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How to Repair Hail Damage Download Article Co-authored by Evan Ernst
Last Updated: February 24, 2025
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Using Heating and Cooling
|
Applying Kits or Professional Services
|
Identifying Hail Damage on a House
|
Filing for House Insurance
|
Video
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Expert Interview
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Q&A
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Tips
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Evan Ernst. Evan Ernst is a classic automotive expert based in Spokane, Washington. Evan and his twin brother Nick are the founders of ClassicNation, an automotive enthusiast website. With over 36,000 YouTube subscribers, Evan and Nick share videos covering one of their many classic car restoration projects, an interesting 'featured ride', or helpful how-to repair videos. This article has been viewed 454,044 times.
Certain parts of the world are more susceptible to hail than others. Hail can damage your car as well as your home. There is little you can do to prevent the damage, but there is plenty you can do to fix it. This type of damage usually isn’t too problematic, but you’ll still want to fix it to avoid future issues from developing.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 4:
Using Heating and Cooling
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1 Park your vehicle in a sunny area. This is a popular technique with car enthusiasts. Heat will cause the metal to expand. As the metal expands, the small dents will pop out. Using nature’s oven will take a long time if you aren’t in a very warm place.
The longer your vehicle is exposed to warm sunlight, the more likely this technique will work.
2 Apply hot air to the dents. If you're unable to expose your vehicle to the heat of the sun, you can use a hair dryer. Hold the hair dryer 5 to 7 inches away from the dents for two minute intervals. Carefull not to touch the dryer directly on the car.
If the vehicle's paint begins to discolor, stop applying heat immediately. Use wax or a rubbing compound to restore the paint’s color.
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3 Apply dry ice to the dents. The drastic change in temperature should cause the dents to pop out. Dry ice can damage your skin, so wear gloves when handling dry ice. Move the ice around the dented area to rapidly cool the area.
This technique can be a great solution, but sometimes there'll still be remnants of the dents after popping. Additional repairs may be required.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 4:
Applying Kits or Professional Services
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1 Consider buying a kit. Dent repair kits can be reused depending on the kit. Consider the average amount of hail your area gets. If you frequently find dents after a hailstorm, consider buying a kit.
Dent removal kits can typically be found at your local auto supply store.
2 Buy a dent puller. These are simple and cheap tools that use suction to remove dents. They are one of the more common kits for users not as experienced with self repairs.[1]X Expert Source Evan ErnstClassic Automotive ExpertExpert Interview
3 Use other kits. There are other types of kits that use suction and a glue gun to remove the dents. These kits sometimes require more patience and steps, but can potentially have better results. They use an arched bridge system combined with a safe adhesive.
4 Take the vehicle to a body shop. If you have insurance that covers hail damage, contact your insurance company to file a claim. Dent repairs are a cheap fix, and you're guaranteed the cleanest job.
Consider asking the body shop personnel to use used parts, if needed. This will reduce your expenses.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 4:
Identifying Hail Damage on a House
Download Article
1 Look at the weather. If you were out and unaware of a hail storm, check your past weather forecast. This can be a simple confirmation of whether your property was subject to hail. Hail can damage the roof of a house just as dramatically as your vehicle.
2 Examine asphalt shingles. Hail will have a different effect to the different types of roofs. For asphalt shingles you'll notice random damage with no succinct pattern. The hail impressions will probably be black in color. You might also notice a loss of granules and the asphalt will appear shiny.
3 Examine wood shingles. Again like the asphalt shingles, hail causes random damage without a clear pattern. Look for a split in the shingle that is a brown/orange color. Also look for splits that have sharp corners or splits that have little to no deterioration around the edges.
4 Inspect clay tiled roofs. Clay tiles, also known as terra cotta roofs, commonly feature multiple fractures centered around a common impact point. The most sensitive sections of the roof are the corners and the overlays along the edges of the tiles.
Clay tiles are easy to spot because they usually have a clear break.
