Eifs Vs Stucco Siding

After this a fiberglass mesh is applied and then a finishing coat.

Eifs vs stucco siding.

Around the 1950s a synthetic stucco siding began to replace traditional stucco in some homes. Between eifs and traditional stucco traditional stucco is the superior solution. Traditional stucco siding is made from portland cement sand lime and water. Eifs is synthetic stucco siding.

The hollow sound indicates eifs due to the thinner base coat and insulation board while the solid sound can be attributed to the thicker solid stucco base coat and no insulation board caution pm eifs or hybrid stucco system can also produce a solid sound. Contractors found stucco to be a good repair choice for buildings damaged during the war. Eifs is an acronym for exterior insulation and finish systems the product is also called synthetic stucco and it refers to a multi layered exterior finish that s been used in european construction since shortly after world war ii. Eifs can work well in certain situations but will lead to mold build up or hidden water damage if not installed improperly.

Stucco dating back to the greeks and romans is composed of portland cement sand and water. Unlike traditional stucco eifs is applied in layers. Eifs does not provide the same dual layer of protection against water damage as stucco. The fiberglass layer provides more durability even against hard blows from weather.

It s strong and porous. Eifs is more flexible than traditional stucco as well so there is less cracking and crumbling as a result of shifting foundations or thermal expansion. Can t quite tell if the sound is hollow or solid. Traditional stucco is not prone to the moisture problems discussed below.

It is basically a layer of rock surrounding your home. With a well trained eye one will be able to differentiate the two in a matter of minutes. Eifs is notably lighter than traditional stucco however. Pros and cons of eifs siding.

Eifs is a relatively new cladding option that was introduced to the us in 1969. If conserving energy isn t benefit enough there s more. However eifs depending on the thickness of the insulation board can offer an r value between 4 and 5 6. First it includes a layer of insulation.

Secondly it offers even more finish options than stucco. Stucco the original hard coated fine grained cement is sturdier and more durable than eifs also known as synthetic stucco. First there is a layer of polystyrene board over which a synthetic stucco is applied. Eifs is not the same as stucco.

When you combine an eifs with insulation in the wall cavity you can achieve r values of about 16 or more.