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.
EIFS in commercial buildings and structures accounts 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. In commercial construction, EIFS materials are applied to concrete block or masonry structures and to buildings that are built using steel. Moisture repair problems are almost non-existent in commercial projects using EIFS.
In more recent years, the ingenuity of EPS manufacturers like Tri State Foam has made it possible for the residential marketplace to enjoy the benefits of EIFS too. The new moisture-mitigation systems prevent moisture buildup, providing superior protection to the homeowner.
Characteristics of EIFS' Superior Moisture Control-Available at Tri State Foam
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.
In addition, Tri State Foam designs their EIFS products to allow for moisture run-off. Here is how it works:
- Asphalt felt is placed over the sheathing to prevent water from penetrating.
- Either a mesh or other medium is applied 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, or grooves/ridges are added 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.
- 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 supports Tri State Foam's approach to EIFS water-mitigation system as a superior 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.
Contact Tri State Foam today for the ultimate in moisture management available to today's builders.
1-800-277-0967.
Structural Insulation Panels
A SIP is a product that fuses a foam core, like expanded polystyrene, between two outer skins of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) to create a super-strong construction panel. They are used to construct exterior walls, roofs, ceilings and floors. Homes and buildings constructed from SIPs offer superior insulation qualities, exceptional strength, fast installation and a host of benefits to the environment.
These panels are available in a range of core thicknesses and densities. Additionally, they may employ wood and/or metal skins for increased durability and easy maintenance.
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.
The Benefits of Using SIPs
Superior Insulation
The foam core of a SIP provides higher insulation values than many other insulation materials used in traditional stud-wall construction. Because SIPs have fewer gaps - and because studs do not interrupt the insulation - homes insulated with SIPs have proven to be less drafty.
Also, because SIPs are comprised of solid insulation, they act as a barrier to sound better than homes made from traditional construction methods.
Owners of homes using SIPs may qualify for the EPA's Energy Star Home designation, given to homes that benefit the environment through reduced energy usage. Homes that are given this designation may qualify for lower-interest mortgages or other benefits.
Exceptional Strength
Since the finished panels are an integrated building product, literally acting as a structural component, they are able to withstand and even surpass typical loads caused by winds, snow and seismic activity. There have been many documented instances of houses constructed with SIPs having fared severe weather conditions with minimal damage.
Fast Construction and Finishing
SIPs are joined together quickly and easily. An experienced three-person crew can complete the panel erection of a standard 2,000-square-foot home in as little as one day and completely "dry-in" the SIPs in as little as three days. Because windows, door openings and roof gables can be precut within the SIPs at the point of manufacture, precision measuring and cutting at the job site are significantly reduced.
SIPs also make inside finish work easier to complete. Drywall goes up fast by affixing it to the interior OSB panel. Cabinets also are installed quickly since they can be bolted directly into the OSB panel and electrical distribution is easily accomplished by running electrical wire through horizontal and vertical chases that run inside of each panel.
Environmental Benefits
According to the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA), SIPs offer several benefits to the environment. Because SIPs effectively replace conventional stud-wall construction, fewer mature forest products need to be harvested. The outer OSB skins of SIPs are made from "engineered wood," that is manufactured from renewable, fast-growing trees. And because SIPs offer superior insulation qualities, heating and electric bills are reduced and the result is that fewer fossil fuels need to be burned.
Applications of SIPs
SIPs are available in a host of shapes and sizes and can be used to construct a variety of different residential and commercial buildings. SIPs applications include the following:
Timber- and Metal-Frame Buildings
There has been a rebirth in the popularity of timber- and metal-frame buildings due in large part to SIPs. These panels allow timber- and metal-frame buildings to be constructed quickly and affordably.
Cathedral Ceilings
SIPs are ideal for cathedral ceilings in log cabin or timber-frame roof applications. The panels are simply affixed to the exterior of the roof trusses, providing superior insulation. Shingles are then applied.
