Tag Archives: insulation

What Are Geometrically Defined Insulation Boards?

Posted by Admin on February 12, 2011 None comments

A relatively new modification to modern Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS, or “Synthetic Stucco”) are what is called (geek alert) Geometrically Defined Insulation Boards. What exactly does that mean?

It’s a complex way of saying insulation with grooves cut into the back. The purpose of the grooves is to provide a way for water to drain out that gets behind the system. This helps to ensure that no moisture becomes trapped, causing mould or rot.

Why is this necessary? Well, it’s not if EIFS is installed by a skilled applicator, but was implemented to further assuage the fears of Architects. The problem is that even when the Architect properly specifies a system, General Contractors (and home owners) don’t always pay for true skilled applicators – and the applicators who charge less typically do so because they’re inexperienced. Less experience means higher chances of screwing up some part of an EIFS installation.

A popular argument against EIFS with drainage channels formed from cementitious adhesive (the grey streaks in the picture above) is that  the ribbons are flattened out once  the exterior insulation is pressed in place on the wall. The argument goes that if the ribbons are flattened, there is no longer any way for water to drain out if it gets behind the system. Unfortunately, there is an element of truth to the statement – I have seen insulation torn off walls as part of an inspection and observed a complete lack of drainage space because the insulation was pushed against the wall too hard.

If this was to happen, the weather-barrier that is required by EIFS manufacturers would help to protect against mould and rot problems. The majority of the time however, the vertical ribbons of adhesive stay in tact when the insulation is pressed in place (by a skilled applicator).

The Cause Of The Problem

As with all potential problems with skilled trades, it comes down to hiring the right contractor. Selecting the cheapest bid will not get you actual skilled applicators who know how install EIFS properly. This is the case with all skilled trades though, and not a problem exclusive to the EIFS industry. The problem is that every idiot GC or home owner brags when they get EIFS installed for $6 per square foot, when what they’re really doing is shooting themselves in the foot. The $6/sf “contractor” is typically an applicator who was in the industry for a couple of years and is willing to charge less because they won’t take the time to install the system properly. Whether that’s because they’re not aware of how to properly install EIFS or they just aren’t ethical people is another topic entirely. Other people hear about this then think that paying $6 per square foot for EIFS is the norm, and are shocked when something inevitably goes wrong. The few hundred or thousand dollars they save ends up costing many thousand in the long-run and in their ignorance they blame EIFS.

The purpose of the geometrically defined insulation boards is to help “idiot-proof” an EIFS installation. By creating a second layer of drainage that is difficult to clog up (in addition to the cementitious ribbons), the EIFS industry is essentially helping general contractors and home owners who are otherwise too ignorant to hire the right contractor. While the industry is aware I’m sure that someone out there is working hard to create a better idiot – it’s still a step in the right direction and will undoubtedly help a few projects.

Additional Thoughts

Notice that in the image above, the edges of the insulation board are also cut back so that there is additional means of drainage around the perimeter of the insulation boards as well as within it. Also note that this only works if the insulation boards are installed horizontally (how it’s being held in the picture) so that water can drain vertically down the cavities.

Some people have commented that cutting into the insulation reduces it’s R-value. Studies by the EIFS manufacturers have found the reduction in R-value to be negligible as less than 5% of the insulation is removed to create the channels.

What is Mineral Wool Insulation?

Posted by Admin on December 9, 2010 None comments

Mineral wool insulation is typically used on projects where there are non-combustibility requirements by code. Used in EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finish Systems) in lieu of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) for the fire-rating, it is more difficult to work with because of it’s spongey nature, and tends to require additional materials as well as time.

The most common supplier of mineral wool insulation on the Toronto market is a company by the name of Roxul. With a manufacturing plant in Milton – just off the 401, they are the preferred supplier for most of our projects. Due to the manufacturing process, individual fibres in the board are extremely tiny and may be considered a possible carcinogen to humans when exposed to over a long period of time (similar to asbestos) if they become trapped in the lungs. Once embedded into the wall with a base coat on one side and a weather barrier on the other, concerns about this are negligible. Care should be taken when removing or handling mineral insulation, and eyewear, gloves and a respirator are recommended.

