Something strange is happening in newer neighborhoods across the country: vinyl siding is melting down houses. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $ 100,000 home or a $ 900,000 home.

We went to a neighborhood where this happens, on the west side of Cincinnati, and now we are neighbors versus neighbors.

Tommie and Joanne Falls say that almost the entire side of their house has vinyl siding that is warped and puckered.

“It’s literally melted and curled,” he said.

The cause? The sun reflects off the highly efficient windows of its neighbor. So say inspectors from both your insurance company and the siding manufacturer who came to your home to investigate.

“Every single person, whether it’s the insurance company or the manufacturer, said this was coming from the low E window,” explains Joannie Falls.

But she says replacing it at a cost of $ 5,000 or more wouldn’t solve anything (the house is now out of warranty).

“Unfortunately, no siding company is going to do it because they can’t guarantee it until their window is fixed,” she said.

HOA, lawyers involved now

This neighborhood battle stems from two windows in the neighbor’s house that appear to be causing the problem. But it has been dragging on for over 6 years and has become a nightmare for the falls.

“We have to fix it soon or we will be punished,” said Joannie Falls.

But she says it’s a catch-22 because her neighborhood HOA is now threatening to punish her every month, nothing happens.

She says her neighbors refused to install new windows and got her into trouble. “We work together and it is clear that there is nothing we can do,” she said.

What you can do

The National Association of Home Builders There are hundreds of complaints about this problem in the US, even in the northern states.

The group says suggests you:

• Ask your neighbor to replace the heavy duty window with a standard glass window.
• Offer to share the cost with them (a bedroom window usually costs an average of $ 500).
• Offer to pay for a window pane that restricts the reflected light.

Window installer Bill O’Patterson says screens are the cheapest solution and will work in most cases.

“I think a screen is a really good solution to the problem and it minimizes reflection a lot, but it’s not a huge visual difference in the house,” he said.

However, this will not be the case in this case as both parties have hired lawyers and this may need to go to court.

“It’s got to a point where we’re stuck and can’t win anymore,” said Joannie Falls.

The case’s neighbors do not speak to each other, and their attorney, John Carlson, told WCPO that he does not comment on pending litigation.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood HOA president told us that the board would suspend the fines until the case goes to court, which may not be until early next year. But it still wants the Falls to reimburse the HOA for legal fees to the subdivision in this case.

So these legal and visual headaches drag on.

As always, don’t waste your money.

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