Energy Efficient Windows Melt Vinyl Siding
Both the Vinyl Siding Institute and the National Association of Home Builders acknowledge the problem, but say it is not widespread and the siding and windows are not defective... "My home is ruined and at no fault of mine whatsoever," said Vincequere. Vincequere's warranty has expired and Dillon's warranty specifically excludes damage caused by heat or reflection from windows. "I was shocked," said Dillon. Both Vincequere and Dillon told Team 5 they were shocked that no one is warning homeowners melting siding can occur.
Energy Efficient Windows Melt Vinyl Siding
State Board Researching Problem
Boston - Deb Vincequere's home in Worcester, Mass., is a mess because her vinyl siding is melting.
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"It's so upsetting I could cry. I'm not kidding you. I cry all the time. It's buckling, it's lifting off the house, it's curling up, it's just totally ruined," Vincequere told Team 5.
Carolyn Dillon of Watertown, Mass., is also upset with the way her home looks.
"I'm horrified. I think it was almost a $10,000 job," said Dillon, who installed different vinyl siding but experienced the same melting problem. "About 15-16 pieces have dents or rolling areas in them."
In both cases, local building inspectors said the damage was caused by sunlight bouncing off double-pane energy efficient windows on nearby homes.
Windows called low-e glass or low-emittance are energy efficient and even required by some building codes. But they can also warp inward and act like a magnifying glass, concentrating too much heat on nearby homes.
Gerry Brady from Infrared New England recently studied Vincequere's house. "This looks like someone took a blow torch to it."
Normal vinyl siding begins to be soften and distort at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. "We had temperatures that were 248 degrees Fahrenheit," reported Brady.
Both the Vinyl Siding Institute and the National Association of Home Builders acknowledge the problem, but say it is not widespread and the siding and windows are not defective.
A recent study by the association found that a combination of contributing factors must be present before the effect occurs, including concavity in the double glass panes, a low angle of sunlight and close proximity to adjacent homes.
Any double-pane window can cause this effect, but the group reported that double pane low-e windows are more likely to cause the problem.
"My home is ruined and at no fault of mine whatsoever," said Vincequere.
Vincequere's warranty has expired and Dillon's warranty specifically excludes damage caused by heat or reflection from windows. "I was shocked," said Dillon.
Both Vincequere and Dillon told Team 5 they were shocked that no one is warning homeowners melting siding can occur. "They're not doing anything about it and that's what really bothers me," said Vincequere.
A state spokesman for the state Board of Building Regulations and Standards told Team 5 Investigates they are researching the problem and their responsibility to homeowners and will discuss both at a meeting next month. |