We are able to accomodate toronto insulation projects where mineral insulation may be required due to non-combustibility requirements by code, whether it’s because of the proximity to another building or other reasons.

EIFS/Stucco On ICF

Posted by Admin on October 27, 2010 None comments

With rising concerns over global warming and energy efficiency, construction materials like EIFS (“stucco”) and ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) have become increasingly popular. Both incorporate varying thicknesses of insulation to decrease the amount of heat lost (during the winter) or gained (during the summer), thereby lowering the amount of heat that needs to be generated/removed. This not only means less fossil fuels are used, but that what you pay to heat and cool your home is decreased. While EIFS is seen in both new construction and renovations, ICF is primarily new construction, but the two products are not mutually exclusively. Actually, one of the larger EPS manufacturers in Toronto supplies the insulation for both products.

EIFS being applied on ICF

EIFS has been around for decades in various forms, while ICF has really only begun to take off in the last 10 years or so. EIFS newest form incorporates a weather barrier with drainage which has been shown to be the most effective at managing moisture, compared with any other cladding. ICF lacks the weather barrier and drainage channels to properly accommodate moisture that will at some point get into the wall.

So what is the correct method of applying EIFS to ICF? All joints in the ICF should be taped with EIFS mesh, and a full cementitious weather barrier applied. This surface should serve as the base of which to apply a full EIFS system including the insulation and vertical channels of adhesive. This provides a drainage layer to ensure the insulation will last as long as possible. ICF being styrofoam itself, one could even groove out vertical channels into the ICF forms through which moisture could drain out when placing your EPS board layer on top.

Adding another layer of insulation will increase the R-value, though typically not to an appreciable degree. ICF walls themselves provide more-than-adequate resistance to thermal transmission through walls. Ensuring that areas such as the roof is properly insulated, and windows are properly sealed would be an intelligent idea, as they would likely be the weak points on a home.

More often than not, what is typically done is to simply apply the mesh, basecoat and finish coat directly over top of the outer layer of insulation in the ICF. While the styrofoam used in the ICF is suitable to apply EIFS over, contractors should make sure it is free from dust, dirt and grease (it’s not uncommon to have dirty ICF forms). Doing this turns the EIFS into a barrier system as opposed to a Dual-Barrier, it will entirely lack a drainage layer which is the key to ensuring walls last as long as possible.

From a design standpoint, it would be simple to add stucco reveals right into the ICF itself as a unique architectural feature.

Stucco Insulation Materials: What Are Your Options?

Posted by Admin on March 6, 2010 6 comments

There are a variety of different types of insulation boards that can be used as the insulation in EIFS. By far the most common exterior toronto insulation is Type-I (1) EPS (Expanded PolyStyrene). This is the white insulation boards you typically see being installed, as well as what is found at hardware stores such as home depot. Most EIFS manufacturers require that the EPS be purchased from them when using their system, for a variety of legitimate reasons. The EIFS manufacturers purchase the polystyrene in bulk, and of a certain grade/quality. That being Type-I (1 pound per cubic foot), Virgin (no recycled content) and in 2′x4′ sheets of your specified thickness.

Polystyrene can be manufactured in a variety of densities (referred to as the “type”). Some can go as low as 0.5 pounds per cubic foot, meaning that they are half as dense as 1 pound per cubic foot – and offer much less insulating value. Some manufacturers sell lower densities because it is less expensive, and the average consumer is not aware that they are getting less insulating value for their dollar. On the other end of the spectrum, it is also possible to get denser styrofoam – Type-II or Type-III (2 lbs per cubic foot and 2.5 lbs per cubic foot respectively) which offer more insulating value per inch.

Why 2′x4′ sheets? Simply, they are easier to work with, and make the system more crack resistant by providing many points at which the system may make minor shifts without cracking the base coat or finish coat.

