What you should know
The important thing to remember about exterior claddings is that ALL types of sidings can leak. The skin or siding of a structure is not a water proofing system, but a water shedding system. The difference with some of the EIFS "barrier" systems is the moisture is "trapped" and not able to dry out or escape to the atmosphere like other cladding systems. Newer water managed or "drainable" EIFS systems have a drainage plane similar to house wraps and are also designed to allow water to ecape or exit the system before it can do damage to the underlying materials.
The good news is that we can help you identify your EIFS system , evaluate the current condition and design a management or warranty plan for the future protection of you home. As Certified Moisture Warranty Inspectors we can help you increase the value and confidence in the EIFS clad home you own or are looking to purchase. For more information on the EIFS WARRANTY PROGRAM visit: www.moisturefreewarranty.com
The Positives
Did you know that EIFS clad homes are up to 20% more energy efficient that other cladding systems?
EIFS literally wrap the exterior in an energy-efficient thermal blanket. By insulating outside the structure, EIFS reduce air infiltration, stabilize the interior environment and reduce energy consumption.
By contrast, traditional "between-the-studs" insulation, no matter how thick, leaves "thermal breaks" -- gaps where heat and cold pass more freely between the outdoors and the space within -- at studs, wall outlets, wall joints, and elsewhere.
In fact, EIFS can reduce air infiltration by as much as 55% compared to standard brick or wood construction. And since walls are one of the greatest areas of heat and air conditioning loss, improvement in the wall insulation can be very meaningful in terms of energy conservation.
What's more, EIFS adds to the "R-value" of a home or building. (R-value is a measurement of the resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the better the material's insulating value.) Most EIFS use insulation board with an R-value of R-4 to R-5.6 per inch as the innermost layer in the wall system. When combined with standard wall cavity insulation, this extra layer can boost wall insulation from R-11 to R-16 or more.
The good news is that we can help you identify your EIFS system , evaluate the current condition and design a management or warranty plan for the future protection of you home. As Certified Moisture Warranty Inspectors we can help you increase the value and confidence in the EIFS clad home you own or are looking to purchase. For more information on the EIFS WARRANTY PROGRAM visit: www.moisturefreewarranty.com
The Positives
Did you know that EIFS clad homes are up to 20% more energy efficient that other cladding systems?
EIFS literally wrap the exterior in an energy-efficient thermal blanket. By insulating outside the structure, EIFS reduce air infiltration, stabilize the interior environment and reduce energy consumption.
By contrast, traditional "between-the-studs" insulation, no matter how thick, leaves "thermal breaks" -- gaps where heat and cold pass more freely between the outdoors and the space within -- at studs, wall outlets, wall joints, and elsewhere.
In fact, EIFS can reduce air infiltration by as much as 55% compared to standard brick or wood construction. And since walls are one of the greatest areas of heat and air conditioning loss, improvement in the wall insulation can be very meaningful in terms of energy conservation.
What's more, EIFS adds to the "R-value" of a home or building. (R-value is a measurement of the resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the better the material's insulating value.) Most EIFS use insulation board with an R-value of R-4 to R-5.6 per inch as the innermost layer in the wall system. When combined with standard wall cavity insulation, this extra layer can boost wall insulation from R-11 to R-16 or more.