What are EIFS?

Exterior Insulation Finish System are multi-layered exterior wall systems that are used on both commercial buildings and homes.

Developed in Europe in the 1950's, EIFS were introduced in the U.S. almost 30 years ago.

Today, EIFS account for nearly 30% of the U.S. commercial exterior wall market. EIFS typically consist of the following components:

  1. insulation board, made of polyisocyanurate foam, which is secured to the exterior wall surface with a specially formulated adhesive and/or mechanical attachment.
  2. a durable, water-resistent base coat, which is applied on top of the insulation and reinforced with fibre glass mesh for added strength.
  3. an attractive and durable finish coat---typically using acrylic co-polymer technology - which is both colorfast and crack-resistant.

An EFIS surface generally does not leak unless it cracks or is physically damaged. Most other exterior sidings such as (brick and vinyl ), however, are expected to leak and are designed to allow water which "gets in" to "get out".

Some newer applications of EIFS are also designed like this, but most applications are not. As a result, water can become trapped behind the siding, which makes it important for homeowners to have the siding inspected and maintained.

Just like other forms of siding, EIFS is not maintenance free. Homeowners should plan to have the EIFS regularly inspected by a qualified inspector who will check for moisture intrusion and look for evidence of damage and adjoining caulk.

Period maintenance should include a through checking of the flashing and sealing to ensure that the building envelope remains watertight. Damaged or missing flashing should be repaired or replaced immediately. Likewise cracked or deteriorated sealants should be immediately repaired or removed and replaced.

In most all of the investigated cases, the EIFS surface did not leak. However, there were some application problems, improper or inadequate weatherproofing between the EIFS and other building materials, or leaking windows.

These problems resulted in allowing water to be trapped behind the EIFS surface.

That all depends on your insurance policy. Most insurance policies do not cover moisture damage which develops slowly over time. Please check with your insurance agent to be sure.