Melted Vinyl Siding Mystery Solved!
What is causing the vinyl siding to melt and warp?
The sun is reflecting off of a nearby window or glass surface and the reflecting light can reach extreme temperatures. Typically, most vinyl siding products will start to melt and warp when they reach 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. On darker colored siding, temperatures have been recorded of nearly 220° F in the area where reflected light is hitting.
Is this a new problem?
This is a problem that has gotten much more common in the last 10 to 15 years. The main reason this is happening more and more often is from the increasing number of Low-E or energy efficient windows that are being installed in new homes or renovated homes. Low-E windows are designed to reflect more heat away from the glass by design. That is why they help cool your home. The problem is that reflected light is now more powerful than ever and it substantially increases the surface temperature of the objects it lands on, like vinyl siding.
Whats the solution??
The solution to this problem is to stop the sun’s rays before they can hit the glass and reflect off of the glass surface. When you install the EZ Snap exterior shades on your windows, it is like planting an instant shade tree in front of the offending window. EZ Snap stops up to 90% of the sun’s rays from reaching the glass and the 10% that does get through and is reflected back, must then pass through the EZ Snap mesh a second time, reducing it a further 90%. With 99% of the reflected light now eliminated, the problem of melted vinyl siding is also eliminated.
Added Benefits:
- Not only does it solve the melted vinyl siding problem, but it also cools the interior of your home and the surface of the glass.
- Provides Day time privacy
- Reduces annoying glare inside and out.
- Lowers your Air Conditioning bill.
- Prevents birds from flying into the reflective glass surface.
- Reduces the fading and damage caused by the suns U.V. rays.
For a more in-depth look a the EZ Snap product and how it is installed, be sure to watch the EZ Snap Exterior Shade video.
Build your exterior shade kit.
Common questions
What causes vinyl siding to melt and warp?
The sun reflecting off a nearby window or glass surface concentrates light that can reach extreme temperatures. Most vinyl siding starts to melt and warp at 160 to 165°F, and on darker colored siding temperatures near 220°F have been recorded in the spot where reflected light lands.
Why is melted siding more common than it used to be?
This problem has grown much more common in the last 10 to 15 years, driven by the rising number of Low-E energy-efficient windows in new and renovated homes. Low-E glass is designed to reflect more heat away by design, which helps cool the home but makes the reflected light more powerful and hotter on whatever it hits.
How do exterior shades stop siding from melting?
Exterior shades stop the sun's rays before they can hit and reflect off the glass, like planting an instant shade tree in front of the offending window. They block up to 90% of the rays reaching the glass, and the small amount that reflects back passes through the mesh a second time for a further 90% cut, eliminating about 99% of the reflected light.
Do I have to replace the windows to fix the problem?
No, you do not need to replace the windows. Installing exterior shades on the offending window stops the reflection at its source, which eliminates the melted siding problem without any change to the glass itself.
What other benefits do exterior shades provide besides protecting siding?
Beyond solving melted siding, the shades cool the home's interior and the glass surface, add daytime privacy, and reduce glare inside and out. They also lower your air conditioning bill, help prevent birds from flying into reflective glass, and reduce fading and damage from the sun's UV rays.
