EIFS Update: Pick the Right Substrate

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) are currently a popular choice as an exterior cladding system throughout the country for commercial construction and to a lesser extent, residentia l as well. While there are multiple manufacturers of EIFS, they a ll share the same basic make-up in that they are multi-layered exte rior wall systems combining continuous rigid insulation with a reinforced, field-applied finish. In that regard, they have been show n to provide superior energy efficiency, better moisture co ntrol, and offer much greater design flexibility than other cladding prod ucts. To be successful, however, the system must be desi gned and installed correctly, and just as importantly, it must be installed over an appropriate substrate on an appropriate wall s ystem. Lessons learned in the past decade or so from manufacturers, installers ,and architects reinforce the need to understand ho w all of the parts and pieces of a total EIFS wall system work together for energy and moisture control, aesthetics, economy, and