Custom Applications
SIPs can be made in many thicknesses and come in a variety of skin materials to meet different load span and insulation requirements. In many cases, window and door openings, gable end walls and plumb-cuts can be made in the factory according to specifications. This ensures ease of installation at the job site.
Cost Effectiveness of SIPs
When choosing between a home using SIPs versus a traditional construction method, quality is the chief reason structural insulation panels are chosen. In current market conditions, the costs of SIPs and traditionally constructed homes are comparable.
The added strength, quiet and insulation values that a SIP home offers is often seen as too expensive for many people. But the fact is, because of the efficiencies and ease of building a SIP home, the overall cost of building one is very competitive with more traditional construction.
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.
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF)
For decades, homes were built using a traditional stud-wall construction, but in recent years, an innovative EPS technology called ICF has been used to engineer homes to withstand the ravages of fire and hurricanes.
ICFs are hollow EPS forms that are erected at the construction site and then filled with five or six inches of reinforced concrete. Unlike traditional concrete forms, which are removed after the concrete cures, ICFs are left in place.
Because the concrete core is surrounded with EPS insulation, ICFs provide superior R-values and sound-deadening qualities. But because super-strong concrete is at the center, they also offer the strength to withstand the forces of nature that would normally destroy houses built using traditional building methods.
The engineers and technicians at Tri State Foam have worked to perfect the use of ICFs in homes and buildings. 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.
Outstanding Performance
ICFs offer several benefits to home owners, including:
Greater Comfort and Lower Energy Bills
ICFs are known for their high thermal performance. An ICF wall with four inches of Type II ASTM C578 polystyrene foam insulation, combined with a five-inch concrete wall, is rated above R-17 at test temperatures averaging 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Air barriers provided by EPS insulation and concrete eliminate convection currents and the high thermal mass of the concrete walls buffers the home's interior from extreme outdoor temperatures. The result is a 25 to 50 percent energy savings over traditional stud-wall or steel-frame homes.
Extremely Quiet
In sound transmission tests, ICF walls allowed less than one-third as much sound to travel through them as did ordinary frame walls insulated with fiberglass.
Super Durable
Due to the superior strength of concrete, ICF homes are able to survive hurricane and tornado winds. ICF homes are becoming very popular in Southern and Midwestern states, where hurricanes and tornadoes are more likely to strike.
Ease of Construction
ICF homes require fewer man hours to build than stud-wall construction. Once a construction crew is trained in the ICF installation process, homes can be completed much faster than stud and fiberglass wall constructions.
Greater Design Flexibility
ICF forms can accommodate tall walls, curved walls and large openings, as well as long ceiling spans, custom angles and cathedral ceilings.
Because foam is easy to cut and shape, it allows contractors to build curved walls and custom angles without worrying about structural load considerations. To achieve these designs with stud-wall construction requires a lot more cutting and finishing work.
Environmentally Responsible
Building homes with ICF can provide environmental benefits in a number of ways. ICFs minimize the use of lumber, which preserves trees. Homes built using stud-wall construction typically result in a lot of cutting and trimming and, consequently, are costly for the contractor.
Finally, the superior thermal performance provided by ICF homes significantly lower the energy requirements for heating and cooling, which saves money for the homeowner.
The Future of ICFs
According to the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA), ICF homes are easier to build, but there is a learning curve involved. More contractors and subcontractors are becoming familiar with the technology every day, while becoming more efficient at building ICF homes. As a result, the ICFA has noted a decrease in ICF labor costs. Over time, those costs will only continue to drop.
Two other factors will contribute to the moderating costs of ICF homes. First is the cost of concrete. According to the Portland Cement Association, the price of concrete has been fairly stable for the past decade, while other building materials, such as lumber, have risen considerably. Secondly, ICF design plans are getting more and more efficient.
According to the ICFA, EPS manufacturers and shape-molders like Tri State Foam should expect to see a tremendous increase in the production of ICF products.
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.
