What actually works
Filling. Auto-body filler, sanded flush and painted, can make a small dent effectively disappear on a wall that is going to be painted anyway. On an unpainted wall the repair will show as a texture and sheen difference.
Replacement. The honest answer for most dents. Panels interlock, so a damaged panel can be swapped without disturbing its neighbors, subject to matching.
What does not work
Heat guns — aluminum does not have shape memory the way some plastics do, and heat will discolor the finish. Dry ice tricks from car-dent videos, same reason. And anything that involves hammering from the outside, which stretches the metal further and turns one problem into two.
Why a dent matters even if nothing is leaking
This is the part that costs homeowners money when they do not know it. A homeowners policy insures the condition of your property against covered perils, not only against active water intrusion. Hail dents in siding are physical damage from a covered peril. The fact that the panel is still shedding water does not make it undamaged, and it does not make it uninsurable.
Many people look at a dented wall after a hailstorm, decide it is cosmetic, and never file. Then the claim window closes. If hail or high wind has come through your area and your siding is aluminum, it is worth thirty minutes to have it documented properly — aluminum registers hail as a dimple pattern that a trained eye reads instantly and an untrained one walks straight past.
Get it looked at, free
We inspect across Maryland — Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Carroll and Baltimore counties. Free inspection, photo report within 24 hours, and the report is yours to keep whether or not you hire us.