Lawsuit Raises Questions About Windows Melting Vinyl Siding

Lawsuit Raises Questions About Windows Melting Vinyl Siding

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 1 Average: 5]

A lawsuit in Oregon over melted vinyl siding is revisiting the question of what role, if any, windows might play in such events.

Michael Harney of Beaverton, Ore., is suing Associated Materials of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the makers of Alside siding, for not honoring its warranty after Harney said a house he sold in October 2015 had melted siding. The complaint says Alside rejected his warranty claim because it believed the melting was caused by an unusual heat source, according to a report from Plastics News. Harney’s complaint alleges that the vinyl siding melted while being exposed to “natural conditions” and is thus covered under the warranty. (Attorneys for Associated Materials have not yet filed a response.)

The lawsuit, which was filed in August in U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore., could become a national class action case.

“While the precise number is unknown at this time … the proposed Class may be comprised of at least thousands of members,” lawyers for the plaintiff said in their complaint, which noted that there are at least 100 potential class members who could claim damages in excess of $5 million.

A study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that under certain rare conditions, it’s possible for windows to focus enough heat onto vinyl siding to melt or warp it.

“Glass in double paned windows may on occasion slightly warp or deflect due to a difference in barometric pressure between the interior of the glass panes and the outside air pressure,” a 2014 summary of earlier NAHB research says. “This can create a concavity in the glass. Such a concavity is a normal response to pressure differences, does not affect the performance of the window, and does not constitute a defective window condition. However, the concavity may focus sunlight reflected from the window in a fashion similar to the effect seen when light passes through a magnifying glass. This focused light may land on adjacent building surfaces, and appear as a brilliant star-shaped spot. The concentrated heat generated by the focused reflected sunlight results in surface temperatures well above that encountered from direct sunlight, and has the capability of causing damage to exposed materials, especially those which are plastic based.”

Other factors that can affect distortion include foliage, the angle of the sun and how close houses are to one another, the report says.

To prevent concavity, the NAHB report urges window manufacturers to use capillary tubes between the two lites of glass.

“The capillary tube connects the interior space between the window panes to the outside air, permitting a gradual equalization of barometric pressure, and thereby lessening the possibility that a concavity will develop in the glass,” the report says.

However, capillary tubes can’t be used in windows with argon filling, because the gas will leak out.

Additionally, the NAHB report says manufacturers could switch to double-strength glass to prevent the concavity problem. Most windows are made with two pieces of glass that are 3/32 of an inch thick. Glass that’s 1/8 of an inch thick would maintain a flatter surface.

For years, many homeowners assumed that low-E glass was the main culprit in melting vinyl siding.

Low-E glass has been standard in building codes for years. Today, it’s in more than 81 percent of all residential windows, according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).

In 2014, complaints about warped siding and even a handful of fires led the North Carolina Building Code Council to adopt an emergency rule that would let builders use non-low-E glass in situations where they could foresee reflections causing a problem. However, after intense lobbying by AAMA, the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and other industry groups, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission rejected the rule.

But last fall, the North Carolina Building Code Council changed the energy conservation section of the state building code to allow substitution of windows when they have been either shown to cause a problem relating to concentrated solar reflection or it can be determined they could cause a problem. This permanent rule took effect in January 2016.

The change was made to ensure builders would be clear of any liability for not being in compliance with the energy conservation requirements, said Jeffrey A. Smith, communications director with the Vinyl Siding Institute.


Source: www.usglassmag.com

Melting Siding from Window Reflections…Fact or Fiction?

Melting Siding from Window Reflections…Fact or Fiction?

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 5 Average: 4.6]

If you had told me five years ago that windows are the cause of melting siding, I would have chuckled.  I’ve built, remodeled and repaired several thousand homes and I had never heard of melting siding until the last couple years.  But believe it or not, some of the new energy efficient windows are creating this problem.  Let’s talk about what causes it, how to prevent the problem, and then discuss solutions if you already have the melting siding.

Low-E Windows Melting Siding

Combine low-E glass facing south or southwest, homes that are close together with vinyl siding, and the sun and you get a recipe for melting siding.  In case you aren’t familiar with them, low-E (a.k.a. low-emittance) windows have a coating on them that suppresses radiative heat flow.  In other words, it prevents heat from going where we don’t want it to go.   The amount of low-E and it’s location on the glass is dependent on the climate the home is in.  These windows are becoming more common as people seek to improve the energy performance of their homes.

Is the Melting Siding a Vinyl Issue?

Vinyl siding starts to distort (or melt) at temperatures around 165-170 degrees fahrenheit.  As far as I know, this has been the case ever since the siding was first developed.  In normal situations, siding would not be subjected to these temperatures.  So in my opinion, as a builder, the answer is no, siding that melts from window reflections are not defective.  The concentrated beam of light from the low-E windows is an external force that is uncommon until recently.

