Image Credit: Robb Kowalik
More Musings of an Energy Nerd
UPDATED September 3, 2013
In almost every corner of the U.S., reports are increasing of vinyl siding that has been melted by sunlight bouncing off nearby windows. This melted-siding pandemic makes vinyl manufacturers very nervous — so nervous that the topic is rarely discussed.
Most reported cases involve siding that melts, gets replaced, and then melts a second time. One possible reason for the apparent increase in cases of melted siding is the increasing use of high-performance glazing.
Not our problem, says Pulte
Arlene Taraschi, a homeowner in Delanco, New Jersey, described her melted siding in a letter to a Q-and-A column in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “Two years ago, my husband and I purchased a new, Pulte-built home in South Jersey. After a few months we noticed the vinyl siding on one side of the house seemed to be dented in a diagonal pattern. The siding contractor replaced the siding on the entire side of the house. This was done last January, and by February the denting pattern began again. We were told at this time that it was because of the reflection of the sun’s rays from our neighbor’s house. Pulte has termed this melting of the siding ‘thermal distortion,’ and refuses to correct the problem.”
As Taraschi’s case makes clear, these cases aren’t just public relations nightmares — they’re legal nightmares. Arlene’s husband, Carl Taraschi, told me, “I’ve sued Pulte, the siding installer, and the siding manufacturer.”
Since 2007, when I first reported on cases of siding melted by window reflections, I’ve collected homeowner reports of the phenomenon from 16 states (Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington).
Danny Winters works for Cimarron Homes, a builder in Durham, North Carolina. Winters told…
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91 Comments
Update from a homeowner
This morning I received an e-mail from a homeowner who read this blog and provided an update on her own vinyl siding problems. Joanne from North Carolina wrote:
"As of May, 2010 we finally have our house looking good again. At our own expense and with the approval of both adjacent homeowners, we paid to have the problem, high-E [I think she means low-e] windows replaced in the homes that are on both the east and the west side of our house.
"The windows were replaced in December, 2009, and we waited a few months to see if the reflection problem had been solved. I believe most of the damage is done in the winter when the siding is cold and the reflection from the windows on the siding makes a huge difference in siding surface temperature. Then in May, 2010 we hired a vinyl siding contractor to replace the vinyl siding on the east and west of our own home. The siding job was finished in May, 2010 and still looks good.
"It ended up costing a few thousand dollars, but we felt we had no choice. Our option would have been to re-side the entire house with a siding product like HardiPlank (which would have been even more costly)."
The Article
Thank You for some interesting information. The coverage looks balanced. It certainly is informative. As a Certified HERS Rater, I am sure that I will hear about local events.
Perhaps an cheaper solution would be to install a solar screen on the windows in question. A 10 ft x 3.5 ft picture window would cost $25.00. The installation about 5 minutes with the use of 10 screws. Easily done for most Home Owners. Bonus is additional SHG is kept out of the house.
Response to John Nicholas
John,
As I'm sure you know, these cases usually involve negotiations with neighbors. In such cases, the window owner usually experiences no problems.
While some homeowners don't mind changing the appearance of their windows to help out their neighbors, others balk. "If my neighbor chose to install a siding with a melting point of 165°F, why is that my problem?"
Moreover, your solution lowers the solar heat gain through the window. While this will probably be seen as a benefit to a Florida homeowner, it would definitely be a disadvantage for a homeowner from Maine or Minnesota, where solar heat gain through windows is desirable.
Your solution means money out of the pocket for northern homeowners, who will see their heating bills rise after the solar screens are installed.
Another update
Another homeowner who read this blog sent me an e-mail with an update. This Massachusetts homeowner asked to be identified as RB. She wrote:
"The insurance company ended up hiring an engineering firm to do a site survey and they confirmed it was the windows. So I replaced the siding, for a second time, and then the insurance company went after the [neighboring] homeowner personally from what I understand. The window company even admitted that their windows caused the melting. It was an odd claim and everyone in the beginning laughed at me but in the end, I was able to prove it.
"The article was very interesting but the one thing that I question is whether the rays being reflected contributed to my cataracts. At age 37, I developed severe cataracts which was unexplained but my office and desk sit right in front of that window where the siding was damaged. Just makes me wonder now if there is any correlation.
"I think the insurance company went after the homeowner personally because I sued her in small claims court, not expecting to win, but to simply establish knowledge and document her and her insurance company’s refusal to do anything. Cardinal [Glass] was pretty good and was willing to install the screens on ALL her windows, not just the ones affecting my siding. In all fairness, Cardinal tried to work with the homeowner who consistently refused and contributed to the problem as well as the delay in its resolution."
The sad part
The sad part is that Pulte's siding installer was named in the Taraschis' lawsuit.
Response to David
David,
Contractors face a tremendous amount of liability. Now that I'm no longer building houses, I look back with wonder and amazement at the fact that so many contractors accept so much liability for such small wages or profits.
When a builder accepts a contract to install siding on a house, that contractor is in effect telling the homeowner that the installed product is suitable for use on houses.
Later, the product melts. According to the neighbor's lawyer, window reflections are a common fact, and any siding should be able to withstand normal temperatures, including the temperatures that occur when reflections hit the side of a house.
I'm not sure what the lessons are here. One possible lesson is that siding that melts at 165 degrees F may be a risky siding to install. Contractors may want to think about that when they give advice to homeowners.
If the fact that vinyl siding melts so easily makes you nervous, maybe you shouldn't install vinyl siding.
Vicat softening temperature of PVC
I would also think twice about using foil face foam sheathings directly under vinyl siding.
Response to Doug McEvers
Doug,
There is absolutely no evidence that foil-faced foam sheathings cause any problems behind vinyl siding. After all, the foil facing is always in the shade!
The only problem with foil-faced foam sheathing might happen when your NEIGHBORS install it on the wall of a house under construction, causing reflections to hit your vinyl siding.
Pigments in the vinyl
Does this warping ever happen with pure white siding?
Vinyl siding is sold as zero maintenance. In the Southwest, it needs replacing at 10-15 years, unless it's white. All the other colors seem to cause waviness in the intense sun (except on the north side of the house) The white stuff also gets very brittle after all that sunbaking. Granted, these are just field observations, but I would never buy vinyl in a sunny climate, period.
A comment from Jim Katen
[Jim Katen, a home inspector in Gaston, Oregon, sent me an e-mail, which I'm posting with his permission:]
Thanks for the updated article, Martin. I’ve been seeing this more & more. Sometimes the distortion is very subtle, but once you become alert to it the pattern is unmistakable.
Another interesting aspect: In the small farming community that I live in, the fire department seems to be aware of this issue. They think that reflections from concave windows have been responsible for grass fires here. I wonder how Cardinal would react to that news?
- Jim Katen
Article in Windows and Door Magazine
Thanks for the update Martin. I am still dealing with my melted siding. I have been dealing wih the attorney for the manufacturer and continue to talk with professionals and gather information about this phenomenom.
