The Siding Blog
Melting Vinyl Siding from Window Reflection
by admin on Mar.10, 2009, under Replacement Windows, Vinyl Siding
Good Video!
Although we don’t endorse the ice rock throwing statement, there is a lot of good information.
We’ve been getting numerous emails about this type of event occurring for several years now so we know this is not a farce.
7 Comments for this entry
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July 10th, 2009 on 12:15 pm
Do you know any forensic window consultants?
July 17th, 2009 on 1:33 pm
Sorry we don’t … does anyone else know of any forensic window consultants?
January 26th, 2010 on 6:30 am
If the home is only 5 years old should the builder be resposeable for the siding melting and replace both the window of the neighbor that is the cause and also the siding?
thank you
January 26th, 2010 on 2:01 pm
@ Kimberly
I’m assuming the builder built the neighbor’s house also… Somebody should definitely be responsible for fixing the issue, whether that is the builder, siding / window contractor and/or manufacturer.
These types of issues should not be happening.
Windows should not be (essentially) magnifying glasses that reflect sunlight with such a focused, high intensity beam that it causes siding (or anything else) to melt.
I do understand that the manufacturer was probably just trying to create a REALLY efficient window that doesn’t allow heat transfer BUT this really could potentially be dangerous – IMHO.
February 3rd, 2010 on 2:04 pm
I am a Construction Manager for a top 5 Builder in North Carolina.
In my 15 years in construction, I have only run into this problem twice in my career.
This is an unforseen problem and is not a performance problem with vinyl siding. It takes just a perfect storm of elements including house positioning, window locations, the sun…etc.
You just dont know this is going to happen up front until the vinyl gets installed and a reflection distorts the siding on this house or the one next door.
Production homes are being built closer and closer together which doesnt help out the issue either.
I have heard from other Builders that they have seen this problem more often lately with the rise in installing the “Low E” windows that alot of homes are being built with today. These Low E windows are a requirement to qualify for an Energy Star Certified Home.
I had to eventually replace a 4′x4′ fixed picture window with an acrylic, glass block window to minimize the glare to the house next door, which wasnt cheap to do on a finished house.
A much easier solution, on the other house I came across with the similar issue was fixed by planting a tree to block the sun’s reflection from the window. Of coarse this one wont work unless your problem window is on the second floor.
February 3rd, 2010 on 2:47 pm
@ JD – Thanks JD for your insight and comments. You definitely raised some valid points and ideas!!!
This is a very troubling issue since the only other time you see vinyl siding melting is when a Bar-B-Que (BBQ, Bar-B-Q) is placed too close to vinyl siding, the Bar-B-Que lid is opened and ends up extremely close to the vinyl siding – then the lid is typically left there in the open/up position for an extended period of time. We all know how hot Bar-B-Que lids get and we’re seeing similar results from the “Low E” glass reflections of sunlight and a similar looking melted vinyl siding. This tells me, without actually having and actual temperature data, that the heat involved is pretty intense. Which raises some red flags for me… what else would we not want that kind of heat on??? First thing that comes to mind is propane tanks but they are designed to withstand pretty intense heat from what I understand – I mean they are used under the Bar-B-Que’s themselves. However other ignitable could be an issue, possibly? I sincerely hope these issues are being addressed thoroughly buy window manufacturers although I don’t have any direct information that leads me to believe this is the case. I’ll be looking into this more…
February 12th, 2010 on 5:08 pm
We are having this problem with 4 houses in our new development. Mine is one of them. the low-E windows on my neighbor’s second floor reflect the sunlight on the side of my house and have rippled or “melted” my siding. This only happened after my neighbor took off the external screens that were over his windows. The screens apparently broke up the sun’s effect.
I read that one vinyl manufacturer has included an additive which raises the vinyl’s “melt” temp from 160 F to 225 F. I’m told that improvement will solve the issue. I don’t know that for a fact though. I have an email in to the Mfr to get validation on that.
Problem is, that I really don’t want to have my house’s siding well being to be subject to my neighbor keeping his screens in place.
If the “improved” siding does the job, I’ll have my siding replaced with that.