Is it possible that the paint or coating gets compromised at those points? Or maybe the metal flexes more with temperature swings after it’s been hit hard?
Yeah, you’re on the right track. I’ve seen galvalume hold up a bit better than plain steel, but once the coating’s cracked, rust creeps in fast—especially in the Midwest where we get wild temp swings. Aluminum dents easier but doesn’t rust, so it’s a trade-off. I wouldn’t call dents “just cosmetic” if they mess with the finish. Had a neighbor whose “minor” hail dents turned into a patchwork of orange streaks after one winter. Not pretty.
I wouldn’t call dents “just cosmetic” if they mess with the finish.
Honestly, I’ve seen plenty of dented panels that never rusted, even after years. It seems to depend a lot on how deep the dent is and whether the coating actually cracks. Sometimes folks overreact and replace whole sections when touch-up paint would’ve done the trick.
That’s a good point about the finish. I’ve noticed that if the paint or coating stays intact, even a pretty noticeable dent doesn’t seem to cause problems down the line. Once the finish is breached, though, especially on older panels, you can get rust creeping in—seen it happen after a couple of wet seasons. Sometimes it’s tough to tell if the coating’s actually cracked unless you get up close. I guess it’s a bit of a judgment call whether to patch or replace, but I lean toward touch-up unless there’s obvious damage to the protective layer.
- Totally get what you mean about the finish being the real MVP.
- I’ve had a few dings on my garage door—looked ugly, but as long as the paint held up, no rust.
- The minute I spot a chip, though, out comes the touch-up paint. Not trying to play “guess the rust spot” next spring.
- Sometimes I wonder if I’m just paranoid, but after seeing my neighbor’s shed turn into a science experiment, I’d rather be safe.
- Patch it up, keep it moving... unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade, then hey, hail’s your friend.
Patch it up, keep it moving... unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade, then hey, hail’s your friend.
That’s basically my motto. I used to think I was being a little over the top with the touch-up paint, but after watching my cousin’s carport slowly dissolve into a pile of orange flakes, I’m not taking chances. The finish really does all the heavy lifting—once that’s gone, it’s like an open invitation for rust to move in and make itself at home.
I will say, though, sometimes those dings are just cosmetic. My garage door looks like it’s been through a minor war, but as long as the paint’s intact, I just shrug and move on. Not worth the money to replace unless it’s actually letting water in or something.
Funny thing is, my neighbor actually waited for a hailstorm to justify getting a new roof. Insurance covered most of it, so maybe there’s something to that “hail’s your friend” idea... but for me, I’d rather just keep patching and save the cash for something more fun than home repairs.
