EIFS/Stucco

[Michael J. Merino]

I am wondering if there is a way to tell if it is EIFS or stucco? I am looking through my resources and can't seem to find my notes. Any help would be appreciated.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by mmerino

I am wondering if there is a way to tell if it is EIFS or stucco? I am looking through my resources and can't seem to find my notes. Any help would be appreciated.

Rap on it with your knuckles and you will know.

[Michael J. Merino]

I assume that a "hollow" sound is EIFS? Is that the only way to tell?

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by mmerino

I assume that a "hollow" sound is EIFS? Is that the only way to tell?

Yes and drilling a hole will confirm it.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

EIFS = sorta like styrofoam. You'll be able to tell

[Barry Adair]

Dallas, TX EIFS, Stucco and Siding Inspector advises searching his website http://www.adairinspection.com/EIFS-...Inspection.php

Thanks Michael, fixing the dead link today hopefully

[Michael J. Merino]

Originally Posted by badair

many previous posts on this topic try Search or
scroll this http://www.adairinspection.com/EIFS-...Inspection.php

Thanks Barry. Good info.

This link does not work http://www.apexhomeinspections.biz/a...FS%20guide.pdf

[Michael J. Merino]

Good pics.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

I'll post these for reference (from the InterNACHI EIFS course now being edited for release) but since I was working and didn't actually complete the course I won't comment on them.

[Linas I. Dapkus]

I've seen stucco over Durarock (photo#2) used for indoor walls for an indoor pool but that is not EIFS as Barry clarified- EIFS has a foam backing. That's how it gets its name.

[Rick McCullough]

Looks like GRAY STUFF to me. Yep, looked again definitely GRAY STUFF,

[relliott]

Mike it is EIFS like the stuff they coat Walgreen's with.
You can push your finger through it.

Stucco feels hard like a plastered wall with real Lath.

[Jennifer Harris]

Comparing and Contrasting Hard Coat Cement Plaster (Stucco) and Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS)

A case study in enhanced performance

EIFS/Stucco White Paper
2007

Introduction:
Architects, builders and owners have options when choosing a wall cladding. Among those options are two
cladding choices that are often compared to each other-cement plaster (stucco) and Exterior Insulation and
Finish Systems (EIFS). While there are some similarities between stucco and EIFS, there are also significant
differences. There is also confusion. It is important to remember that stucco and EIFS are two different
claddings. In recent years EIFS has come to be referred to as “synthetic stucco”. This term is not accurate.
Simply stated, EIFS is not stucco, and stucco is not EIFS. This white paper is designed to help you better
understand the similarities and differences, as well as strengths and weaknesses of stucco relative to EIFS.

The differences between the claddings:

Stucco

is an exterior cladding that is applied wet in several stages and is typically comprised of metal

reinforcement (lathing), cement, sand, and lime. Stucco is mixed on site and applied in one to three coats.

Newly applied stucco is considered “hot” and is highly alkaline. Stucco’s total thickness can range from as little

as one-half inch (16mm) to seven-eighths inch (24mm) including the final decorative finish coat. Stucco is

typically painted. When installed properly stucco should be allowed to cure for about 28 days; and between
each coat, a fine mist of water should be applied to the wall to prevent cracking. These steps may be modified
depending on climate and application conditions.

EIFS

is also applied in several stages, and some wet materials are used. While a variety of EIF systems are

available, the most widely used system sold in North America is comprised of insulation board that is adhesively

applied to a substrate with one or two layers of a thin base coat. Reinforcing mesh is included in each layer,

giving the cladding extra strength. Importantly, cure times range from 6 to 24 hours. The applications need to

be dry prior to moving onto the next step. A final textured finish coat is applied to the prepared base coat. This
matrix of mesh, base coat and finish is referred to as the EIFS Lamina. Total thickness of the lamina will range
(depending on finish coat thickness) from three thirty-seconds of an inch to one-eighth inch (3 to 5mm). EIFS
materials are prepared in factory conditions against rigid quality control standards to assure purity, consistency
and high quality. On site mixing is restricted to the addition, in small quantities, of Portland Type II or I cement to
the base coat mixture. EIF systems are based on advanced acrylic technologies - the same chemistry used in
aviation, automobiles, and glass laminating industries.

So what are some of the claims commonly made about stucco, and how does EIFS compare in those

measures?

Stucco is one of the worlds’s oldest proven exterior wall systems.

Stucco is certainly one of the world’s oldest wall products. And there is a lot to be said for an old building

technology. However, when it comes to construction, old is not necessarily better. Modern buildings work

better thanks to new technologies. The development of lightweight, non-load bearing exterior walls is just
one example, and EIFS represent the ultimate in lightweight, highly insulated wall claddings. EIFS is an
engineered wall system

that employs more recent design and building technology innovations. EIFS is also

proven, having been successfully applied to more than 400,000 buildings of all shapes and sizes in just the last

50 years.

