Exterior Insulation Finishing System
What Is EIFS?
Exterior Insulation Finishing System, more commonly referred to as EIFS, or sometimes simply as “Dryvit”, is a very popular exterior cladding system that uses rigid insulation board and a synthetic finish, to create a durable exterior cladding. It first appeared in the United States in the 1960s and has continued to grow in popularity over the years. EIFS now represents around 10% of the exterior cladding market in the United States.
Most of us have heard the horror stories surrounding the litany of lawsuits that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s where water was penetrating EIFS cladding systems resulting in mold growth. A lot was learned from those lawsuits and corrective actions were taken by the product manufacturers and the design community.
If designed and installed properly, EIFS is a highly effective cladding system and is cost-effective to install. According to The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2006 — EIFS "outperformed all other walls in terms of moisture protection while maintaining superior thermal performance”.
Besides the lawsuits of the 1980s and 1990s, the biggest knock on EIFS is that most systems that have been installed are fairly soft and prone to impact damage. Damage can occur from hail, kids throwing rocks, or any type of impact resulting in indents on the surface. Another common issue with EIFS is the build-up of algae and biological growth on the exterior surface, similar to what happens with stone cladding.
Maintaining & Repairing EIFS
The good news is that there are repair solutions to these problems. The key is knowing how to assess each problem and identify the proper repair method. It sounds simple, but there is quite a bit more to it than filling the dents with some sort of patching compound and painting over it. In some cases that may be acceptable, but in most cases, cutting the damaged chunk out and replacing it with new is the recommended repair process.
A quality elastomeric coating over EIFS can add waterproofing protection and significantly improve the appearance of the system. Hydrophobic elastomeric coatings are becoming a popular choice for this because they help repel water and algae growth on the surface.
The best advice if you are considering having your EIFS cladding repaired, make certain that your contractor has been trained and certified by the manufacturer to repair their system, so you know it’s done correctly and you get what you paid for.
