How to File a Hail Damage Siding Claim in Kansas

Before you call anyone: document

The single most useful thing you can do after a hailstorm is take good photos while the evidence is fresh. The Kansas Insurance Department recommends documenting damage and taking photos before any permanent repairs.

• Wide shots of each side of the house, so it is clear which walls were hit.
• Close-ups of damage with a coin, tape measure or your hand for scale: cracks, holes, dents, chipped paint, broken corners.
• Collateral damage on the same side: gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC condenser fins, fence boards, outdoor furniture, vehicles. Adjusters use these to confirm hail size and direction.
• Hailstones next to a ruler, if you can safely collect a few right after the storm.
• The date and time of the storm, and any local news or weather service report about it.

Hail of 1 inch (quarter size) or larger is what the National Weather Service considers severe, and storms like that happen most years somewhere around Wichita. Kansas ranked sixth among states for hail insurance claims from 2017 to 2019.

Prevent more damage, and keep receipts

If hail punched holes in vinyl or broke panels loose, cover openings with plastic sheeting to keep rain out of the wall. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and the cost of temporary repairs may be reimbursed. Keep every receipt. Do not make permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage or your insurer says it is fine to proceed.

Read your declarations page

Before you file, find these on your policy's declarations page:

• Your wind and hail deductible. Many Kansas policies use a percentage of dwelling coverage. A 1% deductible on a house insured for $300,000 is $3,000; 2% is $6,000.
• Replacement cost or actual cash value for the dwelling, and whether the roof or siding is treated differently.
• Cosmetic damage limits or exclusions, which matter most for dents in metal siding and trim.
• Ordinance or law coverage, which can help with code-required items.

The Kansas Insurance Department's Home and Renters Shopper's Guide explains these coverage types in plain language.

Report the claim

Call your agent or the insurer's claim line, or file online. Write down the claim number, the date you reported it and the adjuster's name and contact information when assigned. Ask what the insurer needs from you and how long you have to complete repairs and submit documentation; policies set deadlines.

Get an independent estimate

A written estimate from a local siding contractor gives you a baseline to compare with the insurer's numbers. A thorough estimate lists:

• Squares of siding by elevation, and the exact product.
• Trim, corners, J-channel and window trim.
• Soffit, fascia, gutters and downspouts if damaged.
• House wrap, flashing and code-required items.
• Tear-off, disposal and permit.
• Detach and reset of lights, vents, satellite dishes and other wall-mounted items.

The adjuster's inspection

Be there if you can. Walk the adjuster around every side of the house, point out the damage you photographed, and mention items that are easy to miss: soffit, fascia, window wraps, screens and the side of the house behind a fence. You can have your contractor present. Ask the adjuster when you will receive the estimate.

Compare the estimates line by line

Insurers commonly write estimates with software that lists each item and quantity. Put it side by side with the contractor's estimate and look for differences in quantities (squares, linear feet of trim), missing items (house wrap, starter strip, corner posts, detach and reset), and product quality. Ask the insurer, in writing, about anything you do not understand.

Matching

If only one or two walls were damaged and the replacement siding will not match the rest, how that is resolved depends on your policy language and insurer. Gather evidence: the product name if known, proof it is discontinued, photos showing the faded color. Ask your adjuster how your policy treats matching. If you cannot resolve a dispute, the Kansas Insurance Department's Consumer Assistance Division can help with questions (1-800-432-2484).

Supplements

When siding comes off, contractors sometimes find more damage, or items that were left out of the original estimate. Those can be submitted as a supplement with photos and an explanation, following your insurer's process. Make sure the contractor tells you before submitting anything on your claim.

Depreciation and final payment

On replacement cost policies, insurers often pay actual cash value first (replacement cost minus depreciation), then release the withheld depreciation after the work is complete. Keep the final invoice, photos of the finished work and any permit sign-off, and submit them promptly.

Your rights with contractors

• Assignment of benefits: under K.S.A. 50-6,143, an assignment of insurance benefits to a residential contractor must contain a specific capitalized notice, must be sent to the insurer within three business days, and can be canceled by you within five business days after signing.
• Door-to-door contracts: under K.S.A. 50-640, for covered door-to-door sales you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing, and the seller must give you written notice of that right.
• Deductibles: you are responsible for your deductible. Be wary of anyone offering to cover or waive it.

More on this in how to spot storm chasers in Kansas.

Mortgage companies

If the check is made out to you and your lender, call the servicer early to learn its process for endorsing checks or releasing funds. Some require inspections or lien waivers before releasing the full amount.

Quick checklist

1. Photos of every wall, damage close-ups and collateral damage.
2. Temporary protection and receipts.
3. Declarations page: deductible, RCV or ACV, cosmetic limits.
4. Claim number and adjuster contact information.
5. Independent written estimate.
6. Line-by-line comparison and written questions.
7. Final invoice and photos for recoverable depreciation.

The cost guide explains how deductibles affect whether a claim makes sense.

Related services

• Hail Damage Siding Repair: Check, document and repair hail-cracked vinyl, dented steel and chipped fiber cement after a storm.
• Siding Insurance Claims in Kansas: How hail and wind siding claims work in Kansas, from deductibles to matching and supplements.
• Siding Replacement: Tear off worn or damaged siding and re-side the house in vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood or steel.

Sources: Kansas Insurance Department, "After the storm"; Kansas Insurance Department, Home and Renters Shopper's Guide; K.S.A. 50-6,143 (assignment of insurance benefits to a contractor); K.S.A. 50-640 (door-to-door sales, three-day cancellation); NICB, 2017-2019 U.S. hail loss claims; National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe.

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the material, the scope, permits and the warranty terms.