How long does Dryvit last?

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.

How do you maintain Dryvit?

A small investment in maintaining your Dryvit system pays in the long-term appearance and protection of your home. With an investment as important as your home, we recommend that you inspect the finish and sealants twice a year and clean the surface thoroughly at least once every five years.

What is the most common problem with Dryvit stucco?

The most common problems with Dryvit stucco are caulking and sealing issues that go unnoticed over time. This leads to serious mold issues that can get into the building structure and cause costly damage, as well as causing medical issues for residents.

Does Dryvit need to be sealed?

Contact Dryvit for information. Maintaining a weathertight seal around windows and doors is very important for any exterior cladding, whether it's clapboard, shingles, stucco, brick or a Dryvit system.

How long should synthetic stucco last?

Most newer homes with exterior stucco have an acrylic-polymer finish, which will expand and contract with the weather. This keeps cracks to a minimum and means the stucco can easily last up to 50 years before needing to be repaired.

Discussing Sto, Dryvit, EIFS and Stucco

What's the difference between Dryvit and stucco?

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.

Why do insurance companies not like EIFS?

A great deal of insurance coverage disputes arose over the years due to the tendency of EIFS to trap water behind a building's walls. As a result, many insurers implemented an EIFS exclusion in commercial general liability policies barring coverage for property damage that results when EIFS is used in construction.

Is Dryvit waterproof?

A. The Dryvit Weatherlast products include a waterproof elastomeric coating and primer for use over exterior concrete, masonry, stucco and exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).

Do you have to paint Dryvit?

In the past, if you were asked about painting Dryvit stucco, the answer was a big NO. However, today you can most definitely paint Dryvit stucco.

Is EIFS and Dryvit the same?

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 fix cracks in Dryvit?

ALTERNATIVE REPAIR METHOD

1. Insure that the existing finish coat is clean, dry, and firmly bonded to the base coat. 2. Apply Freestyle® finish or NCB™, in conjunction with reinforcing mesh, onto newly installed insulation board and overlap onto existing finish coat a minimum of 2 1/2 in (64 mm).

How long should stucco last?

Stucco is a very durable finish material with a typical life span of 50-80 years or more. Although it is one of the most durable surfaces available, it also features the lowest annual maintenance cost when compared to other siding materials. Stucco is a natural material consisting of an aggregate, a binder, and water.

Should I avoid stucco homes?

Stucco can tolerate moisture and expansion only up to a certain point. It is not as good as brick veneer or vinyl siding for keeping water out of the exterior walls of your house during periods of heavy rain. It will repel water well in average climates, but it may not be recommended in extremely rainy areas.

Can you power wash synthetic stucco?

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 often should you paint EIFS?

The systems also are easy to maintain. EIFS rarely need painting. Most are specially formulated with a 100-percent-acrylic binder, which helps EIFS resist fading, chalking and yellowing. As a result, most systems tend to maintain their original appearance over time.

Can you paint over EIFS?

Painting or recoating EIFS is normally unnecessary unless a color change is wanted or unusually stubborn stains cannot be removed. EIFS buildings should not be painted like most surfaces.

Should synthetic stucco be painted?

Many of our customers ask, “can you paint acrylic stucco?” The answer is yes! Perhaps the confusion is due to the many different types of stucco and stucco systems out there, as well as the multitude of different names used to describe this family of exterior siding.

What kind of paint do you use on EIFS?

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 better EIFS or stucco?

The fiberglass layer provides more durability, even against hard blows from weather. EIFS is notably lighter than traditional stucco, however. It is 80-percent less heavy than stucco, but it has a higher R-value, coming in between 4 and 5.6, which is notably higher than the 0.20 R-value of regular stucco.

Is Dryvit synthetic stucco?

The product called Dryvit is a type of synthetic stucco that is applied as a final coat to another stucco system, such as EIFS, to keep water from penetrating the other layers of the wall.

What is Dryvit coating?

An Acrylic Co-Polymer, Water-Resistant Base Coat and Adhesive.

What is wrong with synthetic stucco?

Severe Synthetic Stucco Problems

Delamination, which is synthetic stucco detaching from your home's exterior. Rotting of wood beams and trim. Mold and mildew growth, both on interior walls and beneath on the home's base walls. Infestation of termites and other moisture seeking insects.

How can you tell the difference between real stucco and synthetic stucco?

Real stucco should sound solid and feel solid like concrete. Touching real stucco could wind up cutting your hand, so be careful when inspecting the material installed on the exterior of your home. Synthetic stucco is more brittle and less durable than real stucco.