I am interested in reading the article you mentioned from Windows and Door Magazine in 2004. I cannot find it and would appreciate if you could forward the information to me.
Finally, I am curious as to the warranties interpretation by attorneys and/or judges. I know manufacturer's are updating their warranties to specifically mention "heat distortion" from windows in their "Limitations" section. My warranty however, did not mention "heat distortion" in this section and I noticed their website now specifically mentions this in their warranties. If anyone has any feedback on this, please let me know.
Response to Robb Kowalik
Robb Kowalik,
Here's link to the article in the 2004 issue of Window and Door magazine:
http://www.glass.org/ecart/pastnews.php?id=217
The relevant paragraph is near the bottom of the page:
“A glass-reflectance task group met for the second time to once again review the emerging phenomenon in which sun rays reflected off low-emissivity windows generate enough heat to distort vinyl siding on an adjacent house. … More research is necessary, the group concluded, to determine worst-case scenarios and potential solutions. ‘Low-e is not going to go away. It’s a great product,’ noted the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Alside Window Systems’ Don Houston, senior technical service representative. ‘Vinyl siding is not going to go away. We just want to come up with a resolution that takes care of everyone.’”
What's the "green building" advice concerning vinyl?
Please allow me to make a tangential remark.
An additional concern I have with the melting vinyl siding is if there are any toxic chemicals being emitted.
My "green building advice" about vinyl siding is don't use it. Call me an "absolutist" but what redeeming qualities does vinyl have other than its a profit making machine. There are always consequences to using any product that is designed to be the cheapest available option in order to underprice other options on the market. A writer for BuildingGreen.com said it best when they said they would only start taking the vinyl siding industry seriously if their product recaptured the majority of its waste and recycled it for new product.
By most accounts vinyl siding does not have properties (other than it is cheap) that would make a contractor or designer recommend it over other siding options (other than it is one of several techniques to avoid solar driven moisture problems).
The production of PVC creates the very toxic vinyl monomer, PVC products leach heavy metals and maybe other chemicals, and when the vinyl siding makes it into the waste stream it is possible for it to be in a combustion environment that releases dioxins.
Toxicity doesn't seem to be a popular subject on this website. I think in principle when you go with the cheapest option the environment pays the difference.
Article
Wow, this is the first time I have heard of melting vinyl siding.
This could not be a good situation for the manufacturers or for the manufacturers of the glaze either.
This is going to be interesting to see how this turns out.
So the poor performance of
So the poor performance of crappy siding is being blamed on the neighbors high-performance windows? This is, forgive me, insane. There are plenty of siding choices that can withstand these kinds of temperatures, and that are also way more beautiful & durable, don't brittle with age, don't contaminate workers' lungs in the manufacture process nor the landfill when (prematurely) dumped. Hell, if cost is an issue I'd rather use T1-11. When it comes to siding, no vinyl. That's final.
Response to Robb
In response to Robb, the window manufacturer I dealt with instantly admitted that their windows caused the melting of the siding and offerred to install screens at no charge to my neighbor. That is you first step to remedy this problem before even attempting to reside the house. Without the screens, the problem with reoccur over the winter months and will be visible come spring. Hopefully your neighbor is more receptive and cooperative than mine was when I approached her to discuss the issue.
Once your neighbor's full length screens are installed, then reside the house. That solved my problem and I even installed a vinyl fence, still no issues. So who is responsible? Is it the homeowner with the damaged siding, the neighbor with the low-e windows, the window manufacturer or the siding manufacturer? The way I handled it was to first approach my neighbor to work together to resolve the problem in a friendly manner, that didn't work. I then contacted the manufacturer of the windows, which extended the offer to install full length screens at no charge. The neighbor refused. Consequently, I filed suit against the neighbor to establish knowledge. Once you have knowledge of an act that is causing damage or harm and fail to cooperate to rectify the problem, liability (in my opinion) shifts to the neighbor. I filed a claim with my insurance carrier who resided the house twice, they in turn worked with the neighbors homeowner's insurance to get reimbursed. Last I heard, the insurance companies, jointly sued the window company who in turn looked to the homeowner for reimbursement since she refused to allow the screens to be installed. Had she done that the first time, she would have been releived of any liability, in my opinion. Ultimately, she installed the screens. My concern was that I would be dropped by my insurance carrier or my premiums would skyrocket, therefore, I did everything possible to make sure the insurance company was also protected. We also conducted a site survey which proved it was the windows. The reflection could be seen on the driveway and as the afternoon progressed, you saw the reflection go right onto the siding. The readings from the infrared thermometer read well into the 300 degree area!
The window and siding manufacturers, in my opinion, do have some degree of responsibility. The windows should not be sold and installed without full length screens as it is clearly evident that the reflection causes damage and potentially a fire hazard. Their product poses a risk that they assume.
I would state that the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose and/or an implied warranty of merchantability factors to the attorney that you are dealing with and see what their response is and rebutt it. You as the homeowner of the melted siding is innocent and to some degree, so isn't your neighbor. The manufacturer of the windows is primarily responsible and one can argue that the siding manfucturer is secondary since they market siding as indestructable, maint. free, etc and it should withstand "normal" environmental factors or specifically disclaim them when variables such as yours exist. Houses are being built closer and closer these days, glass is getting more energy efficient and the siding companies have to adapt their products accordingly to enviromental and technology changes. Hope this helps you!
Check out this link: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/24342726/detail.html
to Anonymous
I am glad that in your case the situation has apparently been resolved with the installation of screens, I assume these are standard removable external insect screens. This was a simple intervention that the window supplier could offer without significant cost (and probably without admission of liability) and I am pleased they did. It sounds as if your neighbor was reluctant to accept the screens, perhaps because of the reduction in view through the glass. If she or a subsequent owner chooses to take down the screens the problem could obviously re-emerge so you might want to consider getting a backup plan in place, perhaps using landscaping. I assume also that the windows in question are double-hungs or horizontal sliders. Casement windows which use interior insect screens would not be susceptible to this treatment so this would not be a fix for all situations.
Yes, I do agree that the
Yes, I do agree that the problem could re-emerge. Fortunately, it's unlikely that she is moving anytime soon and I don't foresee her taking them off as she realizes the potential implications. If there is a new owner, I would be certain to explain the problem/issue so they are aware and we can work together on any changes so it's mutually agreeable to both of us.
The windows are double hung windows and I'm not sure if the screens are removeable or not. Her refusal to install the screen on the top part of the window appears just to be difficult from the feeback the window company and the insurance company provided. Unfortunately, we sometimes get "bad" neighbors.
As far as landscaping, we are still looking for an evergreen that grows tall but not wide, suitable for being rather close to the house. I'm guessing it has to be an evergreen as it is in the winter months that the damage seems to occur. So far, so good but you raise good points!
