Hail season in North Texas can leave a garage door looking like a golf ball in a matter of minutes. Some damage is purely cosmetic; some affects how the door runs and seals. Here’s how to sort it out and decide on the right fix.
Step 1: Check whether the door still works safely
Before worrying about looks, make sure the door is safe to use:
- Does it open and close smoothly, without grinding, binding or catching at the same spot?
- Are any sections cracked or split, especially along the hinges or the bottom?
- Did wind push the door in, bend the tracks, or knock rollers out of place?
- Are windows in the door cracked or broken?
If the door binds, looks bent or crooked, or anything is cracked, stop using it and have it inspected. Running a damaged door can bend tracks and overload springs and the opener. If you can’t close it after a storm, our 24/7 emergency service can help secure it.
Step 2: Cosmetic vs. functional damage
Cosmetic damage means dents in the face of the panels that don’t affect movement. The door works fine; it just doesn’t look great. Thin, single-layer steel doors tend to show hail dents more.
Functional damage means dents or creases along panel edges, hinges or struts that make sections rub or bind; cracked sections; bent tracks; or broken windows. Functional damage should be repaired soon.
When repair makes sense
- Only one or two sections are damaged.
- A matching replacement section is still available for your door’s make, model and color.
- The rest of the door — springs, cables, rollers, tracks — is in good condition.
- The door is fairly new and otherwise meets your needs.
A panel repair can restore function and appearance without the cost of a whole new door. One caution: new sections may look slightly different from sun-faded original sections.
When replacement is the better choice
- Most or all sections are dented.
- Matching sections are no longer made.
- The door is older, uninsulated or already needing other repairs.
- You’d like better dent resistance next time — thicker, insulated steel generally resists dents better than thin single-layer doors.
If you’re replacing, see our guide on how to choose a new garage door in DFW and our garage door installation page.
Documenting damage
If you plan to talk with your insurance company, document the damage as soon as it’s safe:
- Photograph the whole door from the driveway, then close-ups of dents with a coin or ruler for scale.
- Photograph the inside of the door, tracks and any cracked sections.
- Note the date of the storm.
- Get an estimate for repair and/or replacement — Fort Brothers gives free estimates.
Coverage decisions are up to your insurer and your policy; ask them what they need from you.
Don’t forget the rest of the door
Storms often bring power surges and outages too. After a big storm, check that the opener works normally and the safety sensors are aligned. If the door suddenly feels heavy, a spring may have given out — see spring repair.