Hails can be unpredictable but the damage they bring to cars is well-known to everyone. Hail storms can be a significant risk to the exterior of your car causing scratches, dents, and sometimes shattered glass.
Hail size plays a crucial role in the extent of car damage. Hailstones as small as 1 inch in diameter (quarter-sized) can cause minor dents and paint chipping, while larger hailstones typically 1.5 inches or bigger (golf ball-sized and beyond) can result in severe hail damage to a car, including shattered windows and structural deformities.
A recent case where a Toronto man faced a severe problem in a rented car because of the hailstorm in Saskatchewan highlights how dangerous hails can be for your car. According to CTV news, the rental car was declared a total loss when baseball-sized hail struck, leaving the driver with an $18,000 bill for repairs. To protect you from these heavy bills and future damage, here are some easy tips to minimize hail damage.
Preventive Measures for Hail Damage
While no method guarantees complete protection against hail you can still reduce the risk of hail damage to your car with some easy tips:
Park Smart
The safest way to protect your car from hail is to park in covered areas like garages, carports, or underground parking lots. However, if you’re caught in a storm, consider the following:
- Find temporary shelter: A shopping mall or parking garage can shield your car.
- Avoid trees and bridges: Falling branches or debris can cause further damage.
- Invest in a weatherproof car cover: Inflatable hail covers provide superior protection.
Detailing Insight: If your car is parked outdoors, even under a temporary shelter, dust, debris, and moisture may settle on the surface. A post-storm hand wash with pH-neutral soap and ceramic protection can prevent contaminants from embedding into the paint.
The Damage Beyond Dents
Hail is commonly known for leaving dents in the car's body, but heavy hailstorms can also affect multiple areas of your car, including paint, glass, and interior materials.
Paint and Clear Coat Damage
When hailstones hit a car at high velocity, they can fracture the clear coat and expose the paint beneath. If these microscopic cracks are left untreated, moisture and contaminants penetrate the surface, leading to oxidation and rust formation over time.
How Detailing Helps: Paint correction and ceramic coating restore and protect the car’s exterior from further environmental damage.
Glass Damage and Visibility Issues
A direct hail impact on a windshield, side window, or sunroof can cause cracks or complete breakage. However, even if the glass doesn’t shatter, small hailstones can create surface pitting, reducing clarity and weakening the structural integrity of the windshield. Over time, these micro-cracks can expand due to temperature changes, leading to a higher risk of breakage.
Additionally, the rubber seals surrounding windows and windshields may also be affected. If hail damages these seals, water can seep into the cabin, leading to moisture buildup in carpets and upholstery.
Interior Damage from Water Infiltration
When hail breaks a window or sunroof, rainwater can enter the cabin, soaking the carpets, seats, and headliner. Moisture trapped inside the car can lead to mold growth, foul odors, and upholstery deterioration.
For leather car seats, when water seeps into the stitching, it can cause cracking and discoloration. Similarly, fabric seats and carpets absorb moisture quickly, leading to persistent stains and a damp smell.
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How Professional Detailing Helps to Fix Hail Damage on a Car
Once a hailstorm has passed, restoring the car to its original condition requires a combination of dent repair and professional detailing. While detaining repair can remove dents from the car, it doesn’t fix paint damage, glass etching, or moisture issues inside the car, which is where detailing is needed.
1. Paint Decontamination and Correction
Hailstorms often carry dust, rain, and ice particles, which can leave a layer of contaminants on the paint. The first step in post-hail restoration is thorough decontamination to remove any residue:
- Clay bar treatment extracts embedded dirt and road debris from the clear coat.
- Machine polishing corrects micro-abrasions and restores the original shine.
- Ceramic coating helps seal and protect the paint, preventing oxidation from hail-induced scratches.
For cars that have chipped paint from hail impact, spot paint touch-ups may be required before applying a protective sealant.
Here’s some expert tips on Maintaining Ceramic Coating
2. Glass Restoration and Cleaning
If the windshield or windows have been damaged by a hailstorm, you need to replace the glass. However, post-replacement, the interior needs a deep cleaning to remove any residual glass dust, adhesive, or debris left behind.
Glass polishing can restore light pitting on the windshield, improving visibility. Additionally, water-repellent coatings on glass surfaces help prevent future weather-related damage.
3. Interior Moisture Extraction and Odor Removal
If hail causes water to leak into the car, you need to have a professional interior detailing service to prevent long-term damage.
- Water extraction from carpets and seats prevents mildew formation.
- Steam cleaning disinfects and removes moisture trapped in upholstery fibers.
- Ozone treatment eliminates any lingering odors from damp interiors.
For leather interiors, reconditioning treatments restore flexibility and prevent cracks caused by water exposure.
Can Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating Prevent Hail Damage?
While no coating can prevent major dents from large hail, Paint Protection Film (PPF) and ceramic coatings can help minimize damage and preserve the car’s finish.
PPF absorbs impact energy, reducing paint chipping and surface abrasions whereas ceramic coatings create a hydrophobic layer, making it easier to clean storm residue and preventing UV-induced fading after exposure.
For cars in hail-prone areas, combining PPF on high-impact areas (like hoods, roofs, and side mirrors) with ceramic coating for environmental protection is a long-term solution to reduce damage risks.
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