When EIFS was first introduced into the North American market in the late ’60s, there was skepticism about its performance. Designers and specifiers asked, “How well would such a lightweight wall cladding perform when subjected to the usual rigors that wall systems are exposed to?”
I’m going to stick my neck out a bit in this month’s column; it contains my opinions from a lot of experience. But in doing so, I hope it will help you. Over the years, I’ve heard a zillion tales about EIFS and a lot of them are not true. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice but I think you’ll agree with my secret observations.
This month, instead of having the column be a single topic, I’m going to have a lot of small topics. Most of these are things that I have seen or heard over the years; a compendium of bits and pieces of information about EIFS.
This is the first of a two-part series about common EIFS questions. My Web site www.eifs.com generates a lot of e-mail and phone inquiries. Usually they are basic questions from people looking to learn more about EIFS. Over the last 30 years of working with EIFS I’ve seen or heard of almost anything that can be done with EIFS.
This is the first of a two-part article on mechanical fasteners. This method of attaching the EIFS insulation has an interesting history. It is also different from the normal way of installing EIFS from a contracting standpoint, namely, screw guns and washers instead of plastering tools and adhesives.
I’m frequently asked to look at existing EIFS projects to assess their condition (as in a house sale) or to determine what’s causing some problem (as in the case of water leaks). A thorough analysis often requires cutting into the wall to see what is going on inside. Subsequently, the wall needs to be patched. And the patch needs to be done soon to keep Mother Nature out of the wall.
Several times a year, I get inquiries from companies that want to enter the EIFS business. Sometimes, it’s a big company wanting to set up a new division and it has the resources to do so. In other cases, it’s some small group with a brain-child idea, limited resources and lots of enthusiasm-and they usually think they’ve come up with a better EIFS.
An
EIFS finish coat is a textured, paint-like material. It’s usually made with
acrylic resins or a blend of acrylic resins and other resins, such as silicones.
The hardness of the coating and its textured surface make it susceptible to
getting dirty.
There are two basic ways of terminating the edge of an EIFS. One is by using the EIFS materials themselves, and the other is using some type of non-EIFS trim product, such as preformed plastic or metal pieces.