Lastly, all three neigbors just removed trees and now I'm monitoring to see if my windows cause any problems with my other neighbor. I might have to install top screens as well and will do so gladly plus help out in any way possible to fix any damage.
It is really interesting that
It is really interesting that this is happening. On one hand if I plant a tree and it falls on the neighbors house I am not responsible on the other hand if her installs crappy vinyl siding he can force me to put ligt robbing screens on my house.
These must be some very small lots with homes close together to have this problem. Does anyone know at what distance the window and the siding are to cause the problem.
I almost think it should be up to the vinyl siding owner to protect his siding from the reflection. Plant a bush or create some other sun screen.
Response to Robert Hronek
Robert,
In my first article on this problem (an article that appeared in the April 2007 issue of Energy Design Update, this is what I wrote about the question of distance:
"Some experts note that vinyl siding must be 'just the right distance' away from a window to melt. In fact, cases seem to fall into two distinct categories. About half the cases involve what EDU calls a 'zap-the-neighbors' window, with the distance from the window to the melted siding measuring about 35 feet. The rest of the cases involve an inside corner of an exterior wall, with a window oriented 90 degrees to the melted siding; in such cases, the distance is usually less than 8 feet."
The glare can cause other damage like breaking glass
I live in the California high deser t. About four years ago I replaced the windows upstairs wilh gas filled duel pane windows. They work great however in the morning I can see the solar reflection outside on the fence or the front cap of my RV. Depending on the time of year the solar reflection will move and is very warm even 25 to 35 feet away from the window. I never gave it much thought Last week I moved the RV closer to the house to load it and the next day I found the RV bedroom window had a rather large crack in the lower pane ( The RV is a fifth wheel with thin smoked privacy glass). I called the glass man who said he would be out in 2 days. I taped the crack with scotch tape. The next day I found more cracks in the same pane taped them up. On the day the glass man was to come I wanted to check on the glass and found the upper pane was starting to crack. Where the RV was parked I was shocked that the window was breaking there is absolutely no reason for this to happen I've owned this RV for 5 years and had 1 other window crack in the kitchen (on the same side of the rig) 2 years ago. Then I noticed the solar reflection from the bedroom window upstairs on my house cross the window on my RV as the sun was rising. I took pictures because I have never heard of such a thing. With a portable temperature sensor I measured the side of the Rv , 63.1 degrees outside the reflection and 149.1 degrees in the center of the solar reflection. I have never heard of this before so I did a search on the internet and found the problems with vinyl siding. I guess I need to put solar screens on the upstairs duel pane windows. I believe there should be some disclosure of this problem when the duel pane windows are sold.
Vinyl Siding
Terrific.... one more nail in the vinyl siding coffin.
Perhaps the end is nigh.
A letter from the Vinyl Siding Institute
[Jery Huntley, the president of the Vinyl Siding Institute, sent me a letter which I hereby provide in full:]
Dear Mr. Holladay:
I’m writing in reference to your Aug. 27 post, “Window Reflections Can Melt Vinyl Siding.” When your nearly identical story first ran in the April 2007 edition of Energy Design Update, we felt that the article was reasonably complete and fair. Unfortunately, the current post suffers from factual errors and a lack of updating that could mislead your readers. We believe a correction is warranted.
First, your recent post alleged that information is “closely held by the vinyl siding industry” and that the Vinyl Siding Institute has “arranged for research on the topic” but has “not made their data public.” This is inaccurate.
As you noted in the 2007 article—but not in your recent post—VSI, in cooperation with several window manufacturers, arranged for laboratory research, which was in progress at the time. That study is now complete. VSI would be willing to release the information from the research, as we think it sheds light on the circumstances causing the problem. However, we are contractually prohibited from doing so without the consent of all parties, which has not been forthcoming. The Vinyl Siding Institute supports the release of the study and hopes that the other parties will comply.
Second, you used a 2007 quote from VSI’s Technical Director—in which he said that the solar reflection and heat distortion “phenomenon is rare”—to suggest that is inconsistent with the fact that manufacturers’ warranties exclude such damage. There simply is no correlation between the two.
Specifying that this cause of damage is not covered in a warranty says nothing about the frequency or likelihood of such damage. It simply reflects that this cause is beyond the manufacturer’s control and does not represent a defective product. For example, warranties also exclude damage from house fires. Few would argue that those exclusions are unreasonable. Vinyl siding is designed to withstand natural, everyday conditions, and if it malfunctions under those conditions, it would be covered by the warranty. But concentrated solar energy from reflected sunlight creates conditions far in excess of normal environmental exposure and has the potential to damage other materials in addition to vinyl siding.
Third, had you contacted us we would have been happy to review with you what we have learned over the past three years and provide you with updated resources worthy of your readers’ attention. For instance:
• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducted a thorough review of the issue and provided both technical background and discussion of remedial measures. You can obtain a copy of the NAHB review on our website; and,
• Currently, North Carolina state regulators are investigating window solutions to mitigate the hazard.
Our vinyl siding products—and more importantly, our customers—are most severely affected by the damage resulting from the solar reflection phenomenon. We welcome responsible discussion, research, and information-sharing that may lead to better methods of handling and avoiding the circumstances. We look forward to cooperating with you toward that end.
Sincerely,
Jery Y. Huntley
President and CEO, Vinyl Siding Institute
Response to Jery Huntley
Jery Huntley,
Thanks very much for providing further information on this issue. I have corrected the article to accurately reflect the reasons that VSI has been unable to share the results of its research.
As far as the NAHB review of the issue is concerned, I did provide a link to that document -- in fact, in the article's very first line. However, the link may have been obscure, since I didn't identify the document as coming from the NAHB. Those who clicked on the link did see the NAHB document, though.
Again, thanks for providing further information on this topic.
How close are we talking about?
How close (or far away) do these windows have to be to cause vinyl siding to melt? Do I have to worry about a house built across the street? Or do I only have concern if I live in an area where homes are 10 feet apart on tiny lots?
Response to Bill
Bill,
The question you ask was answered in a post above, on August 30. But I'll repeat it:
In my first article on this problem (an article that appeared in the April 2007 issue of Energy Design Update, this is what I wrote about the question of distance:
"Some experts note that vinyl siding must be 'just the right distance' away from a window to melt. In fact, cases seem to fall into two distinct categories. About half the cases involve what EDU calls a 'zap-the-neighbors' window, with the distance from the window to the melted siding measuring about 35 feet. The rest of the cases involve an inside corner of an exterior wall, with a window oriented 90 degrees to the melted siding; in such cases, the distance is usually less than 8 feet."
Vinyl Pirates
At the risk of being dismissed, I think it is important to present the extreme alternate view to the notion that "vinyl is good and everyone should have it" that is promoted by the vinyl industry. This could be useful because an understanding of the root causes of the problem is needed to come up with an effective solution. I believe my opinions and views presented here show just a much respect for the vinyl industry as it shows to homeowners with all its misleading marketing, finger pointing and secret keeping.
