I was involved with the creation of the brochure for using continuous insulation and cement plaster assemblies back in 2009. I saw the coming of the new energy code and understood there was still reluctance from a significant percentage of the design community to use EIFS. I have been accused of being anti-EIFS in my support of cement stucco and this brochure. The fact is that EIFS was developed in Europe specifically for a stucco look that provided needed benefit of energy savings. The 1970s energy crisis in North America opened the door for the introduction of EIFS to this side of the world. It is hard to argue against EIFS as the preeminent and obviously best CI system on the market. I firmly believe it is the best CI system on the market hands-down.
My intent of this brochure was to fill a need by designers and building owners to continue using our plastering contractors. The reality was that EIFS was still reeling from a past reputation, whether that reputation was warranted or not is irrelevant. Today, I still run into designers and general contractors who do not want to use the system. I learned long ago trying to force people, particularly designers, to use a product against their will simply does not work. With no fastener penetration through a cladding, what else could be a “true” CI cladding? If the designer, building owner or developer is dead set against EIFS, they must come to the realization of the truth on their own and at their own speed. The following real life story took time but provides an example of some good that can happen—if we are patient.