What happens to vinyl siding when exposed to heat?
When direct or indirect heat becomes a problem
Vinyl siding is popular with homeowners who choose the material for multiple reasons, one of them being low cost and low maintenance. Like all PVC-based materials, direct or indirect exposure to heat sources will have an impact on vinyl siding.
Damage caused by proximity to heat source
One of the common problems is seeing vinyl siding literally melted and warped from placing a heat source too close to the walls, such as a BBQ grill. The photo below belongs to a job we did a few years back where we had to replace the entire vinyl on the wall. As you can see, damage was not only done to the side wall , but also to the soffit.
Damage from direct or indirect exposure to sunlight
Direct or indirect sunlight can turn to an expensive problem. The damage produced by direct exposure to sunlight will depend largely on the facing of the walls, knowing that those exposed to the south and southwest will suffer greater damage, at least in the northern hemisphere.
Reflected sunlight off highly reflective surfaces such as a metal roof (or roof tiles to a lesser extent) can also damage the vinyl siding as shown in the photos below.
Consequences of damaged vinyl siding caused by heat
Vinyl is not known to be the strongest among siding materials. One of the immediate effects of warped vinyl siding is a functional problem, as it cannot longer protect the material underneath, known as sheathing (water barrier).
The good news is that this type of siding is easy to remove and reinstall without the need for special tools.
Other types of damage to vinyl siding include:
- Damage caused by improper installation.
- Damage by objects hitting the material (Baseballs,
- Damage by building settlement.
- Damage by using the incorrect type of paint.
Our company does not specialize in vinyl siding installation as our focus is directed to other materials such as wood, Hardie shingles and planks, AL13 and LongBoard.
We are a siding contractor serving the Greater Vancouver area, and have been an accredited BBB business since 2016 with an A+ rating. If you would like to discuss your siding project, call (604)423-2440 or click here to email us. We look forward to working with you in your next siding project.
