Tag Archives: fibreglass mesh

EIFS Cracking Due to Lack of Mesh

Posted by Admin on February 7, 2011 None comments

Exterior Insulation Finish Systems incorporate a coated fibreglass mesh designed to allow flexibility due to expansion and contraction, and prevent the base coat and finish coat from cracking. In situations where the base coat and finish coat crack, water is able to get into wall system where it can and will go through freeze/thaw cycles – which over time, cause further deterioration of the EIFS. This mesh needs to be applied where ever there is a penetration or break in the EIFS, and over the entire surface of the insulation. In the image below it is apparent where the contractor decided not to apply the mesh, to save the “hassle” of cutting a small section where the soffit is.

You can clearly see the edges of the full 2′ x 4′ insulation board used in EIFS due to the fissuring of the base coat and finish coat over just a few years. Without the mesh to deal with the stresses and maintain the integrity of the coating, the base coat and finish coat have both cracked. While the location (a small corner of a soffit) is not likely to cause massive damage to the building because of moisture having a means of ingress, it’s both an eyesore and a potential problem nonetheless.

What was done correctly on the project was incorporating the drip edge. By extending the EIFS that makes up the wall slightly below the soffit, any water that runs down the wall is forced to fall to the ground instead of running along the underside of the soffit due to surface tension. This leads one to believe that the building was properly designed by the architect, and the fault of the improper installation lies on the contractor. Because this is just one building in a large commercial complex surrounding one of Toronto’s largest malls, one wonders if the other buildings suffer the same lack of proper care.

What is EIFS

Posted by Admin on May 19, 2009 None comments

What is EIFS? This is a question that is easy to answer, but difficult to show. Adex Systems (a manufacturer out of Montreal) has put together a FANTASTIC video showing what the basics of the EIFS system. The visual aspect of the video makes it much clearer what constitutes the various layers and what they look like.

Here is the video: http://www.adexsystems.com/video/Adexres-rs-en.htm.
And here is the overview and specifications for the system: http://documentation.adexsystems.com/index.php/eng/content/view/full/1271.

Note that most large manufacturers have an identical system using similar materials. Adex has just done the best job of clearly laying it out.

Also note that PVC mouldings are not very common, and more often for EIFS, stucco trim such as Decoramould is nearly always used.

Stucco Vs EIFS

Posted by Admin on November 3, 2008 4 comments

EIFS (pronounced “eefs”) stands for Exterior Insulation Finish System. The cladding is also referred to as “Synthetic Stucco”, “Acrylic Stucco” or just “Stucco” (the latter being ambiguous with plaster stucco). Although initially developed around the ’40s to retrofit war-torn WW2 buildings, it is among the newest and most attractive styles of cladding available to homeowners today. EIFS differs from traditional Stucco (cement) in that it is applied using different materials — in multiple layers, providing greater flexibility and benefits.

At Toronto Stucco Contractor, we only recommend and install EIFS. We believe that it is a superior system to cement stucco because it incorporates drainage to prevent mould, has insulation (in toronto insulation is important) and provides a more attractive finish.

So what are the differences between EIFS and traditional stucco (plaster)?

  • EIFS is softer and sounds hollow when tapped
  • EIFS has a finely textured finish coat
  • EIFS provides insulation and water management
  • Cement stucco is solid and cement-like
  • Cement stucco is typically rough and contains large swirls
  • Cement stucco may trap water behind the wall

Not a DIY (do-it-yourself) Project
Contrary to conventional wisdom, EIFS actually contains 4 layers:
- An Air/Moisture or Vapour barrier depending on the requirements of the building
- Insulation, fastened either chemically (using cement) or mechanically (using screws)
- A polymer-modified base coat with an embedded fiber glass mesh
- A beautiful, durable acrylic finish coat
While a skilled drywall plasterer may not find the various trowel-applied layers difficult, it takes a certain knowledge of the finer details to ensure the system is installed 100% correct.

The Long and Winding Road
In the past decade EIFS has come under fire for “moisture problems”. While the issues were real, the biggest problem was arguably the quality of the installations in a fledgling industry without any real guidelines or enforcement. EIFS Manufacturers were quick to update their “recommendations” and have gracefully pulled their industry out of a downward spiral. Among the changes are:

  • A continuous, trowel-applied moisture barrier which goes over the substrate to keep water/moisture away from the substrate
  • Removal of recommendations to use mechanical adhesive methods (screws) as it punctures the moisture barrier, thereby allowing moisture penetration
  • The use of flashing above windows and other openings and caulking around wall penetrations
  • The most dramatic improvement — the specification of a “drainage channel”. The styrofoam is adhered to the air/moisture barrier in vertical channels of cement; allowing water to drain out of the system.

The Verdict
There’s an old saying that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – and nowhere does this hold more true than in the EIFS industry. EIFS has undergone more scrutiny than any other cladding product and as a result has a mountain of research and technology backing it and supporting it. It still has a stigma to lose, but is currently a safe and attractive alternative to classical brick and mortar siding.