The reflective melting issue is just another good example that reveals the true intentions of the vinyl pirates and their corporate masters. They have one single purpose, which is to get their hooks into the pockets of homeowners and remove as much money as possible. In fact, federal and state law limits them to this singular purpose of grabbing money for their share holders. They have no true interest in helping homeowners take care of their homes, which is why they have to spent millions of dollars for marketing to convince homeowners to buy their cheap plastic products. One way they can sell their products so cheaply is that they "externalize expenses" such as the cost of environmental and health damage directly caused by their products.
There are traditional building materials that are effective and even low-cost over the long-term. It is well known and proven with centuries of solid evidence how materials like wood, paint, stone and bricks can be maintained over the long-term at low cost by local tradespeople and DIY homeowners. This has the added benefit of keeping more building maintenance money in the local economy, instead letting the corporations suck that money into the corporate coffers where it will never been seen again.
John Leeke
http://www.HistoricHomeWorks.com
I agree with one of the above
I agree with one of the above comments. Blaming high-performance windows for damaging an inherently cheap product is ludicrous. If contractors/home-owners factored in the true costs and risks of installing vinyl siding they may be less likely to install it.
3 types of heat
On Aug 27 Doug mentioned foil backed insulation as a possible culprit and it was promtly shot down as being able to contribute. I think we need to review this once more when we look at how heat is transfered. There are three means of moving heat, Convection, conduction and radiation.
The heat transfer method we are dealing with in this issue is radiation. All radiant heat does not stop when it hit the first surface, some of it penitrate the surface and could then be reflected back into the siding. if this is not true then there should be no reason to use foil faced product anywhere in a house.
Being an engineer that has set up experiments to test products, sometimes a little change like the type of insulation or if there is a fan in the room, can change a product from being acceptable for all application and being a complete failure.
Foil-faced sheathing
Given the patterning effect visible in the photographs I doubt that foil-faced insulation is primarily responsible in these instances. I suspect though that reflective foil may well contribute to premature failure of vinyl siding in other ways by rendering it brittle and more liable to general mechanical damage. We have seen many instances of wood siding affected in this way: in an exterior remodel our contractors often try to save sections of the original siding for patching purposes but if foil-faced sheathing has been used the boards will generally shatter as they are removed.
Vinyl siding melting
We purchased our new home in December, 2004, in central Indiana. Didn't notice any problems with the vinyl siding distorting at all until January or February of 2008, even though the house to our north was built in early 2005. I am sure the sun must have shone brightly sometime during that 3-year period. The melting problem may be "rare", but it must happen often enough that CertainTeed could recognize it merely by my written description of the damage and photos sent with my original e-mailed warranty claim this year. CertainTeed refused to send someone to inspect the damage, and also refused to inform me of the name of their Customer Service Manager. I have never noticed reflections from the neighbor's windows myself, but I would guess that any would occur during the winter months when the sun is low. My neighbor's house is about 15 feet from my house in the rear, and 20-25 feet in the front - the houses are not parallel.
I have seen 2 other houses in our subdivision with the same type of melting. Both other houses also have CertainTeed vinyl siding, and both were built in 2004 or 2005.
The value of my house has been adversely affected through no fault of my own, and really through no fault of my neighbor. Since I have received absolutely no consideration from CertainTeed, my next step will be to contact local media outlets for assistance.
Window Reflectance and Vinyl Siding
As the owner of a Raleigh Home Inspection firm in Raleigh, NC, and a veteran Home Inspector, I can attest to the fact that we do indeed see this phenomenon on a somewhat routine basis. I don't think one could describe the occurrences as "rare" although we certainly are not seeing it in any high percentage of inspected homes. It does, though, seem like we are seeing it a bit more frequently as more "high-tech" windows are coming into the marketplace and are being installed in new homes.
The phenomenon is most definitely an interesting one as evidenced by this informative article and the ensuing comments/discussion. It was interesting enough, from a Home Inspection perspective, for us to do a simple, brief InspectBits video relating to the melting of vinyl siding (and by no means or stretch of the imagination is it intended to be an intensive assessment of the issue); the video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qVat03OBI .
My "take" on the situation is that it is a simple (or maybe not so simple...) matter of physics and technical progression...bring together any particular combination of technology, materials, systems, components, and proximity...and there may be issues...especially when the Sun and Mother Nature are directly involved.
I can relate to the homeowner who has windows that are reflecting energy onto the property of others ...and as well with the position of the owners of homes that are experiencing damage to their siding. Unfortunately, there are those that will take any opportunity to speak badly about any product (pick one). It may be the " I have an issue therefore someone must be to blame" syndrome; or it could be that nothing is ever going to make everyone happy. I am neither a proponent, or an opponent of vinyl siding...based on my observations, experience, and knowledge of the product, and as with any other wall cladding material, if it is installed correctly and with a reasonable attention to detail, then it performs as advertised and as intended. I have yet to see any type of exterior wall cladding (not cement-based fiber siding, not brick veneer, not stone veneer or simulated stone veneer, not EIFS, not vinyl siding, etc.) that, at some time or another, I haven't directly observed to be installed in an improper and deficient manner and where there were problems related to the installation. But this subject issue is, admittedly, a bit different
It is a noted positive that the various directly concerned entities (VSI, NAHB, siding and window manufacturers) seem to be interested in developing reasonable solutions to the issue. It will be interesting to see whether or not the solutions can be agreed upon directly by the players or whether the solutions will be legally mandated through the court system...hopefully, that won't be necessary on any large scale. I don't think, though, that I'll be holding my breath on that one given the current environment concerning tort law, product liability law, and the eagerness of attorneys to bring and promote such actions.
Screens and shrubbery positioning seem to be inexpensive and reasonable solutions with the screens being the more "permanent" of the two.
Thanks, GBA and Mr. Holladay, for an informative article and for allowing a lively discussion in this forum.
Gary Gentry
Quality Residential Inspections, Inc.
Raleigh, NC
http://www.qriquality.com
Response to Brian B
Brian,
Radiant energy is stopped by any opaque (solid) object. No radiant heat energy passes through vinyl siding. What happens is the radiant energy hits the siding; then the siding softens and melts. But radiant energy cannot pass through the siding and magically hit the foil-faced siding behind it. The foil-faced siding is always in the shade and never sees any radiant energy from the sun.
The vinyl industry must change as everyone else has..
The vinyl industry must change as everyone else has. The window manufactures must conform to newer mandates every other year or so as well as others in the building trades and product suppliers. The traditional low melting point of vinyl must move to a resonable level and window manufacturers should design outer panes in widows to deform less due to atmospheric issues. In the end, however, it is clearly the burden of the vinyl siding industry to produce a better product that keeps up with modernity and its shortcomings. I cannot see a logical way around this issue for the vinyl industry.
