Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) are wall systems composed of several layers that are used in the construction of residential and commerical buildings. It is a popular type of wall cladding due to its cost effectiveness, energy efficiency and insulating properties. The wide variety of design options they provide also appeals to people.
EIFS was originally developed in Europe and introduced to North America in the 1960’s. Today it makes up about 30% of the commercial exterior wall market in the United States. Basic EIFS consists of three layers of material that are applied in the following order:
-Insulation board made of polystyrene foam. This is attached to the substrate with and adhesive and sometimes also fasteners.
-A layer of cementitious base coat, which is reinforced with fiberglass mesh that is embedded into it. The mesh comes in different weights that provides different levels of resistance to impact.
-Finish coat is applied on top. This contains color which comes in countless shades and cannot be scratched off. It is also available in a variety of textures. Within the finish coat are polymers that prevent cracking of the surface.
Additionally a drainage system may be added to the wall to allow water to escape and prevent damage from moisture.
