Minnesota sits squarely in hail country, and while roofs get the headlines, windows and doors take real damage in the same storms. The tricky part: much of it isn't dramatic. A hailstone that doesn't break glass can still crack frame cladding, bruise insulated glass seals, and shred screens — damage that shows up as fogged glass and leaks months later, sometimes after the claim window has closed.
After any significant hail event, walk your home with this checklist.
What to inspect, window by window
Work around the house on the sides facing the storm, checking:
- Glass — not just breaks: look for chips, star cracks at edges, and pitting; small edge damage propagates with freeze-thaw cycles.
- Frame cladding — dents and cracks in aluminum or vinyl cladding, especially on sills and lower rails that face the sky.
- Glazing beads and seals — dented or displaced beads and gouged perimeter sealant can let water into the glass unit and frame.
- Screens — torn mesh and bent frames are the most common (and most visible) hail casualties; note them all for the claim.
- Exterior trim and brickmould — splits, dents, and cracked paint lines that will wick water.
- Patio doors and entry doors — dented panels and skins, cracked decorative glass, damaged storm doors.
Why 'it didn't break' isn't 'it's fine'
Insulated glass units are sealed systems under stress. A hard hail strike can microfracture the glass edge or shock the perimeter seal — and a compromised seal means the argon leaks out and fog eventually forms between the panes. Similarly, cracked cladding lets water reach the frame core, where Minnesota freeze-thaw does its slow work. Documenting this damage during the claim matters precisely because the symptoms surface later.
Document like the claim depends on it
Photograph every damaged unit close-up and in context, note the date of the storm, and keep any local news or weather-service references to the event. If a roofer or adjuster is already assessing the roof, make sure windows, doors, and screens are explicitly inspected and listed in the scope — window damage riding along with roof claims gets overlooked constantly.
Repairs worth doing right
Screens can be re-meshed cheaply. Cracked glass units can often be replaced within an otherwise sound window. But hail-battered builder-grade windows with dented cladding and shocked seals are often smarter to replace outright — insurance settlements frequently make this the moment homeowners upgrade to better glass and frames for little out-of-pocket difference.
JMB Builders assesses hail-damaged windows and doors across the Twin Cities metro, coordinates with adjusters, and installs repairs built to outlast the next storm. Free assessments: 763-204-2099.