Just a thought
It may just be me but I think the real problem is that THE HOUSES ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER!!
With houses ~8ft apart no wonder the siding melts.
Mr. Gentry
"...homeowner who has windows that are reflecting energy onto the property of others"
Mr. Gentry identifies the party initially responsible...
"...homeowner who has windows that are reflecting energy onto the property of others"
I am responsible if rain-runoff from my property causes damage to my neighbor's property. As much as I hate to admit it, I would also be responsible if I was reflecting solar energy onto my neighbor's property and causing damage. I would consider the Builder of a subdivision responsible to the homeowners.
random thougths
The exterior screens solution assumes full screens on double hungs. What if the windows were sgl hung with half scrrens, or casement/awning with interior screens or picture windows with no screens?
Since the coating(s) in "Low-Emisivity" glass reflect radiant heat . . .rather than wait for trees & shrubs to grow . . . would a quicker solution be to install some type of solar panels where the heat build-up is worst?
Would more space between the houses help? Of course that would require larger building lots.
Response to Anonymous
Anonymous,
1. You're right that the insect screen solution only works for full screens on double-hung or slider windows.
2. Adding any kind of film to the window depends on cooperation from your neighbor.
3. Yes, moving the house farther away would work. That is almost never the most cost-effective solution, however. House moving is expensive -- and requires a large lot.
Yes the problem arises in more urban areas
You cannot escape the issue in urban areas. The house spacing which accounts for density is an issue. Since the vast majority of the population lives in urban locations, there has to be a solotion. The vinyl industry must adapt or start losing market share to more resiliant prodcuts where this is not an issue, there is no way around it.
Vinyl Manufacturers knew about this
Thanks for the information Anonymous, regarding your melting siding story. I have yet to look into the negihbor's window manufacturer. I continue to deal with the siding manufacturer.
One remark I have regarding Gary Gentry's comment. There may be those with the thinking " I have an issue therefore someone must be to blame" syndrome, he mentioned. In these cases, however, homeowners dealing with melting siding should not be lumped into this group. As a homeowner purchasing vinyl siding and the warranty that comes with it, I was never advised about this phenomenon. The Vinyl Siding Institue (VSI) knew about this and put out a statement in 2002. This is what the manufacturers then send out once you make a claim.
My point is that the average homeowner would never know about this phenomenon when purchasing vinyl siding. We would know about accidental fire or arson damage, tornadoes, etc. This is an issue of failure to notify the homeowner. Vinyl manufacturers need to put this phenomenon in their warranties as an exclusion, thereby notifying the homeowners.
Response to Robb K
Robb K,
You wrote, "Vinyl manufacturers need to put this phenomenon in their warranties as an exclusion."
But they do -- and they have for years. See the sidebar to the article above.
You may think that such warranty exclusions are a useful method of notifying homeowners, but many other purchasers of vinyl siding think that the small print is actually a way for manufacturers to weasel out of responsibility for a known problem.
Response to Martin
My warranty did not specify this phenomenon in the original warranty. Interestingly though, they updated the warranties on the website where it specifically mentions siding that has distorted or melted due to exposure to excessive heat sources (including but not limited to reflections from windows).
I agree the small print is a way for the manufacturers to avoid responsibility, however, in my personal experience it was not even mentioned until after I made a claim and was persistent.
How to tell which manufacturer is at fault - the industry future
Window manufacturers will be found liable in suits when the window can be shown to concentrate sunlight. Vinyl siding manufactururs will use reflective coatings to prevent overheating, and will be rated by melting temperature. Eventually all vinyl will be required to meet minimum standards such as: absorb the amount of energy generated by a single clear pane glass, progressively more reflective surfaces. In situations where the window or door surface causing the over heating does not concentrate sunlight, the siding in question can be said to be improper for the geographic area or application. If the siding is marketed as all weather or all purpose the vinly siding manufacturer can be held responsible for replacement and remediation of the problem. One solution for this problem which could be instituted in a recall process would be the application of reflective coatings.
Neighbor Not Required
I experienced melting vinyl siding without the help of a neighboring house. The windows from my living room and breezeway were reflecting light onto the siding on my attached garage, directly across from my living room. The house is ranch style, not an exotic Victorian, but not a shoebox either. The house was built 55 years ago and vinyl sided 5 years ago.
- I had the siding replaced once, then the issue came back a few months later.
- I applied tinting to nearby windows. This lasted more than a few months, but the issue eventually came back. The tinting was obnoxious..... really darkened the inside of 2 rooms.
- I tried some plants, but this is impractical in New England, where they can not survive the winter outside. There is cement by the windows as well as the garage, so permanent shrubs were not an option.
- Finally, I had the damaged area replaced with wood clapboards, cut to size. Fortunately it was not a large area.
Warranty or not, there is no way that the average consumer can expect this type of aggravation. The vinyl industry needs to improve the product in a big way, or else the media needs to become more involved (I have started to see stories of melted siding on the news from Boston).
Do the plants live?
If you plant shrubs and/or trees to break up the surface of the siding, do the plants live or do they cook like the siding? I am a landscaper and have a client that has asked about plantings. If I plant the shrubs, will I be able to give him our 1 year guarantee?
Response to Lynn Johnson
Lynn,
I'm just guessing here, but it would seem that the plant would be at a different distance from the problematic window than the siding, changing the focal length. Because of that, the light should not be as intensely focused, and I imagine that plant will survive.
If it's a sun-loving plant, it might even thrive.
My house too!
I'm glad I saw your article. When I first saw the first section of my house "melting" I was concerned, but when I found a second spot this summer, I got upset. Both parts of my house are facing northwest. The siging is gray, and being much darker than cream could play a part in it. At first, I was unsure what was causing it, but now know that my rounded, 5 sided kitchen nook area, jutting out and having windows on each flat side, is creating an area where being at a 90 degree angle to the siding, is reflecting more heat energy to those spots. We are looking at putting large potted plants and anything else we can think of to block the direct from the sun and reflected from the windows energy. I say that this IS a defective product. Manufacturers should know that conditions like this would be common, especially in areas of the country where summer days exceed 90 degrees with bright sunlight and shouldn't cover a house with something that "can't take the heat". Buyer beware.
Guests burned by window reflections at Las Vegas hotel
Here's the latest news story: sunlight reflecting off the windows of a new Las Vegas hotel is melting plastic garbage bags and causing severe burns to guests sunbathing by the hotel pool.
That's scary. The news story has a catchy headline:
Las Vegas hotel guests left with severe burns from 'death ray' caused by building's design
Melting truck mirrors
This is a link to a GM truck forum where I posted an inquiry about melting mirrors. My outside mirrors on my truck have melted twice. I believe solar reflection from my windows caused it. Pictures of the damage are posted. FYI.
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120250
Response to TomC
TomC,
Thanks for the link, and the photos. Your case is the second case of melted vehicle mirrors I have heard about.
