I get a lot of inquiries for free advice about EIFS. One of the most common is, "Can I do this with EIFS?" Sometimes, what they have in mind is pretty bizarre. From my perspective as an independent consultant, such questions are a bit like asking one car manufacturer if it's OK to change the design of one of their competitor's cars. The answer I often give is that I know that it will or will not work (if I do know for sure) but cannot OK doing it either way because it's not my product; I cannot speak on behalf of EIFS producers without their authorization.
Sometimes, the "can-I-do-this?" inquiry relates to a weird application for EIFS or changing the components of a commercialized EIFS into some sort of hybrid system, which in fact is not a real EIFS at all. So, if you get a bright idea about somehow modifying an EIFS, here is a list of things to consider before doing so.