What Melted this Vinyl Siding?

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by belliott

I also wonder about those vents in picture two.
one appears to be a dryer vent but is right next to the compressor .

Not really a dryer vent. Very common here to use this type of vent cover to protect freon lines, condensate lines, etc. entering home.

(Good one Joe)

[Nick Gromicko]

The PICs all appear to show that the melting is occurring on the same side of the house. I'd guess the sun reflecting off the neighbor's high-efficiency, mirrored windows.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Not all vinyl siding is created equal. I started getting a trade magazine a few years called Coastal Contractor and found out there are thicker, higher grade vinyl sidings used specfically for coastal and high wind areas as well as the high UV damage areas (all of which is FL). This stuff stands up the the heat, sun, wind, cold, sand abrasions, etc. (btw, this is not the stuff off the shelf at HD and lowes).

One site is:

http://www.foundrysiding.com/_homeowner/faq.php

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Exactly Doug, and when I did mine, I bought the thickess available and don't regret it at all.

[Erby Crofutt]

Didn't y'all ever fry a bug with a magnifying glass, or at least start paper on fire.

In pic 1 (establishing shot is always helpful, the sun is from the left at about 3:30 PM.




In pic2, you could fry an egg in that bright spot, vinyl siding doesn't stand a chance. I'd bet even the thick stuff won't hold up to this for long. It's just ending it's run across the melted spot. And it does this day after day during the right time of year. The melted spot is just to the right of the sliding doors in picture one. You can see a bit of the doors in pic 2 at the left side.




Here's an even better picture from Joe Perry, down in Charleston, SC. Ya just gotta be there at the right time of day and year.



Fried bugs, anyone??

--

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by ecrofutt

...you could fry an egg in that bright spot...

"Egg-cellant" documentation.

[Randall Cole]

Thanks for all of the information everybody. I clicked on the link and you are right, it does look like the same place as my property......down to the color or the vinyl siding.

I have inspected a lot of properties w/ vinyl siding and I have never seen anything like this.

If it was just on the chimney siding that would be one thing, but being under the electrical power box is crazy.

What would you suggest for the owners to do? Replace the siding and hope it doesn't do it again?

I will suggest they have the chimney professionally inspected and cleaned. Other than that what?

Thanks in advance for any more ideas and information. I can always count on NACHI members when in a bind.

rmc

[Randall Cole]

This home does face North East

[Gary L. Farnsworth, CMI]

Most all thermo windows now have low-e glass. Reflected heat and UV rays has to go somewhere. I have seen faded paint/stucco and cracking on high heat areas of homes. Watch for all heat related defects of all types of siding due to the newer windows and under-siding reflective and insulating materials. It's the Al Gore syndrome.