Hail Damage to Windows in Texas: What to Do After a Storm
Updated: Oct 7
Central Texas hail can go from pea-sized to golf-ball-sized in minutes. When the storm passes, most homeowners check the roof and the car. Windows often get overlooked, even though hail damage there can lead to leaks, drafts and higher energy bills months later. Here is how to check your windows after a hailstorm and what to do next.
Step 1: Stay safe first
If glass is broken, keep kids and pets away from the area, wear gloves and shoes, and cover the opening with plastic sheeting or plywood until it can be repaired. Do not try to remove large broken panes yourself.
Step 2: Check each window for these signs
Cracked, chipped or broken glass, including small star-shaped chips that can spread
Fogging between the panes, which means the seal of the insulated glass unit has failed
Dents, cracks or holes in frames, especially on older vinyl and aluminum windows
Torn screens, often the first thing hail damages
Damaged weatherstripping or caulk around the frame
Water stains on sills, walls or floors near a window after the rain
Check the side of the house that faced the storm first. Some damage, like a failing seal, may only show up days or weeks later, so look again after the next hot or rainy day.
Step 3: Document everything
Take clear photos and short videos of each damaged window, both close-up and from a distance, before anything is cleaned up or repaired. Note the date of the storm. If you plan to file a claim, check your homeowners policy and contact your insurer promptly, since many policies have time limits for reporting storm damage.
Step 4: Repair or replace?
Repair can make sense when only a screen is torn, the caulk needs touching up, or a single pane in an otherwise healthy, newer window is cracked.
Replacement is usually the better long-term fix when frames are cracked or warped, several windows are damaged, seals have failed and the glass is fogging, or the windows were already old, drafty or leaking before the storm.
Step 5: Choose windows that handle the next storm better
No residential window is hail-proof, and our windows are not certified impact windows. But some features make a real difference in how windows hold up to Texas weather:
Steel-reinforced uPVC frames that resist cracking and flexing
Compression seals on all four sides that keep wind-driven rain out
Multi-point locking hardware that holds the sash tight in high winds
Laminated glass options that help keep broken glass in the frame
Learn more on our storm resistant windows page, or see how the same features improve home security and noise reduction.
How much does replacement cost?
It depends on the number of windows, sizes and glass options. Our Austin window replacement cost guide breaks down the main factors.
Get a free inspection after the storm
Comfort by Kula installs German-engineered tilt & turn windows across Austin and the Hill Country, including Dripping Springs, Lakeway & Bee Cave, West Lake Hills and Boerne. We will look at your windows, tell you honestly whether repair or replacement makes more sense, and give you a written quote.
Take our 2-minute window quiz or call 512-755-5484 for a free in-home consultation.
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