Melted Vinyl Siding, Window Magnifier Reflection
Deadly out gassing of Vinyl-Potential Home Fires
So far as usual. The industries, lay low deny, but are going to make a bundle, with better engineered products. When? If you can afford losing more of your savings. Is this some cruel way, to improve our economy? An economy based on our CONSUMPTION and their Planed OBSOLESCENCE. Can you believe this? Is there a real answer, or just sue your neighbor.
An unpleasant surprise
Our houses were built in 1936 and are maybe 12 feet apart. We installed CertainTeed Bryn Mawr replacement windows about 10 years ago. Last week, my neighbor replaced an old asbestos-siding wall with vinyl siding and within a half-hour (!) it was drooping and melting where the (visible) reflection from a particular window hit. Adjacent, identical windows caused no problem. The heat-generating window seems to be slightly concave, based on the curved and focused light pattern (the other windows had just a nice, rectangular, window-shaped light pattern). The light looks just like when kids hold a magnifying glass to a leaf on the sidewalk...gently curving with a blinding focus of light at the middle.
We swapped out the apparently concave sash with one from another part of the house for the moment and will follow up with CertainTeed tomorrow. My expectations are, shall we say, moderate.
Response to Anonymous
Anonymous,
It would be ironic if the vinyl siding was manufactured by CertainTeed, just like your windows. Then you'd have the pleasure of watching a CertainTeed window rep arguing with a CertainTeed vinyl rep. You could probably sell admission tickets ...
vinyl siding melting
I own a home that has this melting occur, the siding is on a wall located one meter (3 feet) from and positioned at 90 degrees (perpendicular) to one of these high end windows. The heating effect on the siding is greatest when the 'incidence of reflection' is at its lower end. It also should be noted that the heating effect is not constant year round. When the rays of sunlight are positioned just right and the reflection is just so, it looked just like the magnifying glass did on that leaf or piece of paper. All blinding bright and intense. The siding melted before my eyes.
I moved into a new build
I moved into a new build almost a year ago. When the spring came around, I noticed that my siding was distorted. I contacted the builder and they said that were not responsible that it was a homeowner's expense. My neighbors house was built by a different company.The window that is melting my siding is a big bathroom window, there is no room to fit a screen on it. I was told that I needed to buy a film to put over the window, then I was told that it won't work. So my question is how do I fix this? I have talked to my neighbors but we are both not really sure the best way to go about it. It is a Low-e window, so do we replace it with a regular window? Since my house is still under warrantee do I ask for better quality siding? Or do I handle it through insurance? I would plant a tree but it wouldn't do any good in the winter. The distortion goes almost all the way across my house starting at the bottom and reaching up to about 10 feet.
The Light Wars and melted vinyl siding etc
This subject of reflected light causing problems with the neighbors was written about in the SF book by Wil McCarthy "The Wellstone" on pages 28-29 and describes the problem completely run amuck
house distance 40 feet and still melting
My neighbor let me know that the vinyl on their house is melting in spots. The houses are about 40 feet apart and it looks like a second floor window is the culprit.
Melting Vinyl Siding
Since both the siding manufacturer and window manufacturer will not asume responsablity, the best solution would be to find a product that can with stand the reflective heat. Since this is usually in small isolated areas you can install stone veneer or a fiber cement siding in a Board-n-Batten style or shake style that will blend in with your home style and solve the melting of vinyl siding problem.
If the solar screen solution isn't to your liking.
Anderson Windows & melting
I have Anderson windows [Hi R/Low E/argon gas filled] in my home, since 1984. At the time of install, I bought the plastic mullions that snap on the inside of the house/windows. I have none left, years ago, they began to melt, distort & fall out. Anderson said 'no warranty' and I could BUY new ones with no improvement in plastic/temp/melting point. I don't have them and will not buy them again.
Siding problem
We've read all the debate about who's to blame for this problem and are still at a loss over how to solve our problem. Our house has vinyl siding that developed a problem when our neighbors trimmed a very large locust tree that was hanging over our house. One could debate who is to blame forever but we are just trying to figure out how to fix the problem.
We have considered changing our siding to Aluminum but are told it might also have a problem. We are told that Hardie board would work but possibly there would be problems with the paint. Do we have to sue our neighbors to force them to replace the window? This is a terrible position to be put in but we feel like innocent victims and we feel like our neighbors are innocent victims.Any suggestions on what we can do to permanently fix this problem?
Response to David
David,
There are only two options for a permanent fix to the problem:
1. Replace the window or window sash, or
2. Replace the siding on the affected side of your house.
If you have questions about liability or lawsuits, those questions should be directed to a lawyer. Good luck!
Martin,
Since it seems
Martin,
Since it seems that this problem can develop at any time in response to atmospheric pressure changes, can the problem redevelop even with a new window? Does the new window have to not be low-E glass? Is there any siding that can tolerate the heat ? The cost of residing is quite high and we want to make sure this will not reoccur. If we go with Hardie board, would we be able to just repaint if the problem resurfaces?
Sorry for all the questions but this is a very complicated issue and it seems to us that as more and more people install these type of windows the problems are just going to multiply. Thanks for your assistance. It seems like no one wants to address this problem. We keep hitting brick walls and finding lots of finger pointing with no solutions.
Second response to David
David,
Q. "Since it seems that this problem can develop at any time in response to atmospheric pressure changes, can the problem redevelop even with a new window?"
A. It's possible, but highly unlikely, that the problem will recur with a new window. Only a small percentage of windows exhibit this problem.
Q. "Does the new window have to not be low-E glass?"
A. There is anecdotal evidence that low-SHGC windows -- or possibly low-e windows -- are more associated with this problem than windows with clear glass. Unfortunately, there have been some reports of melted siding caused by windows with clear glass. If only the window and siding companies would release their data, it would be easier to answer this question.
Q. "Is there any siding that can tolerate the heat ?"
A. Yes. I wouldn't hesitate to replace melted vinyl siding with brick veneer, fiber-cement siding, or clapboard (wood lap) siding. I would probably avoid cedar shingles, in light of the report that a house with cedar shingle siding caught fire.
Q. "If we go with Hardie board, would we be able to just repaint if the problem resurfaces?"
A. Yes. You may not even need to repaint.
melted vinyl siding
Certainteed said they have an exclusion for relections...My neighbor has agreed to a full screento be installed over her replacement window....I assume this is the definitive solution....I have certainteed vinyl cedar shakes on front of house..it is much, much thicker and rigid than regular vinyl but much, much more expensive...anyone try this out?? will this stuff melt also....the Certainteed representative said they can replace melted siding with these Cedar vinyl's and they won't melt.....help anyone....is this true??
Response to North Jersey
North Jersey,
If CertainTeed says vinyl "cedar" siding won't melt, get it in writing before you agree to install the siding.
And then they will be responsible if the siding melts.
