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.
34 Comments for this entry
1 Trackback or Pingback for this entry
-
Melted Vinyl Siding on Good Morning America | The Siding Blog
October 15th, 2010 on 4:44 am[...] posted as this saga continues. To learn more about this phenomenon read our post titled “Melting Vinyl Siding from Window Reflection” and the subsequent comments discussion that was started back on Mar. 10th [...]
Leave a Reply
-
Howdy. Welcome to our Siding blog!
Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. See ya around!
Siding Leads blog- Alexandria VA Area Vinyl Siding Leads Report
- December 2010 Siding Leads Report
- December 2009 Siding Leads Report
- What IF Cwin sold to Sears Siding?
- Top Contractor Leads Online
- Siding Leads that cost $2,000 ea. and Make Money?!?!
- What The? … 59% Increase in Siding Leads
- Top 10 Siding Lead Companies
- There’s a New LEAD Sheriff in Town!
- Brand Spankin’ New Siding Leads Blog
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.
April 2nd, 2010 on 7:12 pm
I have a 3decker that is about 28ft from me with 18 windows on his south side, the north side of my house is a mess, melted siding. I have called the building division in my area, even Boston. I think this is a safety issue with my home. I can not get any where on how to handle this issue. My neighbor is not a very nice person so approaching him is out of the question. If someone could advise , i would be so appreciative. How do I handle this.
April 18th, 2010 on 5:21 pm
This problem seems to be more common than I thought. My neighbor replaced a few of his windows a few years ago and it took some time to figure out the striping on the side of my house. The windows were not flat and were causing a lensing effect that focuses a 2′x 2′ to a 2″ x 2″ area. I do get along well with my neighbor and I think I can convince him to replace them with some financial help on my part. Glass that is not flat is a defective safety hazard. Most glass manufactures check it and measure it in their production processes. All it would take a one example fire and class actions will be ripping.
July 12th, 2010 on 9:58 am
My clients’ house was damaged by reflected light from their neighbor’s newly installed low-e windows. I filed a lawsuit alleging nuisance and negligence. The neighbor’s insurance company had the offending windows removed and now we are just fighting about the cost of replacing my clients’ siding. Several contractors in our area indicate that the problem of reflected sunlight is becoming much more common with the move to low-e windows which tend to reflect more light and which tend to be concave in shape. The concave shape makes the window act like a parabolic mirror focusing the light. Oddly, the problem is worse in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky.
July 12th, 2010 on 2:42 pm
@Paul Ruszczyk:
Thank you for your comment Paul!!!
Do you have any further suggestions on how a homeowner should proceed if they are either end of this issue?
July 20th, 2010 on 4:46 am
Yes,
can you please provide suggestions to what the homeowner can do to seek demages , or get the offending owner to replace their winodws? Legal action?
September 15th, 2010 on 10:36 am
Ross,
Sorry that I have not looked at this site in a while. To resolve the issue, you would start a lawsuit against your neighbor alleging nuisance and negligence. You would seek an injunction against the ongoing nuisance and damages for the damage to your home. The neighbor will probably refer the claim to his/her homeowner’s insurance company and the homeowner’s insurance company will probably sue the window manufacturer. I could send you a copy of the complaint I wrote (with names blacked out)if that would be of assistance to you. I am only licensed to practice in Connecticut so you should definitely talk to a lawyer from your state to make sure the same laws apply.
September 15th, 2010 on 9:52 pm
@Paul Ruszczyk:
Ref. to “copy of the complaint I wrote” …
That would be great Paul… we could post that here or you are welcome to post it on your website and we’ll display a link to it.
Honestly the issue needs to be corrected, IMHO, and in some case going to court is just the necessary process that must be followed to effect change.
Thanks so much Paul!!!!
September 17th, 2010 on 4:50 am
COMPLAINT
COUNT I, PRIVATE NUISANCE
1. The Plaintiffs are residents of the Town of ___, Connecticut and reside in the home they own at __________ Street in ________.
2. The Defendant is a resident of the Town of ________, Connecticut and resides in the home he owns at ________ in ________.
3. The Plaintiffs’ house is located on the lot immediately to the south of the Defendant’s house.
4. Within the past year approximately, the Defendant has made many renovations to his house including the installation of highly energy efficient, so-called low-e windows on the south side of his house.
5. The low-e windows installed by the Defendant are highly reflective and are not completely flat resulting in concentrated and focused reflections similar to reflections from parabolic mirrors.
6. The windows installed by the Defendant reflect sunlight and focus the sunlight upon the north facing exterior wall of Plaintiff’s house resulting in hot spots on the Plaintiffs’ house. These hot spots are hot enough to melt, deform and warp the vinyl siding on Plaintiffs’ house.
