If there is one aspect of EIFS-clad walls that causes more consternation than any other, it’s probably joints. “Joints” means the interface between EIFS and adjacent materials, and between EIFS and itself. The joint areas are virtually always where water gets in; it isn’t through the main “field” of a blank EIFS wall. It’s also often an area where cracks occur, if joints are left out.
Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of where joints need to be used, or at least where one needs to consider using them. This list is summarized below, and is especially useful for passing on to whoever is responsible for designing and locating joints in EIFS-clad walls.