More information for North Jersey
North Jersey,
It sounds like the product you are talking about is CertainTeed Cedar Impressions siding.
Be careful; their warranty does NOT cover melting by window reflections.
Look it up; I just did. Here it is:
http://www.certainteed.com/resources/216.pdf
"This Warranty does not apply to ... siding products which have been distorted or melted due to an external heat source (including, but not limited to a barbecue grill, fire, or reflection from windows, doors, or other objects)."
A comment from Steve Shrawder
[Editor's note: this comment from Steve Shrawder was sent to me by e-mail.]
I have been studying the phenomenon of vinyl siding distortion caused by reflected solar energy, have made numerous site investigations, gave presentations to builders and testified before the North Carolina Building Codes Council. I just read your post dated August 27, 2010 and would like to make a few comments.
Reflected solar energy from glass can be caused in three different ways:
1. Damage caused to a perpendicular surface on the same house. In this instance the glass neither needs to be concave shaped nor contain a reflective coating (Low E). It is a simple matter of understanding that for higher angles of reflection (75-80 degrees?) clear glass will reflect almost as much energy as coated glass and the affected surface is exposed to both direct sunlight and reflected sunlight.
2. Damage cause by reflection from “collapsed” glass which reflects solar energy to a focal point where this concentrated energy is many times that of direct sunlight. The inward deflection of glass is caused by a decrease in the volume of air inside the insulating glass unit (hermetically sealed air chamber). This is explained by the Ideal Gas Law (which can be broken down into Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law) which I will not explain here, but can be easily verified.
3. “Collapsed” glass can also be caused due to argon escaping from the insulating glass unit. All sealants used in fabricating IGUs have opacities through which argon will escape and the loss is estimated at 1/2 to 1 percent per year. Argon escapes at a rate 2 to 4 times faster than air can replace it and therefore the result is loss of volume inside the IGU and glass which is deflected inward.
The two fixes about which I am aware (other than planting a shrub in front of the damaged area) are the use of capillary tubes (a controversial subject) to allow the IGU to equilibrate (breathe) and placing a screen on the window which will defuse and absorb both incoming and reflected solar energy. Both of these fixes involve cooperation from your neighbor whose house contains the window.
A complete understanding of this phenomenon cannot be gotten from an explanation consisting of a few paragraphs, rather it requires many hours of research and reflection. I will say that even though this seems like a complex subject, the occurrence of vinyl siding distortion caused by reflected solar energy is fairly predictable. ALL insulating glass units are subject to the above and this problem will continue until there is a cooperative effort among window manufacturers, builders, vinyl siding manufacturers and others. To my knowledge there is NO united front taking on this issue.
-- Steve Shrawder
Southern Illinois
I have the melted siding issue here at my house in Edwardsville IL. Never believed it was a reflection. CertainTeed is the manufacturer. Battled back and forth on the issue, they finally just sent me some siding. Replaced it and the warping happened again that winter. Neighbor noticed it happening, next morning walked out there to evaluate and notice this small but very bright reflection on the house. Never noticed it before because I guess I am never really outside in the winter months early in the morning. Would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
Now how to fix it? Helpful neighbor but can’t think of anything except to plant a large pine tree but hate to have that right there. Can’t use a screen as this is the top fixed section of the window, no place to put a screen.
Response to Clay Shaw
Clay,
Thanks for the great photo. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this dilemma. I don't recommend legal action, in general, because no one will win but the lawyers.
In many cases, replacing the window (or just the sash) will solve the problem, assuming that the window glazing that is now installed is somewhat concave. Perhaps you can work out a deal with your neighbor if you offer to pay some or all of the cost.
Is there any case law or legal precendent established?
I just discovered the same problem of thermally distorted siding on my house, which is 1 year, 2 months old. I easily can trace the reflection to a neighbor's window - low-e and concave. The builder of both homes, Pulte, claims this isn't a warrantable item, and they won't do anything about it. Of course, I disagree with that position.
Does anyone know of any court cases in which culpability has been established? Can you site the case number? I'm specifically interested in the case mentioned at the start of this article where a New Jersey (where I live) homeowner sued Pulte. The results of that may establish who a court sees as responsible, or whether the court would consider the thermal distortion as force majeure. While I do not intend nor want to go to court, I'd like to understand if a court has addressed this topic. Thanks!
By the way, I will work with my neighbor to get a solar screen installed over his window to prevent future re-occurances.
Response to William Ruthrauff
William,
As far as I know, these cases have been handled with settlements, not judicial decisions or jury verdicts. If any reader has further information, please post it.
Fade Protection plans
The only solution I could think of that doesn't involve working in tandem with the neighbor to get reflective guards (unless insurance will pick that up) is to negotiate a "siding fade protection" plan for both houses. The only problem I could see with this is that most homeowners may discover their home's siding wasn't covered with any sort of fading protection plan, in which case, they would have to contact their insurer and see whether or not they can bargain a similar plan.
Kudos on the interesting post,
Kyle O'Brien
Reflective window burned lawn chair
My neighbor got new reflective windows. I sat down on a lawn chair that had cushion that were covered with vinyl. The vinyl melted. Very hot. I burned my leg very bad.
Response to Bonnie Hocking
Bonnie,
I'm sorry to hear about your injuries.
More reports like yours continue to come our way. Window reflections can melt many things besides vinyl siding.
Thermal Distortion
I would like to say what an excellent article. I purchased my home (Pulte) in January 2012 and I am now experiencing the Thermal Distortation to the left side of my home. I've contacted the builder warranty and the siding warranty and both are pointing fingers at each other. Do I seek legal advice at this point? From what I'm reading this is a solution.
I reside in Mebane NC and would like to know any other way to resolve this issue.
Response to Mary Davis
Mary,
I'm sorry to hear about your distorted siding. You didn't mention whether the window causing the distortion is on a neighbor's house or on your own house. (It's possible for your own windows to melt your siding if your house has an outside corner or an ell.)
If the window belongs to your neighbor, the first step is to negotiate with your neighbor -- without a lawyer. Explain the problem and investigate whether your neighbor will work with you on coming up with a solution. That approach will always be cheaper than hiring a lawyer.
If negotiation fails, you may have to hire a lawyer.
Window reflection burns plants and wood, too
This isn't just a vinyl problem. We had low-e windows installed about 4 years ago. After about a year we noticed all of the plants on the south-facing side of the house were getting severely burned. Turns out our windows reflect sun like mirrors. Our short-term solution has been to get a bunch of patio umbrellas w/stands and have them block the reflection onto the plants. We looked at getting window awnings installed, but the price ranged from $4,000 - $10,000. Still looking for a better solution.
Response to Bob Knac
Bob,
Thanks for your comments. I have added a sentence to the "plant a bush" section of the article in light of your comments.
