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What could have done this to my vinyl siding?

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Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: Squisher
No grill anywhere near there.

All the melting seems to be centered around the railing.

I don't think I've ever used that outlet in the two years I've lived here.

That light has been turned on maybe 20 times in two years.

I can say without a doubt that it wasn't like that a week ago. I have to water those window boxes that I have around the perimeter of the deck like every other day when temps get in the high 80's. It's rained a couple of times in the last week so I haven't watered in a week.
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Pool of water anywhere around that's reflecting/focusing sun on the area?
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That would be some kind of ownage.
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Depending on the lunar cycle and the proximity of the moon a concave lense could be formed with the water and focused the sun.

Just a guess. Of course this would all depend on the moon and the volume of water in question.
 
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Bad wiring?
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I've been putting my hand up to siding and the wall on the inside (like a million times), I feel no heat. There is an outlet behind that melted section, but it's the GFCI protects half of all the counter top outlets.

 
The only thing I can think of is that someone had a halogen work light plugged into that outlet and it was facing the house. Those will get hot enough to melt vinyl, and if it was sitting on the rail the melting you have is just about what I would expect to see. Other than that, I'd look for pods in the basement and mutilated cows in nearby fields.

Edit: The cap on that post looks a bit burned as well, had to have been a halogen light sitting right there next the post.


This would be reason #236 why I hate vinyl siding, thank God it's not used around here.
 
My guess is it's from the heat reflected off from the glass on your patio table. Perhaps even from that lake, although that's a little far off.

Judging from the angle of the sun in that first photo you posted and taking into consideration where your table is, i'm leaning toward that as being the culprit.
 
If there *is* an outlet directly on the opposite side of the damaged vinyl area, particularly if it's near or just below the center of damage, then I'd take off the outlet cover and inspect the wires inside to see if they've suffered any heat damage as well. (cut the power to that outlet first.) That would be my first real concern about it, other than repairing the siding. Still though, I'd be as perplexed as you are about how it happened. I have trouble believing a reflection from something.
 
Originally posted by: rootaxs
My guess is it's from the heat reflected off from the glass on your patio table. Perhaps even from that lake, although that's a little far off.

Judging from the angle of the sun in that first photo you posted and taking into consideration where your table is, i'm leaning toward that as being the culprit.
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Would this even be possible?


BTW-no little kids to get in any mischief
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
If there *is* an outlet directly on the opposite side of the damaged vinyl area, particularly if it's near or just below the center of damage, then I'd take off the outlet cover and inspect the wires inside to see if they've suffered any heat damage as well. (cut the power to that outlet first.) That would be my first real concern about it, other than repairing the siding. Still though, I'd be as perplexed as you are about how it happened. I have trouble believing a reflection from something.
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With all the insulation in that wall I just find it hard to believe that I see no damage to the outlet or paint. I never smelled anything like burning wiring at anytime. And yet that area outside must have been over 200F to do that. I'm retired now and haven't really left the house for any extended time in the last three weeks.

 
Sorry about that. Just got my new 250mw green laser from that other thread and had to test it out on something =)
 
I've seen something like that, only two of the pieces were hanging down about a foot.
I was running a backhoe under a carport, and the exhaust did a number on it😛
 
Here's a long shot. I noticed that silver/gray umbrella on top of your glass patio table and it reminds me of the reflector umbrellas used in photography. Any chance that's been tilted to reflect the sunlight onto that spot?
 
Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Is it possible that the sunlight is being focused by the security light's glass housing? The shadow from the light housing indicates it may be possible. Maybe a few hours everyday, amplified sunlight sweeps across that damaged area. Check at various times tomorrow to see if this is the case.
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I don't think so. The light-gathering area of that security light is fairly small, and the area exposed is large, thus the amount of light hitting the siding from the security light alone would be less than straight sunlight. If it was a sweeping-action caused by the changing position of the sun, I'd expect it to be in more of a line.


Originally posted by: rootaxs
My guess is it's from the heat reflected off from the glass on your patio table. Perhaps even from that lake, although that's a little far off.

Judging from the angle of the sun in that first photo you posted and taking into consideration where your table is, i'm leaning toward that as being the culprit.
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Or maybe the light from the pond lenses through the glass table. But really, how awesome would that be?


But I second DrPizza's idea - check for electrical problems. If it was a reflection, I would really expect there to be a swath of deformation, rather than just one spot.
 
I've been two timing you guys and running a similar thread in the newsgroup atl.home-repair. Some there seem to think that some of the solvents I used when I stripped, brightened, stained, and then cleaned up the over-spray might have changed the vinyl's sensitivity to sunlight. Hmm.

 
Originally posted by: Squisher
I've been two timing you guys and running a similar thread in the newsgroup atl.home-repair. Some there seem to think that some of the solvents I used when I stripped, brightened, stained, and then cleaned up the over-spray might have changed the vinyl's sensitivity to sunlight. Hmm.
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I KNEW that bitch would say that.
 
Originally posted by: IGBT
Originally posted by: Howard
It's a face!
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..yes. I see baby gebus.
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Is that the blessed virgin?

Quick Squisher, have the threads deleted, buy an airbrush, spray an outline of the virgin Mary on another section of your siding with that solvent, wait for the image to appear, sell it on eBay --->profit!!!!
 
whatever it is you best be pulling that siding before the next time you notice it is as you and the family are running from a burning house....

There is something wrong to make siding melt like that...check it out now .
 
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