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EIFS


EIFS

EIFS or Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems are an interesting exterior wall cladding that is used in both residential and commercial applications. Read on to find more about this alternative cladding material.

What is EIFS?

EIFS is a composite material which consists of:

  • exterior finish coat
  • water-resistant base coat
  • the base coat has a fibre glass mesh embedded into it for proving reinforcement
  • foam insulation
  • suitable adhesive to attach the assembly to the exterior wall substrate like plywood.
A graphic presentation of a standard EIFS assembly. This site is also good for a general overview of EIFS.

Advantages of EIFS

The major advantages of using EIFS are:

  • energy efficiency - EIFS provides insulation outside the exterior structure of a building. It forms a complete envelope around the building with foam insulation. So it reduces air infiltration and hence decreases energy consumption. Also there are no thermal break in the envelope of the building, further reducing the energy needed to heat a space.
  • design options - EIFS provides an immense variety of color, texture and design options. It can be carved and molded into any shape to provide a rich palette of details for a building like cornices, jambs, column keystones etc. EIFS looks like stucco but is far more versatile.
  • easy to maintain - Due to the products used in its manufacture, EIFS is resistant to fading and cracking. It also does not accumulate dirt, so it always looks freshly painted. Also, it is resistant to mold and mildew.

Disadvantages of EIFS

EIFS has certain disadvantages:

  • EIFS is not recommended as a DIY project. It needs skilled professionals to install a good quality EIFS cladding system.
  • This cladding is not very suitable for northern climates (or very cold climates) according to some sources.
  • It is also not as impact resistant as precast or masonry.

Installing EIFS

Although not recommended as a DIY project, here are very detailed construction diagrams for all possible locations of EIFS.

Maintaining EIFS

Maintaining EIFS is relatively easy. The only point where problems can occur are window sills, flashings etc from where leakage can occur. So these locations should be checked regularly.

Manufacturers of EIFS

Here is a handy list of manufacturers that can be contacted for your EIFS needs:

Next time, the discussion will focus on Vapor Barriers, a very important component of every building. So see you then.

The copyright of the article EIFS in Building Construction is owned by Shefali Kumar. Permission to republish EIFS in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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