Caulking around
EIFS is different from caulking a house with wood siding, Williams said.
In September, the International Code Council incorporated specific standards regarding the use of
EIFS into the 2009 International Building Code and International Residential Code.
Ann Hickman, senior research analyst at the International Risk Management Institute, says that to her knowledge, AIC is the first company of its kind specifically for
EIFS installers.
Because these plaintiffs must show that
EIFS would have caused problems even if it had been installed correctly, these claims are more costly and difficult to pursue.
Recently the
EIFS industry began using alternative substrates and application methods to address moisture problems.
"The first
EIFS home I looked at was a total loss," says Golden.
EIFS consist of a layer of foam insulation, which is attached to a supporting wall, and a thin, reinforced synthetic coating system.
Indeed, some carriers have stopped insuring
EIFS jobs altogether, while others have raised premiums to prohibitive levels, forcing some contractors to forgo
EIFS in favor of stucco or other types of wall cladding.
Construction, a local plastering contractor, was hired to apply some 43,700 square feet of a mauve-colored exterior insulation and finish system (
EIFS) over the existing brick facade.
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (
EIFS) were developed in Europe 50 years ago, and have in the last three decades become a more popular option for both commercial and residential facilities in the United States.