7. As the sun moves through the sky during year and throughout the days, the hot spots move across large portions of the north facing exterior wall of the Plaintiffs’ house.
8. The heat from said hot spots have melted, warped and deformed large portions of the siding on the north facing exterior wall of Plaintiffs’ house.
9. The Plaintiffs have requested the Defendant to correct the windows so that they do not cause this problem in the future.
10. The Plaintiffs have requested the Defendant to pay for the damage caused to their house by the windows.
11. The Defendant has not complied with either request stated in Paragraphs 9 and 10 above.
12. The unnatural and focused reflected sunlight emanating from Defendant’s property and falling upon the Plaintiffs’ house constitutes a private nuisance in that it is a unreasonable interference with the Plaintiffs’ use and enjoyment of their property.
COUNT II, NEGLIGENCE
1-11. Paragraphs 1 through 10 of Count I are repeated and re-alleged as Paragraphs 1-11 of this Count II.
12. Defendant was negligent in the selection and installation of the low-e windows on the south side of his house.
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiffs claim:
1. A temporary and permanent injunction prohibiting the Defendant from maintaining the condition at his house which causes the sun to reflect and focus on Plaintiffs’ house.
2. An order requiring the Defendant to immediately abate the condition at his house which causes the sun to reflect and focus on Plaintiffs’ house.
3. Monetary damages
4. Costs.
5. Such other and further equitable relief as may be proper and appropriate.
THE PLAINTIFFS BY: ________________________
Paul Ruszczyk, Esq.
408 Highland Ave.
Cheshire, CT. 06410
203-699-9984
Juris No. 306142
September 29th, 2010 on 2:14 pm
@Paul Ruszczyk:
Thanks so much Paul!!!
October 19th, 2010 on 8:11 am
I have been chasing a problem for 5 years and just found out that it is my neighbors windows on the south side of his house. I have cedar shakes on the top and 10 inch cedar clapboard on the bottom. It is painted Cape Cod Blue which is a dark gray blue. The sun reflection from his windows is blistering the paint in the side of my house. At times we have smelled something burning. We took a heat gun and recorded the surface temperature at 258+ degrees F and that was on a cool 45 degree morning. We can watch the paint rise and blister right in front of us. Some of the blisters are the size of quarters. He has a two family with 5 upstairs windows. Can my house catch on fire? How alarmed should I be? His house is only about 25 feet from mine. I have a 7 room Colonial. He put the new low-e windows in 5 years ago. Will full screens over the windows fix the problem? I almost put up vinyl siding this year. I am so glad I didn’t. This problem would have destroyed the whole side of my house.
October 26th, 2010 on 9:31 am
@Janet Seymour
I agree, until your neighbor’s windows issue is corrected I feel it is wise to hold off on vinyl siding. It does however sound like you have an issue with your currently painted cedar siding. Wow! Thanks for you comments!!!
Does anyone else have answers/comments for Janet’s other questions:
Can my house catch on fire?
How alarmed should I be?
Will full screens over the windows fix the problem?
November 17th, 2010 on 11:46 am
I am curious, someone mentions that a siding manufacturer created an additive to take the melting temp from 160 F to 165 F. Does anyone have more information on that?
Also, from the legal perspective, I have been trying to work with my neighbors to change our their windows with no luck. No cost to them, but they refuse to work with me. Their house and windows were there before mine, do I still have a case to press PRIVATE NUISANCE?
Thanks!
Tyler
December 8th, 2010 on 9:59 am
Tyler,
If your neighbor is sending anything unnatural onto your property which damages your property, I think you do have the “private nuisance” right of action. Whose house came first does not matter. At least you would have it in Connecticut – I can’t say about your state as I am only admitted to practice in Connecticut.
Paul Ruszczyk
Cheshire CT
rctlawyer@aol.com
December 30th, 2010 on 2:00 pm
Kimberly– Why is it always the builders fault. That was a stupid statement regarding making the builder pay for the neighbors new window and the new siding. why don’t we make the homeowner responsible for buying the lot with the sun shining on it.
January 7th, 2011 on 3:35 pm
I too would be interested in a response to Tyler’s question. My house was built after the house causing the window reflective damage so I would be interested in knowing the likelihood of a successful nuisance or trespass claim.
