Comparing traditional stucco siding to EIFS
by author on Nov.15, 2009, under Uncategorized
Traditional stucco siding has been used in homes for many years till, sometime in the 1950s ,synthetic stucco siding was introduced. Synthetic stucco siding is popularly known as Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS),Traditional stucco is composed of cement, lime, sand and water. The mixture is applied in layers over wire mesh and finished with an acrylic-polymer finish to guard against cracking.
Synthetic stucco on the other hand is made up of layers of polystyrene insulation, fiberglass mesh and the synthetic stucco coating. The two look identical but one way to tell the difference is to simply push on eight.
Traditional stucco will be rigid while synthetic stucco will have some “give”.
Synthetic stucco was developed in Europe after the Second World War to repair and patch walls. Soon it was discovered that because of the multi-layering, ËIFS had superior insulating properties and was thus far more energy efficient. Because it is flexible, synthetic stucco lends itself to complicated shapes that cannot be attained by traditional stucco and, what is more, synthetic stucco does not fade or turn yellow.
Recently, there have been a host of problems reported with this so-called barrier EIFS. Barrier EIFS was originally developed for use in large buildings using masonry, steel and other non-wood structural materials. The problems began to arise when it was used for residential building that incorporated wooden beams and members and other wooden parts in their structural components. It was discovered that synthetic stucco blocks the flow of water and water vapour and can trap water from rain. This rainwater works its way through the coating and installation to the wooden surfaces causing problems with wood rot. Moreover, unlike traditional stucco that shows warning signs of water penetration and seepage, synthetic stucco shows no such signs until significant damage has already been caused.
Traditional stucco artisans had long discovered that you could apply traditional stucco to wooden surfaces provided you installed a water resistant layer of material such as treated felt paper as well as flashings around openings like doors and windows to redirect the water.
Manufacturers of barrier EIFS ignored these lessons and provided neither a water resistant layer nor flashings. Manufacturers are now beginning to offer so-called water management EIFS that mimic the construction and properties of traditional stucco. Traditional stucco has thus proved its superiority in wet or humid conditions.
If your house has been built using synthetic stucco, there is no need to panic.
Just take a few commonsense precautions and be vigilant about maintenance. Constantly inspect the surfaces including where it is used for decoration and especially after heavy rain or storms. Check for visible signs of damages on the surface and the seams. Never attach anything to the surface that could cause it to puncture be it mailboxes, signboards or planters. Make sure that the EIFS is not in contact with pools of water as water can be absorbed through the bottom of the wall. Be cautious about the use of sealant called on keeping in mind that while preventing water absorption, they also seal in water that has already been absorbed. If you feel that you require professional help, by all means call in an expert. EIFS is not designed to be a do it yourself kind of product.
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