Exterior Insulating and Finish Systems (EIFS)

For 30 years, the stucco-like appearance of EIFS has given commercial buildings high curb appeal, broad design and color flexibility, low maintenance and durability, and high energy efficiency.

In more recent years, the residential marketplace has begun enjoying the benefits of EIFS, too, but only after a problem was identified and ultimately overcome by the ingenuity of EPS manufacturers like Tri State Foam.

It was discovered that moisture was passing through windows and door openings of EIFS-applied homes and becoming trapped behind the EIFS protected exterior; in some cases the moisture caused wall studs and sheathing to rot.

The solution was that many EIFS manufacturers, including Tri State Foam, developed moisture-mitigation systems that effectively prevent moisture buildup on the rare occasions that dampness makes its way behind the EIFS exterior.

The engineers and technicians at Tri State Foam can help you in deciding which EPS product is best for your construction needs. Our experience and custom engineering services will assure you a cost effective application of this smart innovation. Together, we will assist you in the formation of design ideas for all types of EPS applications.

Commercial EIFS Applications

EIFS in commercial buildings and structures account for more than 95 percent of all applications that use the EIFS-clad systems. Virtually no moisture problems have been found to occur in these buildings; they are almost always seen in EIFS systems in homes.

There are two reasons for that.

Number one, in commercial construction, EIFS materials are applied to concrete block or masonry structures and to buildings that were built using steel. These materials do not absorb moisture. The second reason is that commercial applications generally use higher-quality construction practices than those used in residential buildings. The result is that moisture repair problems are almost non-existent in commercial projects that use EIFS.

Characteristics of EIFS and Moisture

A traditional EIFS exterior wall is comprised of EPS foam, fiberglass mesh and a cement-like stucco material. The first step in creating an EIFS exterior is to glue a layer of EPS foam directly onto the sheathing of a house or commercial building. Then, a base-coat of cement is applied, followed by fiberglass mesh and a finish coat of cement. This type of system is called a face-sealed barrier EIFS. It resists water penetration at its outer surface.

But what happens if door openings and windows are of poor quality and allow water to penetrate them? What happens if the EIFS windows and door openings are not properly caulked and sealed? According to many experts, moisture may then be able to penetrate these areas and get trapped behind the wall. The result is water can get into the wood sheathing and the foam insulation and that causes rot to set in.

According to the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA), a national trade group, third-party investigators found that in the instances where moisture problems did occur with EIFS, poor quality construction practices and sub-par materials were the cause.

The reality is that the entire wall surface of an EIFS home is unlikely to experience moisture damage. In fact, moisture damage is almost always limited to areas directly adjacent to or under windows.

Moisture-Drainage EIFS Solved the Problem

Tri State Foam and other EIFS manufacturers have since redesigned their EIFS products to allow for moisture run-off. Here is how it works:

• 1) Asphalt felt is placed over the sheathing to prevent water from penetrating.
• 2) Some EPS manufacturers apply a mesh or other medium directly over the building paper to create an opening between the sheathing and backside of the insulation board through which water can escape to the outside. Other makers have added grooves or ridges to the EPS foam to allow water to pass to the bottom of the wall. Tri State Foam can use either method, depending on the needs of each project.
• 3) Metal flashing is placed at the bottom of the wall, around windows and doors and any other place where the synthetic stucco abuts something that is not stucco. The flashing catches the water and channels it to the outside of the EIFS wall through weep holes.

Comprehensive testing by various third-party bodies supports the EIFS water-mitigation system as an effective means to prevent moisture build-up.

• Water-managed EIFS-clad walls performed effectively and efficiently have been seen to handle any water that penetrated the system in tests.
• The water-managed systems worked even when sealant around the windows was made to fail completely. The EPS located below the windows in this scenario contained no significant amount of moisture.
• Any moisture that remained in the system was effectively kept from moisture-sensitive materials by the sheathing membrane.

After years of tests, the EIMA believes that if a contractor properly installs a water-managed drainable EIFS system in a home according to manufacturer's specifications, there should be no water or moisture problems.

Put Tri State Foam's Experience to Work for You

Tri State Foam has parlayed its three decades of experience working with EPS products into being one of the EPS industry's top manufacturers and distributors.

By providing outstanding service and fostering partnerships with our customers, Tri State Foam is now the preferred EPS maker for many contractors and building material distributors.

Our Martinsville, VA manufacturing facility is designed to produce EPS insulation for use in exterior insulating and finish systems (EIFS), structural insulation panels (SIP) and insulating concrete forms (ICF). In addition, Tri State Foam makes EPS for use in cold storage facilities, flooring, below grade foundations, buoyancy systems, custom products and is a top producer of geofoam, as well.

Call us today at 1-800-277-0967 and see why Tri State Foam should be your go-to company for all your EPS insulation needs.