And Composite Decking,too
I stumbled on your write-up by accident.The window reflection vinyl siding damage has happened on my own home,lol.I replaced the damage the first time not having a clue,about 10 years ago (with ordinary Andersen windows).The second time,about 2 years later,I recognized it was caused by the extreme heat of window reflection on a wall set at 90° to the damage.It must be understood that this reflection was only possible at only a certain time of the year at only a precise time of the day,under precise weather conditions.So,don't be so happy to repair it,it could happen same time,same place next year.
You know,everyone thinks that someone is to blame anytime something unfortunate happens.But come one,this is a fake product imitating another material.Really, it is plastic,man.
I have a deck,built for a client, with a 5/4 composite (Trex-like) material on it,that developed an impressive hump in it because of reflections from patio doors leading out to it.Conditions are right only on warm cloudless mornings in June.You literally could fry an egg on it at that time.It was built in July the previous year and everything was fine until June the next year.The deck is on the second story,built with joists 12"o.c.with decking attached with deck screws.
Again,another plastic product masquerading as the real thing.Can't cry about it.
Response to Dennis Dipswitch
Dennis,
Thanks for sharing your experience. One more building material to add to the list...
Response to Robert Grady
Robert,
No, I don't know of any research on the topic you mentioned. Please share any information you learn here on this page.
Possible Alternative Solution Sought
Martin, great article by the way...and good follow-up on the posts... thank you.
Do you know if any research has been conducted of exterior applied film applications that might sufficiently mitigate the effects of the VT reflected light? I see a product by 3M called Ceramic Series
CM 50 with a spec that shows VT reflected light Ext. (I presume it means exterior) = 9%. In my opinion, all that needs to be accomplished is getting the concentrated energy low enough to prevent damage. I am curious if you have any feedback regarding the application of films as an alternative to the traditional remedies offered for this problem. Thanks. RG
I contacted 3M and asked if they either have a product, or could develop a film that would shunt the reflected energy while presenting a neutral tint/hue. I'll post their feedback when available.
Addendum: 3M responded but needs more time to answer the question, in the meantime I found another product called the 3M Prestige Series PR 40 Exterior which claims to get the VT Reflected Ext down to 6%. I'll post with updates as they become available.
Possible Alternative Solution Sought - Window Films?
3M shared this response (from a lab contact):
".... This is something we have been in contact with many builders regarding. There was also a hotel in Las Vegas that had this same issue in which case people by the pool were getting sunburned very quickly. We have discussed this but unfortunately there is no clear solution. Light (and heat) is either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. The homeowner doesn't want the heat in their home so that means heat needs to be either reflected or absorbed. There are many absorbing glasses, however they then heat the glass up causing increased risk of glass breakage due to expansion as well as having the glass get very warm. Additionally these absorbing technologies tend to tint the glass with a dark color. Adding to the issue is the fact that insulated glass units aren't flat and tend to bow inwards causing a highly concentrated focal point for the heat. RED has discussed many potential options but have yet to uncover a great solution for this issue.
3M does offer an exterior solar control film called exterior Prestige which both reflects and absorbs heat and may help. However it is difficult to say how much of a benefit it the film would help with as the film still does reflect heat, but the absorbing is really what would help in this situation."
So... Film technology is getting there and some manufacturers may have products that feature some of the properties needed to mitigate excessive reflected energy but there is no simple-cheap 'n easy panacea cure for the melting vinyl blues.
-The most common glass solutions gravitate towards Double Strength clear glass, and where Low E is mandated--Reverse Low E.
-Films are risky due to the potential heat build up in the IGU.
-Install Awnings. Where 2nd and 3rd story elevations are concerned, the installation of awnings over the culprit windows may be the only practicable solution from the problem source end.
-Current technologies in vinyl siding include a product called Temp Rite which keeps the vinyl stable at higher temperatures; this product may be the only alternative for homeowners with melting siding syndrome who want to maintain the current look of their home.
-Blocking Structures (shrubs/bushes/partitions)... between the heat source windows and the structure may be the best alternative in some cases.
Response to Robert Grady
Robert,
Thanks for sharing the very interesting information.
melting vinyl
I have vinyl siding for two stories over a four seasons sunroom. The upward reflection melted the vinyl siding and soffit. I have replaced the siding twice and have had a cover made for the sunroom. The cover does work but I can't leave it on during the winter due to snow and it is wearing out. I need to replace my siding again and am debating between aluminum and fiber cement. I have already used aluminum for my soffit which has worked. Do you have any feedback on fiber cement siding. Thanks
I'm sad to say that we built what is to be our final home...
...only to now face severe damage to more than two-thirds of the north side of our new vinyl sided home, caused by light reflected from neighbor's second floor low-e windows, perhaps 60 feet away from our home.
The link in Jery Y. Huntley, President and CEO, Vinyl Siding Institute's post does not work, so I cannot access the NAHB review. I'm seeing much written about the problem, but not much about good solutions. Since this discussion began, have any solutions proven to be effective? One DIY on-line "expert" suggests coating the siding with ArmourAll.
The builder/developer have planted a row of arborvitae to shield our home. They need to grow a foot taller and fill in. The neighbor has recently agreed to let the window installer change out the offending window sashes to energy efficient but less reflective glass. The neighbor will not cooperate further.
Of all the issues that I thought I might have to face with this build and relocation, this one never crossed my mind...I just had no idea it was even a possibility. Thank you for information on any updates or further suggestions.
Susan
Response to Susan Fry
Susan,
Here is a link to the NAHB report mentioned in the comment posted by Jery Y. Huntley (Comment #23): The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl Siding.
I'm sorry to say that I have no further updates on this issue, nor do I have any other recommendations than the ones mentioned in this article.
I'm in Clarksville, TN and I have replaced my siding twice in 4 years. I finally figured out what was causing it and it my neighbors window. But when it first happened I went to the builder because I didnt have that problem until he builder the house next door. Because I had lived in my house a year he told me it wasnt his problem. He said talk to the siding company about the warranty. Well they said no because it looked like I put a grill there or had a driveway there. But clearly you can see it's on the side of the house. So finally after a year of going back and forth they replaced. Now a year and half later I'm dealing with the same problem. So had professionals come out and go me figure it out. I went to my neighbors to see if they would help with the problem with the professionals. They said they would. They put up a piece of tint and the next day it was off. So brought some other stuff for them to put up on the window and til this day they havent. I stop by every day to ask them but they ignore me. This is going to become a legal problem because I paid alot for this house and to have this kind of damage is unacceptable. If this is a know problem why keep putting these kind of windows up and keeping the power to have to constantly put out money replacing the siding every other year. Does anyone have a fix for this??
Salena,
The possible remedies are all discussed in the article on this page. Since you aren't getting anywhere with informal discussions, I agree with you that it's time for you to talk to a lawyer. Good luck.
Be sure to compare the cost, risk of not winning and neighbor effects of legal action (beyond a threatening letter). Aluminum or Hardi siding is likely to be less expensive.
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