February 18th, 2011 on 10:41 am
My neighbor recently put glass mirrors over some of his windows and over the rest he put tinted window covering’s, which is very reflective. At night the reflection of light is blinding. This all started after he called the township on us and he acted like he had no clue as to who did it. After we were in the clear (no we did not get into any touble) we found out it was him who called. We confronted him as to why he did this and he blewup at us and then put up the glass mirrors and such. I wonder if he is trying to melt the siding off our house or if it is all innocent so I looked this up and found this site. What does everyone think of that!!! Thanks
March 10th, 2011 on 11:58 am
Well it looks like their others with the same problem. My neighbor windows face south and when the winter sun is low in the sky and the sun is moving from the east to south (around 10 am) it hits the upstairs window of my neighbor and reflects on to my house. You can see the glow of the reflection on my house and the heat is intense. The siding is a warp bubble at a 45 degree angle. Now this problem is for 2/3 months late Nov to early March. Since I got the siding from Home Depot and it has a lifetime warrenty they come back in early April to fix my siding at no cost. If your going to get siding ensure you get a lifetime warrenty which was the major selling point. It covers problems like this as well as color fading and replacement in case of mother nature.
June 3rd, 2011 on 7:50 am
Sun damaged siding is common in Northern VA. The issues are well covered in the proceeding replies. We see it most frequently when windows are placed next to the chimney chase.
The easiest and cheapest fix we have found is to install a solar screen over the offending windows.
The are various levels of solar protection and we have not yet determined the minimum level necessary to protect the siding, but it seems that any screen will do the job. Problem is that most double hung windows half screens. It is necessary to install screens that cover the entire window and may require aftermarket hardware.
July 19th, 2011 on 8:51 am
I am in NC and it seems I have the same problem with melting siding and reflection, however the manufacturer’s rep and the siding installation company is claming they have no responsibility in this and it’s up to me to pay to have it fixed. The house is only 6 years old. Any ideas on how to get them to cooperate with me on replacing the siding or am I truly on my own?
September 14th, 2011 on 4:31 pm
Have the same issue as Don but we are in Michigan. House was built in 2009. Appreciate any suggestions for resolutions with siding company (CertainTeed) or should we address issue with the window manufacturer?
September 23rd, 2011 on 10:25 am
We have this same issue with our neighbors. The builder want’s to flip our windows around to help with the reflection. Has anyone ever heard of this working?
September 24th, 2011 on 1:09 pm
@Chrissy. No I have not. I suppose it is possible to flip the glass itself… of course the “whole window” could not be flipped except in very rare situations (due to weep holes, hardware and such) – just pointing the obvious out there. PLEASE keep us posted.
October 4th, 2011 on 11:31 pm
This is NOT a rare problem. Maybe it started out that way, but with the increase in energy efficient windows on new homes the problem has increased. Of the over 50 homes in our new development at least half have this issue. What I would love to see is a discussion of solutions. We like our neighbors and don’t want to sue them or their insurance company. I often read about lattices, screens, trees, vinyl additives and changing the windows but no one ever seems to write back after they’ve tried these things to report on successes. I think it would be great if there were easily accessible solutions out there. If tree planting works, then what evergreen trees can sustain very high temps from the glass in the winter? If lattice panels work, what type of wood do you use on what designs for two story houses. If changing out the glass works, are the windows still energy efficient. If someone could come up with an aftermarket screen adjustments they could probably make a mint! Please someone post the solutions you have found!
October 11th, 2011 on 7:59 am
I have a 2 family in Somerville, MA that was vinyl sided about 5 years ago. The siding began to melt within 1 year. I contacted Everett Aluminum, the contracotr who sided the home. I was told it was my neighbor’s windows causing the issue. I asked for the sku number of the siding so I could order some siding and replace myself. My numerous calls and emails to Everett Aluminum have gone unanswered.
I am dismayed. They gave me a price of $1,000 to redo the warped areas.
What to do next?
- Ask my neighbor to place full screens over their windows?
October 21st, 2011 on 2:57 pm
Can anyone provide information about low-e windows that may be more problematic? Our issue involves CertainTeed siding and Norandex Viewpoint windows. Curious if other window brands are involved beyond Norandex.
November 2nd, 2011 on 11:18 am
we have two relatively new apartment properties, one in MN and one in RI. Both are experiencing what appears to be vinyl siding failure from reflected sun. Years ago there were class action suit filed against siding compnies for other types of siding that failed. Is anyone aware fo a class action suit being filed on this issue or any litigation whatsoever on the matter. Looking for a law firm with experience in the matter to represent us.
January 7th, 2012 on 4:39 pm
Hi,
We live in Boston MA and started having problems after the 2 family next door relaced windows. The plastic on the car is melting and the shake shingles are also bubbled and blistering. I originally thought the car plastic was a manufacturing defect and have since replaced mirrors and other plastic-at my expense. Less than 1 month after replacing, the same type of melting is happening again. Now I can see this is what is also happening to the paint on that side of the house.
The neighbor is very nice and I will eventually speak to her but want to get all my facts straight first.
Is there any agency (maybe the EPA) I can call to help me prove this is the problem? Check out my FORD escape pictures of melting plastic. You can actually see the neighbors house in the reflection of one of them.
http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/Jann2005/?start=0
Thanks