How can you tell stucco from EIFS?

Go outside and knock on an outer “stucco” wall of your home. If it sounds hollow, there is a good chance you have EIFS. If it feels like you are knocking on a brick wall, it is more likely that you are knocking on traditional “hard-coat” stucco.

Does EIFS look like stucco?

EIFS stucco is a type of stucco wall cladding that looks like a typical stucco installation on the outside, commonly having an acrylic type of finish but is different than a hard coat stucco system when you dissect the inner layers.

What is the difference between stucco and EIFS?

What is EIFS? Unlike traditional stucco that utilizes natural ingredients and mesh, External Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS) stucco uses layers that add in synthetic materials. The first layer is comprised of a polystyrene foam board. Then, that is followed by a fiberglass mesh and a finishing coat.

What does EFIS look like?

The finish coat on a EFIS synthetic stucco system often looks like traditional stucco but is only about 1/16 of an inch thick: the entire EFIS wall system assembly itself will range between 1 to 4 inches thick including, the foam board and the finish coat.

Is EIFS stucco still used?

Yet today, EIFS are still around. About 100 million square feet of EIFS went on new and remodeled homes last year, rivaling any other siding material.

Stucco and EIFS Inspection Tips

What years was EIFS?

EIFS has been in use since the 1960s in North America, first on masonry buildings, but since the 1990s the majority on wood-framed buildings.

Where is EIFS banned?

North Carolina has banned the so-called "barrier" variety of EIFS in new home construction, and Georgia plans to do the same in the fall, according to the NAHB.

Is EIFS more expensive than stucco?

Synthetic EIFS stucco is slightly more energy-efficient than old-school hard-coat stucco, offering better insulation, though it's more complicated and expensive to install. Hard-coat stucco holds up better to water, making it a good choice for areas with plenty of moisture.

Can EIFS stucco be painted?

On a side note, EIFS can be painted just like traditional stucco. Depending on the characteristics and appearance wanted, our professional commercial paint contractors use either top-quality acrylic latex paints or elastomeric coating systems.

What is the difference between Dryvit and EIFS?

Having a house with EIFS, also known as Dryvit, isn't the end of the world. EIFS isn't a disease; it's synthetic stucco. And even though your house may have been built using it, with knowledge and proper maintenance everything can be just fine. EIFS is an Exterior Insulation and Finish System.

How do you tell if I have EIFS?

The easiest way to identify synthetic stucco (EIFS) is by touching the material with your bare hand. When you touch the wall where the stucco is installed, it will feel like plastic. You can also knock gently on the wall. If it sounds hollow and thin, you have EIFS on your home.

Is all synthetic stucco EIFS?

Synthetic stucco is commonly referred to as Exterior Insulating and Finish System (EIFS). Homes with this exterior finish are often strikingly beautiful, offer great flexibility in home design, and provide energy savings.

What stucco looks like?

Allura offers an innovative approach to exterior stucco wall panels by providing fiber cement siding that looks like stucco. Fiber cement stucco is not technically a form of classic stucco, but it achieves all the surface-level glamour that typically draws designers to the traditional style of stucco.

Can you power wash EIFS?

A: First of all, do not use a pressure washer on a synthetic stucco surface. This type of finish, known as an exterior insulation finish system or EIFS, is a barrier-type system.

How can you tell the difference between stucco and concrete?

Concrete is made of cement, water and sand. Stucco is made of these ingredients as well, plus lime. One big difference between these two home exteriors is that when dry, stucco is breathable — it has tiny pores that allow water to evaporate from behind it so that moisture doesn't build up and cause rot.

How thick is EIFS stucco?

The total thickness of EIFS “Lamina” is generally 1/16” to 1/8” but can be thicker in areas of high-impact, by using high impact resistant mesh. Similar to stucco it is important to follow a proper design by a registered design professional or the EIFS manufacturer.

How long will EIFS last?

A. Dryvit EIFS are designed to last for the typical design life of a building. The actual longevity on any specific building will depend mainly on the building maintenance program. Some EIFS facades date back 50-60 years.

Can you recoat EIFS?

Introduction The appearance of EIFS walls can be quickly refreshed by applying an appropriate coating. BASF COLOR COAT is specifically formulated for EIFS. This 100% acrylic coating minimizes changes to existing finishes.

What is the problem with EIFS?

The problems with barrier EIFS cladding all stem from water intrusion. These problems include moisture accumulation in the wall cavity, subsequent wood damage and, in more advanced cases, mold growth and the infestation of pests such as carpenter ants or termites.

Does EIFS have wire mesh?

The Installation Process

Once the wire mesh is in place, the layer of stucco is applied above. Aside from giving the stucco a surface to attach to, the wire mesh also permits water within the structure to drain. On the other hand, EIFS uses a baseboard that is installed in the desired location.

Is EIFS waterproof?

Originally, EIFS were designed as a 'perfect barrier' system—one which provides waterproofing protection at the exterior face of the cladding. The idea of barrier cladding assemblies is to create a face-sealed façade that repels moisture to keep the building dry.

How common is EIFS stucco?

Today, the EIFS market segment is less than 5 percent for residential construction.

What is the difference between stucco and Dryvit?

Dryvit stucco is actually the name of a stucco manufacturer, not an actual stucco system specifically. Dryvit is the name of the stucco company and they have different stucco systems including 3 coat stucco systems, EIFS systems, decorative systems and more.