Lap siding (sometimes called clapboard or bevel siding) is exterior cladding made of long horizontal boards installed so each row overlaps the top of the row below. Common materials include vinyl, fiber cement (Hardie board), engineered wood (LP Smartside), and traditional cedar.
Storm damage patterns
- Hail bruising on softer materials (vinyl, engineered wood). Look for circular indentations and cracking.
- Wind-driven impact chipping or cracking individual boards.
- Color match challenges — when individual boards are replaced, finding an exact color match on weathered siding is often impossible. A full elevation may need to be replaced for cosmetic uniformity.
Documentation tip
Photograph hail damage to siding with a chalk line or coin for scale. Adjusters look for a specific number of "hits per test square" before they'll write a full elevation.