not entirely, but you can limit it. Keep the door closed during storms (an open door exposes the car and the bottom edge of the door). Fix small paint chips before they rust. And when it’s time for a new door, choose heavier gauge steel. A yearly tune-up after storm season also catches hinges, rollers and brackets that took a hit.
What’s the next step?
Photograph the damage, check your policy, and call (316) 330-0609 for a free written estimate on panel or door replacement. We serve Wichita and nearby towns including Derby, Andover, Haysville, Maize and Augusta. You can also contact us online.