Prevention

Here are some ideas to keep from melting siding  in new and existing homes…

  • don’t install Low-E glass on south or southwest facing walls when a vinyl sided wall is within 20 feet (applies to low-E glass with coating facing exterior)
  • cover double hung low-E glass with full screens to diffuse sun reflections
  • use siding that has a surface that can withstand temperatures of 250 degrees fahrenheit before damage occurs

Solution for Existing Homes with Melting Siding

Here are some tips for solutions to your melting siding issues…

  • cover the low-e windows with awnings to keep the sun off (although, if it’s your neighbors home with the low-E…who pays for them and will they like the idea of awnings?)
  • replace the low-e glass with a different type
  • cover the exterior of the windows with screens to stop the reflection
  • plant a landscape buffer between the homes to prevent the reflections from hitting the vinyl siding
  • install a fence between the homes to prevent the reflections
  • talk to the window manufacturer…they have been known to take care of this problem in some cases

Check out the video below describing more about the low-E window/melting vinyl siding issue.  Let us know if you have had similar issues with melting siding on your home.


Source: http://blog.armchairbuilder.com


 

Siding Story: From Wood to Vinyl

Siding Story: From Wood to Vinyl

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 2 Average: 3]

Home ownership is rewarding and stressful. Home owners are always weighing the pros and cons of pursuing their dreams versus the family budget and affordability. Sometimes home owners will stretch their budget by doing some of their own home maintenance although replacing the siding on a house is large enough that most home owners will hire professionals.

Maintaining your home’s exterior is a challenge for any home owner so don’t think you’re alone. You can learn from one home owner’s experience as she considers residing her Victorian home with vinyl, all the way down to the Gingerbread details.

Replacing Wood Siding with Vinyl?

Home owners don’t always realize that painting their home’s exterior is key to protecting the home from water damage. Any type of wood trim that juts out from the home’s surface is more prone to damage as dirt can collect and cause water to pool. When the moisture content of wood exceeds 15 to 20 percent, wood rot can occur. Wood rot is most commonly found on window sills and on this beautiful Victorian home, there was horizontal wood trim at the base of the top floor which rotted out, plus the damage had started to creep up the siding above the trim boards.

At the time of these repairs, I recommended to the home owner that vinyl siding might be a better long term solution to ongoing maintenance issues. It’s now 4 years later and the home owner is ready to replace her wood siding with vinyl versus painting. We’ve visited a local building products supply house and found vinyl texture and colors very similar to her current colors, and now we’re looking for vinyl trim pieces to maintain the Victoria look and feel of the home.

While you can buy a known brand like Gap clothes online, it is best to purchase home products and materials from a reputable local, home building supply store that serves the construction industry. They get feedback from 100s of customers, adding and dropping products based on the experience of their customers.

Victoria Gingerbread Trim in Vinyl

Most vinyl siding manufacturers offer a wide range of vinyl siding textures, shapes and colors. Shown at left is Certainteed’s half round shingle accents that are often used in multiple color combinations to dress up a house. Another specialty manufacturer, MidAmerica Siding Components (www.midamericacomponents.com) offers many more variations of decorative siding shingles:

  • Hexagon
  • Mitered Corner
  • Fish Scale
  • Octagon
  • Round
  • Transitional for the bottom course under any style

For the fancy trim typically found around doors, on the porch and at the top of the roof peaks, you will need to google “Victorian & house trim” and search for vinyl as you don’t want to have to climb a ladder to paint wood trim at the peak of your home. Here are some websites I found with a good selection of Victorian trim although I’m sure there are other good sources out there (and if you find some, please share below):

  • Home Trim Plus (www.hometrimplus.com) offers exterior “ginger bread” trim choices along with screen door trim.
  • Vintage Woodworks (www.vintagewoodworks.com) has a wide range of products, well organized so you can see your choices for anything from gable decorations to porch posts and how to choose the right one.
  • Victorian Essence (www.missingromance.com) focuses on porch, arbor and gazebo components.

There aren’t a lot of sources for Victorian house trim.  There is a nice article on picking colors for your house trim,  The Best Exterior Trim Colours – NOT Cloud White.


Source: www.hometipsforwomen.com


 

Vinyl Siding Prices Rise Along with Resin

Vinyl Siding Prices Rise Along with Resin

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 1 Average: 5]

Ply Gem Industries has announced another price incrase for its vinyl siding due to the rising cost of PVC.

Ply Gem Industries recently announced its second price increase in six months for vinyl siding products with company officials pointing to higher PVC resin costs as a reason for the price hike of 6 to 8 percent.

The Cary, N.C.-based company initially raised prices for its Mastic and Variform brand siding by 6 to 8 percent in December. Major competitors followed with the same rates of increase implemented by Royal Building Products and CertainTeed. Will they do it again? That remains to be seen.

Resin prices were favorable in 2015 and 2016 but that’s not the case so far this year, according to Ply Gem Chairman and CEO Gary Robinette. The company says it saw a year-over-year April cost increase of 18 to 20 percent for PVC.

“There’s still commodity headwinds,” Robinette said Monday during a quarterly conference call with investment bankers. “Very seldom — and it’s only happened a couple times since I’ve been here — did we go out for two price increases in a short period of time. To cover that headwind, we had to go back out.”

