Wichita sits in one of the most active hail corridors in the country. After a spring supercell, we field dozens of calls about dented panels, cracked windows, and doors that suddenly bind in their tracks. Here’s how to decide what to repair, what to replace, and how to handle the insurance side.
Assess the damage
Small dents on a raised-panel steel door are usually cosmetic. The problems start when hail cracks the outer skin, shatters window inserts, or bends the track. A bent track is a safety issue — the door can jump off and fall.
Repair vs. replace
Single-panel dents can often be skinned or swapped for $250–$600. Widespread hail damage across multiple panels usually makes replacement smarter — you get a new warranty, better insulation, and often a wind-rated upgrade for only a few hundred dollars more than a patch job.
Insurance claims
Garage doors are covered under most Kansas homeowner policies. Document everything: wide shots of the whole door, close-ups of every dent, and any cracked glass. We provide the written estimate adjusters require and can meet them on site.
Preventing the next hit
Consider a wind-rated door with heavier gauge steel and extra struts. They cost 10–15% more upfront but survive the pea-to-marble hail that dents standard doors every spring.
Storm just hit? Call (316) 555-0159 — we prioritize hail-damage triage.