EIFS Appraisal

"Using EIFS siding assumes that moisture will not penetrate to the substrate.
In practice, however, water does penetrate, principally at the edges of wall
openings (e.g., doors, windows, decks, roof intersections), through jambs and
sills of window frames, and through cracks or chips in the siding itself. It
appears that even high-quality window frames allow moisture to penetrate the
siding, which is then contained between the surface of the EIFS system and
the underlying wood, gypsum, or OSB intermediate sheathing and the stud wall.
Even a small crack in the EIFS surface, resulting from hail damage or
wind-blown debris, provides a moisture entry pathway, and there is
unfortunately no consensus test method in the United States for EIFS impact
resistance. The EIFS industry itself admits that if "the likelihood of impact
damage is very high, it is probably a good idea not to use EIFS at these
locations.""

_The Performance of Exterior Insulation Finish Systems and Property Value_,
John A. Kilpatrick, Douglas C. Brown, MAI, and Ronald C. Rogers, PhD; The
Appraisal Journal, January 1999.

The article, written for property appraisers, states that owners of EIFS clad
buildings face significant potential value losses due to 1) present value of
future repair work, 2) present value of future increased maintenance cost and
3) stigma. The stigma factor is difficult to quantify and has to do with the
perceived value of the properties.

Distribution of use and EIFS stigma differs geographically. Ratio of
distribution varies geographically between residential and commercial
structures. Use of EIFS in America and Europe is significantly different. In
America application is mainly to stud walls whereas European application of
EIFS is mainly over solid masonry. It is difficult to make objective
comparisons between EIFS use, durability or perception in the two markets.

In Florida an estimated 25% of 100,000 homes built annually  are built with
EIFS. Significant information considering if the industry lacks data on
impact resistance.

Is EIFS really a better a better alternative than the aluminum trailer park
in the flood plain? I'll regress to the three little pigs and build with
brick and stone.

][<en Follett