5 Inspect metal roofs. Metal paneled roofs will rarely be punctured by hail. This style of roof is one of the sturdiest made. They seldom become dented because of the material and its proximity to the surface below. You’ll experience functional damage if the seams or edges of the panels become damaged. This will allow moisture to seep through.[2]XResearch source
Metal shingles damage much like asphalt shingles, and are much less resilient than metal panels.
Advertisement Method 4 Method 4 of 4:
Filing for House Insurance
Download Article
1 Confirm the damage was hail. Once you notice that your roof has been damaged, you'll need to make sure that the cause was hail. If you experience a serious storm, suspect that it hailed and potentially damaged your roof.
Inspect your roof after a storm.
Look for other indicators around your property for signs of hail.[3]XResearch source
If you’re renting, contact your landlord if you suspect hail damage.
2 Document what you can. You don't need to get a ladder and photograph your roof up close. Take pictures of your house and roof after a storm. Document the hail itself if it's available on the ground.
3 Schedule an inspection. Use a reputable roofing company to inspect your roof for a quote. Be careful choosing a roofing contractor. There are many unauthorized companies that can lead to fraud. Only deal with a "factory-certified" roofing contractor.[4]XResearch source
4 Be home when they inspect. Make sure you are around so you can tell them that no repairs are to be done. Reinforce that they are only there for an inspection. Request the contractor to outline with chalk any damaged areas.[5]XResearch source
Listen for any noises of the roofer trying imitate hail damage onto your roof.
Don’t sign anything.
5 File your claim. Locate your homeowner's insurance policy. Organize all the facts and documents gathered about the specifics of the damage. You'll be assigned a claim number by your insurance company. Each insurance company handles the aftermath differently. Be sure your insurance will cover all damages before hiring a contractor.
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Community Q&A
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Question Would my house collapse if it has serious damage? Community Answer No, it is highly unlikely that it will collapse. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
Question Will my dog take damage if hail hits it? Donagan Top Answerer Yes, if the hailstones are large. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
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Video
Tips
If the vehicle has a high amount of mileage, a few remaining dents are not likely to change the value of it much. At this point, it is up to you whether or not you can deal with having the dents or to have it professionally repaired. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
Take your car to a professional—trying to remove hail damage yourself can damage your car’s paint and exterior.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about car maintenance and repair, check out our in-depth interview with Evan Ernst.
Co-authored by: Evan Ernst Classic Automotive Expert This article was co-authored by Evan Ernst. Evan Ernst is a classic automotive expert based in Spokane, Washington. Evan and his twin brother Nick are the founders of ClassicNation, an automotive enthusiast website. With over 36,000 YouTube subscribers, Evan and Nick share videos covering one of their many classic car restoration projects, an interesting 'featured ride', or helpful how-to repair videos. This article has been viewed 454,044 times. 1 votes - 0% Co-authors: 14Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 454,044 Categories: StormsArticle SummaryX
To repair hail damage on a car, try parking your car in the sun for several hours. The heat from the sunlight will cause the metal to expand, which may pop the dents out naturally. If you don’t have access to much sunlight, hold a hair dryer 5 to 7 inches from the dents and heat them in 2-minute intervals until they pop out. Alternatively, applying dried ice to the dent can also work. For stubborn dents, purchase a dent repair kit from an auto supply store or a dent puller, which uses suction to remove dents. For more tips on repairing hail damage, like how to identify hail damage on a house, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Lou Lander
Apr 22, 2017
"This was great. It put me in the right direction, since my deductible is very high. I didn't know about the sun trick or the suction. I live in Texas so this should be interesting, as summer is barely starting."..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Evan Ernst Classic Automotive Expert 1 votes - 0% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 14Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 454,044
Lou Lander
Apr 22, 2017
"This was great. It put me in the right direction, since my deductible is very high. I didn't know about the sun trick or the suction. I live in Texas so this should be interesting, as summer is barely starting."..." more Rated this article:
Mike Simmons
Jul 4, 2017
"Very understanding, economical and a job well done." Rated this article:
Christine Lunt
Mar 4, 2017
"I found this very informative." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Evan Ernst Classic Automotive Expert This article was co-authored by Evan Ernst. Evan Ernst is a classic automotive expert based in Spokane, Washington. Evan and his twin brother Nick are the founders of ClassicNation, an automotive enthusiast website. With over 36,000 YouTube subscribers, Evan and Nick share videos covering one of their many classic car restoration projects, an interesting 'featured ride', or helpful how-to repair videos. This article has been viewed 454,044 times. 1 votes - 0% Co-authors: 14 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 454,044 Categories: Storms Article SummaryX
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1 Park your vehicle in a sunny area. This is a popular technique with car enthusiasts. Heat will cause the metal to expand. As the metal expands, the small dents will pop out. Using nature’s oven will take a long time if you aren’t in a very warm place. 
