If you are looking into stucco installation for your home or business property, one of your initial questions might be what is EIFS stucco?
External Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS) stucco, also known as synthetic stucco, consists of layers with… well, synthetic materials added to it. When it comes to synthetic stucco, the layers are made up of a polystyrene (that’s a fancy term for versatile plastic) foam board, fiberglass mesh and a finishing coat.
At Stucco Contractors Staten Island, we believe in open communication and complete honesty with our customers. It’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to succeed in this business for so long, and will continue to. When considering a stucco installation, our customers naturally always ask us to go over EIFS vs stucco that is considered traditional.
Let’s break it down for you right now. We offer and have worked with both EIFS stucco and traditional stucco. We couldn’t claim to be stucco experts otherwise!
Traditional stucco is of course a siding material that adds a textured finish to walls and surfaces. It consists of cement, sand, lime, and water. EIFS stucco is made up of layers of synthetic materials. The layers can even be customized to include such features as a water-resistant barrier.
At Stucco Contractors Staten Island, we have found that EIFS is becoming more and more popular with property owners because it can be more customized for their needs to provide even more protection from environmental elements and increased insulation than traditional stucco. For those of you reading this, who are wanting to keep eco-consciousness forefront in your mind at all times when making decisions about your property, EIFS siding is truly the option for you.
In addition, EIFS is hands down a more flexible and pliable material, so your property experiences less crumbling and cracking due to natural occurrences like a shifting foundation and thermal expansion. EIFS is also considerably lighter in weight than its traditional counterpart and has a higher R-value. (An R-value is calculated by how much an insulating material resists the flow of heat. Thus, the higher the R-value, the better, stronger and more durable the insulation).
Let’s have a closer look at why the layers of our EIFS system are so unique:
A sound proof boundary. This goes over the base of your property’s exterior.
A plane for drainage. This layer is essential as it lets us reduce any unwanted moisture right out of the gate, before it has the chance to get inside your property’s exterior.
An insulation board. This board is made up of the aforementioned polystyrene and an adhesive keeps it secured in place.
Fiberglass mesh layer. This reinforced layer is embedded into the base coat.
Sound proof base coat. This layer is also impact-resistant to weather and other environmental elements.
Finishing coat. Consisting of acrylic-polymer, this final step protects against naturally occurring cracking and crumbling.
We’d go against our own ethics if we didn’t also explain some of the considerations you must factor in to your decision to go with EIFS installation:
Installing EIFS stucco is more complicated and takes longer than traditional stucco.
We highly recommend that EIFS be installed by one of our expert stucco contractors. Not heeding this advice by doing the installation yourself or relying on an amateur, can end up costing you more in the long run.
EIFS cost more than traditional stucco. It is also more difficult to customize in terms of desired design.
Contact our team today. We offer a free, no obligation consultation. We will give you our experienced and professional opinion on which stucco is best for your property, your needs and your budget.