For years, homeowners have had siding contractors install various
kinds of exterior materials, including cedar, vinyl and fiber cement, on
their homes in order to protect their houses from the elements and give
the exterior an attractive appearance. In recent years, however, there
are have been increasing concerns about whether the materials used on
the outside of residential buildings can withstand the dangers of fire
or high temperatures. A few decades ago, most manufacturers had never
had to handle a damage claim from heat because it almost never happened.
In recent years, however, high energy windows that reflect and
concentrate sunlight have increasingly damaged the siding on neighboring
homes. An increase in lost homes due to wildfires in the west have also
led to some fire departments recommending that homeowners choose
non-combustible materials for their exteriors.
Cedar Siding Is Highly Flammable
The
natural look of cedar shakes is very popular for homes across the
country and is particularly popular in areas where the great outdoors
are appreciated. Unfortunately, while cedar seems like an excellent
material that looks great on cabins and country homes, it is also the
perfect tinder for a blaze. So much so that a house with a cedar
exterior can burst into flames during a forest fire before flames from
neighboring trees or structures actually touch the house. More
surprising is rising evidence that reflected light from concentrated
sources such as the glass roof of a sunroom or a low-e skylight can
actually burn the cedar planks, leaving scorch marks or causing a slow,
smoldering burn that can lead to serious damage.
The Perils Of A Vinyl Clad Home
Although
vinyl siding manufacturers have developed their products to withstand
even the highest environmental temperatures, most of these PVC-based
products can’t survive temperatures as low as 165° Fahrenheit. To put
this in perspective, consider the many ways an exterior wall can be
exposed to this temperature – having your grille or a fire pit too close
to an exterior wall, a fire in a neighboring house or even reflections
off of neighboring windows.
There is a tell-tale pattern to the
melting and distortion caused by reflected heat from windows. If your
vinyl siding has a pattern of warping or melting across one or more
sides that seems to slowly creep at a diagonal up the wall, it’s
probably “thermal distortion,” the industry’s name for damage caused by
reflected heat. Unfortunately, rather than developing a way for vinyl to
withstand higher heat, manufacturers are now adding an exclusion in
their warranties that means they won’t have to replace or repair
materials affected by thermal distortion. Be sure to ask the siding
contractors in your area if they have experienced this phenomenon and
how the manufacturer handled those situations.
Fiber Cement – The Siding Of The Future
Although
fiber cement closely mimics the traditional beauty of real wood, it has
advantages that mean you’ll never have to worry about fire damage.
Because it is made of Portland cement, sand and silica, it is almost
impossible to damage it with heat or fire. Fiber cement can withstand
the incredibly high heat of being next to a house engulfed in flames
without warping, melting or igniting. In some areas, fire departments
are beginning to demand that homeowners use fiber cement for new
construction in order to reduce the spread of wildfires in at-risk
communities. You’ll never have to cope with the serious damage that can
be caused by incidental damage from melting of your siding because the
heat tolerance is so high on fiber cement. Siding contractors can vouch
for its durability and strength as well as its beauty and practicality.
If
you want to protect your home from fire or heat damage, it’s best to
have siding contractors install fiber cement on your home’s interior.
Relying on your vinyl manufacturer or installer to pay a claim for heat
damage isn’t realistic considering the many companies that have chosen
to exclude these issues from their warranty coverage
, unlike fiber
cement manufacturers who are standing behind their products with
impressive warranties.