Hail Pitted Window Glass — Pits, Chips and Bruises Without a Crack
No cracks, but when the low sun hits the west windows you can see dozens of little dings in the glass that were not there before the storm.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
Hail pitted window glass has small pits, chips or round bruise marks on the outer pane but no crack, so it is easy to miss and easy to argue about. JMB Builders in the Twin Cities lights each pane from the side, circles and counts the marks, photographs them with a scale by window and side of the house, and replaces the sealed glass unit where it is approved. Priced per window. Your policy and adjuster decide coverage.
- Pits counted and photographed pane by pane
- Glass unit replaced in the existing sash
- Your policy and adjuster decide coverage
Hail does not always crack glass. A hard stone can knock a tiny chip out of the surface, leave a round bruise mark or a short scratch where it skidded. On a picture window or a big slider facing the storm, there can be dozens. They show best with low sun or a flashlight held flat against the glass, and they hardly show at all from the lawn at noon.
Pits are also the kind of damage that gets questioned. Glass can be pitted by years of road grit, construction debris or careless cleaning, and some policies treat marks that change only the look differently from damage that affects how a window works. Your policy wording and the adjuster decide; we do not give coverage advice. What helps is showing that the marks match the storm: on the sides the hail came from, matching the dents in the capping and screens on the same wall, and absent on the sheltered sides.
We put a small tape circle around each pit, count them per pane, and photograph them with side lighting and a scale, labeled by window and side of the house. A chip at the edge of the glass is noted on its own, since edge damage can grow into a crack. Where the glass is approved, the sealed glass unit is replaced in the existing sash; if the maker does not sell glass for it, the scope says so. You file and deal with your insurer. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 325E.66) bars a contractor from waiving, rebating or paying any part of your deductible, and we do not.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
What you supply
- The storm date and your claim number, if you have filed
- Photos you took of the marks, especially with low sun
- Notes on which windows show the most marks
- Access to each window inside and out
What JMB supplies
- A side-lit check of every pane, with each pit circled and counted
- Photos with a scale, labeled by window and side of the house
- A note of matching hail marks on capping, screens and siding on the same wall
- A line-item scope: glass unit per window, sash or whole unit where the glass cannot be bought
- New sealed glass units set in the existing sashes where approved
- Meeting the adjuster to show the marks with a light, when you want us there
How it is priced: per window
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- How many panes are pitted and their sizes
- Whether the maker sells replacement glass or sashes
- Tempered or special glass, such as low-E or triple pane
- Access to upper-floor and large picture windows
- Screens and capping damaged on the same windows
Send close-ups of the marks with a flashlight held flat to the glass and a wide shot showing which window it is.
How long it takes
Inspection and photos in one visit. Glass units are built to size over weeks; setting them is quick, often several windows in a day.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Hail Pitted Window Glass — Pits, Chips and Bruises Without a Crack: questions, answered
Can hail chip window glass without cracking it?
Yes. A hailstone can knock a small chip out of the glass surface or leave a round bruise mark without cracking the pane. They show best with a light held flat to the glass or low sun across it.
Are small dings in glass after hail covered by insurance?
It depends on your policy and the adjuster. Some policies treat damage that changes only the look differently from damage that affects how a window works. Check your policy and ask your agent. Good photos tied to the storm help either way.
How do you photograph hail marks on window glass?
Hold a flashlight flat against the glass or wait for low sun, circle each mark with a small piece of tape, put a coin or tape measure in the frame for scale, and take a wide shot that shows which window it is. Count the marks per pane and write them down.
How do you tell hail pits from old wear on glass?
Hail marks are on the sides the storm came from, match dents in the capping and screens on the same wall, and are missing on sheltered sides. Wear from grit or cleaning tends to be spread evenly or in streaks. We note what we see on each side.
Can a chip in window glass turn into a crack?
It can, especially a chip at the edge of the pane, where temperature swings put the most stress on the glass. Edge chips are noted on their own. Note when you first saw them, and photograph them again if they grow.
Can a contractor pay my deductible on a hail glass claim?
No. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 325E.66) bars a contractor from waiving, rebating or paying any part of your deductible, and JMB Builders does not do it.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and the builders we work with. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
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Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All insurance repairs pages
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