2 Apply hot air to the dents. If you're unable to expose your vehicle to the heat of the sun, you can use a hair dryer. Hold the hair dryer 5 to 7 inches away from the dents for two minute intervals. Carefull not to touch the dryer directly on the car. 
3 Apply dry ice to the dents. The drastic change in temperature should cause the dents to pop out. Dry ice can damage your skin, so wear gloves when handling dry ice. Move the ice around the dented area to rapidly cool the area. 
1 Consider buying a kit. Dent repair kits can be reused depending on the kit. Consider the average amount of hail your area gets. If you frequently find dents after a hailstorm, consider buying a kit. 
2 Buy a dent puller. These are simple and cheap tools that use suction to remove dents. They are one of the more common kits for users not as experienced with self repairs.[1] 
3 Use other kits. There are other types of kits that use suction and a glue gun to remove the dents. These kits sometimes require more patience and steps, but can potentially have better results. They use an arched bridge system combined with a safe adhesive. 
4 Take the vehicle to a body shop. If you have insurance that covers hail damage, contact your insurance company to file a claim. Dent repairs are a cheap fix, and you're guaranteed the cleanest job. 
1 Look at the weather. If you were out and unaware of a hail storm, check your past weather forecast. This can be a simple confirmation of whether your property was subject to hail. Hail can damage the roof of a house just as dramatically as your vehicle. 
2 Examine asphalt shingles. Hail will have a different effect to the different types of roofs. For asphalt shingles you'll notice random damage with no succinct pattern. The hail impressions will probably be black in color. You might also notice a loss of granules and the asphalt will appear shiny. 
3 Examine wood shingles. Again like the asphalt shingles, hail causes random damage without a clear pattern. Look for a split in the shingle that is a brown/orange color. Also look for splits that have sharp corners or splits that have little to no deterioration around the edges. 
4 Inspect clay tiled roofs. Clay tiles, also known as terra cotta roofs, commonly feature multiple fractures centered around a common impact point. The most sensitive sections of the roof are the corners and the overlays along the edges of the tiles. 
5 Inspect metal roofs. Metal paneled roofs will rarely be punctured by hail. This style of roof is one of the sturdiest made. They seldom become dented because of the material and its proximity to the surface below. You’ll experience functional damage if the seams or edges of the panels become damaged. This will allow moisture to seep through.[2] 
1 Confirm the damage was hail. Once you notice that your roof has been damaged, you'll need to make sure that the cause was hail. If you experience a serious storm, suspect that it hailed and potentially damaged your roof. 
2 Document what you can. You don't need to get a ladder and photograph your roof up close. Take pictures of your house and roof after a storm. Document the hail itself if it's available on the ground. 
3 Schedule an inspection. Use a reputable roofing company to inspect your roof for a quote. Be careful choosing a roofing contractor. There are many unauthorized companies that can lead to fraud. Only deal with a "factory-certified" roofing contractor.[4] 
4 Be home when they inspect. Make sure you are around so you can tell them that no repairs are to be done. Reinforce that they are only there for an inspection. Request the contractor to outline with chalk any damaged areas.[5] 
5 File your claim. Locate your homeowner's insurance policy. Organize all the facts and documents gathered about the specifics of the damage. You'll be assigned a claim number by your insurance company. Each insurance company handles the aftermath differently. Be sure your insurance will cover all damages before hiring a contractor. Advertisement 
Community Answer No, it is highly unlikely that it will collapse. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4 
Donagan Top Answerer Yes, if the hailstones are large. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3 
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