Robinette, who was named CEO in 2006, said he thinks PVC prices will flatten out soon but it will take Ply Gem 60 to 120 days “to get on the right side of it.” The second price increase for siding goes into effect on June 3.

Back in September, Ply Gem also announced an increase of 6 to 8 percent for window prices for 2017, citing increased material costs for PVC, aluminum and glass. However, the company carries more siding inventory than windows so the higher resin costs won’t “flow through” the siding, fence and stone segment until the second or third quarter, CFO Shawn Poe said.

“The vinyl siding industry is a very consolidated industry and has acted rationally for a number of years,” Poe added. “I don’t expect a dramatic break from that, but we just announced a second price increase so it’s too early to tell. I’d say if that second price increase doesn’t hold, it’s probably because PVC doesn’t go to the level that the PVC producers are trying to push it to or maybe it actually walks back a little bit sooner.”

Overall, Ply Gem had a strong first quarter with net sales up 5.2 percent to $430 million and a gross profit of $89.5 million.

During the conference call, company officials also said they will combine their Ply Gem and Simonton window groups; manufactured stone is their fastest growing category of cladding; and the acquisition pipeline is shallow with no big deal in the works but a small bolt-on acquisition is possible.


Source: www.plasticsnews.com

 

Insulated Vinyl Siding Save Energy Save Money Add Curb Appeal

Insulated Vinyl Siding Save Energy Save Money Add Curb Appeal

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 1 Average: 5]

Insulated vinyl siding is one of the best investments you can make in your home. In addition to keeping you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, it is energy efficient and environmentally responsible, and can breathe new life into the curb appeal of your home without intruding into your leisure time or tapping into your budget with maintenance needs.

No matter how fastidious your landscape or impressive your outdoor living space, it is all for naught against a neglected exterior. Here are some of the benefits of insulated vinyl siding.

Comfort

More than anywhere else, you want to be comfortable in your own home, and that includes being warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Your exterior walls may be adequately lined with insulation between the studs, but the studs themselves, can be a problem: Wall studs, both wood and metal, are poor insulators – they allow heat to pass through them (which is called a thermal bridge). Thermal bridging occurs when materials with poor insulating properties contact each other, allowing heat to flow through them. Nearly 25% of a home’s wall is made of studs that typically aren’t insulated, so it’s like having one entire wall of the home without insulation. Insulated vinyl siding is a “blanket” over the studs that prevents unwanted energy transfers. You’ll have year-round comfort and lower energy bills.

Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency for any building material is known as its R-value – the higher the value, the more efficient. Many siding materials have a less than R-1, including steel, aluminum, brick, and stucco. Insulated vinyl siding can increase the R-value to at least R-2 and even up to R-3 or 4, a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of your home and a significant reduction in your energy bills. Also, the installation of insulated vinyl siding may make you eligible for energy tax credits.

Sound Reduction

As more and more people are aware of air and water pollution, they give little thought to noise pollution. Noise is considered a pollutant when it is unwanted and it interferes with normal activities, such as sleeping, conversing, watching television – anything that diminishes the quality of life. When extreme, noise can have major consequences to your overall health. Insulated vinyl siding can dampen the amount of noise entering your home: lawn mowers, barking dogs, passing cars, loud parties, etc. You may be surprised at how much more peaceful and relaxing your home is.

Low Maintenance

You won’t have any surprise costs to keep insulated vinyl siding looking like new. Once a year, you can use an inexpensive telescopic-wand brush, some mild soap, and a garden hose or pressure washer to keep it sparkling clean. You won’t ever have to paint or caulk. It doesn’t chip, peel, rot, warp, crack, or fade. You won’t have to worry during hurricane-force winds or onslaughts of hail, nor about termites or other pests. There are no gaps between the insulation and the wall for insects or other critters to settle in, and they don’t find the insulation appetizing.*

Curb Appeal

 Create the exterior you have always dreamed of. If you already have a dreamy exterior, simplify its charm with easy-to-maintain vinyl. Like the look of cedar shakes? Maybe you’ve always admired Victorian scallops. Faux stone and faux wood siding is indistinguishable from the real thing. From the antique to the ultra-modern, whatever your preference, there are hundreds of colors, textures, and styles. You’ll feel like a kid in a wondrous candy store and your home will look years younger.

The insulation also helps the vinyl remain impervious to dents and surface damage that can ruin a home’s appearance and keeps the siding flat, straight and symmetrical for a neat, polished first, and lasting, impression – a fitting element in your overall landscape design. It even feels and sounds solid – go ahead, rap your knuckles on it!

Environmentally Friendly

Insulated vinyl siding scores well on strict environmental standards through manufacturing, transportation, installation, service life, and waste management. It emits fewer toxic chemicals while being manufactured and requires less fuel to transport. Scrap vinyl is immediately reprocessed, never dumped into a landfill. Since it needs no painting, staining or caulking, there is no danger from harmful solvents.

For more information on insulated vinyl siding or to set up a free in-home estimate call Premium Supply at 501-932-4477 or check out our full line of ClimaForce Insulated Vinyl Siding.


Source: www.vinylsiding.org


 

Pin It on Pinterest