EPS R-Value

Generally, the Type-I polystyrene you get from an EIFS manufacturer offers an R-Value of 3.71 per inch. This becomes important when you are trying to achieve the maximum rebate from the Retrofit Rebate Program. The Retrofit Rebate Program will grant upwards of $3,750 for adding R-9 to the exterior of your walls – which EIFS does better than any other material. To get to R-9 from 3.71/inch, you require almost exactly 2.5″ (3.71 * 2.5 = R-9.275). It becomes very important to specify this to your contractor when soliciting quotes, because typically 1.5″ or 2″ is specified by default – which will only get you the $2,250 rebate. Generally, the price difference contractors will ask for to go from 1.5″ to 2.5″ is about $700-$800, but will get you an additional $1,500 in rebates. Well worth the investment.

Other Insulation Boards

Other types of insulation boards that are sometimes substituted for EPS when certain factors require them. For example, when adding insulation to the exterior of a wall, that is located between houses that are close together (like downtown Toronto) – one wants to minimize how far the insulation comes out from the wall. In this situation, a denser insulation such as XPS (Extruded PolyStyrene – pink or blue insulation) can be substituted.  While 1.5″ of XPS typically is enough to achieve R-9 insulation, contractors demand a higher price to install it as it takes a little more work and is itself more expensive to purchase.

Fire-Rated Insulation

Sometimes fire-resistance is an issue (particularly downtown, and especially on commercial projects). In this situation, Roxul Mineral Fiber Insulation can be used. While this is an option, it’s an expensive one and difficult to do correctly. Typically it is recommended that the fire-rating is achieved by the drywall/substrate by using Type-X Gypsum boards or Cement Boards and installing a regular, EPS EIF system over it.

As always, consult with the EIFS manufacturer before making any decisions to validate any information you find on this site, or that your contractor gives you.

EIFS Outperforms Other Claddings

Posted by Admin on February 15, 2010 None comments

ATLANTA, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ –

50 Year Product Life Tops in the Industry – Sustainable construction with Energy Efficiency

Sto Corp., the innovative world leading manufacturer of energy-efficient cladding systems and high performance architectural coatings, has released a life-cycle study of Sto engineered claddings systems showing they outperform other wall claddings over a full 50-year product life.

This new Life-Cycle Inventory (LCI) of wall cladding products was conducted to compare energy use and environmental impacts associated with several residential wall types. Three Sto Corp. cladding systems – StoTherm® NExT EIFS, StoPowerwall™ NExT stucco, and StoQuik® Silver NExT cement-board stucco – were analyzed and compared to typical brick and stucco walls, with and without foam insulation, for a typical residential property.

The LCI results demonstrated good life-cycle performance of the Sto cladding systems in terms of waste, emissions, and energy used in production, construction and building operations. In particular, StoTherm NExT EIFS claddings excel in reducing life-cycle energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions. Key findings included:

  • StoTherm NExT EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finish Systems) required the least production energy (manufacturing phase) of the insulated claddings. In the “cradle-to-wall” phase, StoTherm NExT also requires the least energy.
  • In operations, uninsulated brick and stucco consume about twice as much heating/cooling energy as StoTherm NExT.
  • Over the full 50-year life cycle, energy demand is lower for StoTherm NExT than for uninsulated brick or stucco.
  • All the Sto Corp. systems, including StoTherm NExT, contribute less solid waste than typical brick or stucco.
  • StoTherm NExT has the lowest total greenhouse-gas emissions.

“Using StoTherm NExT is the ideal way to clad a project that will perform efficiently and protect the way no other cladding can,” said David Boivin, President and CEO of Sto Corp. “The system approach of using EIFS plus a superior waterproof air barrier allows architects to confidently design a structure that is both energy efficient and durable.”

Copies of the LCI are available at: Sto Corp. LCI Report

About Sto Corp.

Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an innovative world leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management) as well as ISO 9001:2008 certified.

For more information, visit www.stocorp.com or call toll free (800) 221-2397 or (404) 346-0755. Follow Sto Corp. on Twitter as well as the Sto blog “Building with conscience” at http://www.buildingwithconscience.com/

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sto-corp-life-cycle-study-proves-eifs-outperforms-other-claddings-84236577.html

To find an toronto exterior insulation contractor, head over to the mainsite at http://TorontoStuccoContractor.com/