Stucco is more durable

Stucco is impact resistant, provided it is specified and installed properly. However, due to a lack of conformity

and consistency, stucco durability can vary widely depending on the types of lathing materials used and on-site

mixing of wet materials. In other words,

not all stucco is created equal. In tests conducted by the NWWCB,

(Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau) variations in the application and mixing of stucco related to a variation in

impact resistance of +/- 50-75%. Specifiers must rely on acceptable industry standards and enforce those

standards on the site during application. Because standards will vary by locale, the specifier would be wise to

consult a local plastering bureau.
An EIF system has excellent impact resistance, provided it is specified and installed properly. EIFS impact
resistance is derived from multiple layers of fiberglass reinforcing mesh that are installed in successive layers
within the base coat mixture. The EIFS industry has certain minimum standards for impact resistance based on
the wall’s location and intended use. EIFS impact resistance will vary based on the mesh used. The specifier
should consult the individual manufacturer and should describe in the specification how impact resistance would
be judged equal to the brand he/she is specifying.

Stucco helps insulate the home or building

The energy savings in an EIFS building are significant. Homes and commercial structures clad in an EIFS

product help insulate on average 30% better than other standard cladding options, including stucco, brick, or

metal. Why? Plain and simple, insulation is a part of EIF systems. The design principles employed in Dryvit EIF
systems stop thermal shock at the outmost plane of the exterior wall. Stucco does not have the same capacity
to effectively stop thermal bridging as EIFS.

According to studies performed by the Oak Ridge National

Laboratory (ORNL) Dryvit EIFS had a whole wall R-Value of 12.9 compared to just 4.91 for stucco walls

in identical laboratory settings.

Clearly, EIFS is a vastly superior insulator to stucco.

Stucco is easy to work with and offers more design and outcome flexibility

There are significant differences between stucco and EIFS regarding workability. For example, stucco weighs

10-14 lbs. per square foot compared to only about 2 lbs. per square foot for EIFS, making EIFS one of the

lightest weight commercially viable claddings to work with. The lightweight properties of EIFS has other benefits
beyond just workability, including reducing the weight (and associated costs) of structural members. Also,
because

stucco has higher expansion and contraction rates, more control joints must be used in stucco

compared to EIFS. The incorporation of control joints increases construction and maintenance costs and can

increase the cladding’s susceptibility to water penetration. Finally, while the exterior preparation for stucco and

EIFS are identical, EIFS offers a broader array of finish options and a more exact color consistency than stucco.

Stucco is economical

Wall claddings need to be judged against several standards when cost is considered. These include

installation time, maintenance over the life of the cladding, and reduction of HVAC costs. While

installation costs will vary from region to region, it is vitally important that cost be evaluated by more than
simply installed cost. When the energy savings derived from EIFS, the less time required to install the
EIFS/Stucco White Paper
2007
system, and the reduction in more costly structural members are factored into the equation EIFS has
proven its value time and time again.

Stucco is a natural, green building product

When assessing the green benefits of building products it is essential to look at the full life cycle – from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing,

to transportation, to use and re-use. There are

sources out there to evaluate these factors with
third-party clarity. The National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) offers
software called BEES (Building for Environmental
and Economic Sustainability) version 4.0 that
evaluates the green characteristics of more than
230 building products.

That data demonstrates

that Dryvit EIFS offers a substantially smaller

carbon footprint than stucco over the full life

cycle of the product

. As the chart at left clearly

demonstrates,

Dryvit EIFS has a carbon footprint

that is more than two and half times smaller than

stucco

over the life cycle of the products.

The data is overwhelming that Dryvit EIFS is a

greener building option than stucco. The NIST

analysis measures the products by 14 metrics in the software and EIFS consistently fares better than

stucco in each measurement.

Stucco is a sustainable building product

Stucco is, with the exception of the important metal lathe component, a natural product. But with Dryvit EIFS

and the DryvitCARE program you have a product that never has to be recycled. The DryvitCARE program, a

systematic care and maintenance program, ensures the long-term performance of the building’s exterior by
diagnosing and repairing potential issues in the wall before they become problems, and providing the building
owner with a renewable warranty. With DryvitCARE you get a building material that will never need to be
recycled.

Stucco offers great aesthetic value

Here there is no comparison. Stucco comes with a standard look that is typically altered only by paint. EIF

systems come with numerous textural and color options that are not available in the traditional stucco system.

With EIFS you can get a wall that looks like brick, limestone, granite and aged Italian plaster, in addition to all of
the cementitious, stucco-like options.
In sum, there

are significant differences between stucco and EIF systems. Before making a cladding selection

all factors should be considered and a design professional consulted.

For more information of Dryvit EIFS visit us on the web at

www.dryvit.com

[Nick Gromicko]

Our online video EIFS/Stucco course will be released within a week (I think). It was shot at this class: http://www.nachi.org/stucco2008.htm

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Nick, InterNachi's online training is terrific! Can't wait to see the upcoming course.