Water Intrusion Update - Just the Facts...
For some time now, the EIFS industry has suffered criticism as a result of well publicized water intrusion problems that are not caused by the EIFS product nor its installation, but by the installation of key construction details that must be in place before the exterior cladding is attached.
The National Association of Home Builders, acknowledges that moisture intrusion is a symptom of poor construction practices, rather than a issue related to a particular product. In a builders guide alert, NAHB acknowledged that moisture intrusion is a potential threat to every home, regardless of the cladding used, if moisture entry points are not properly sealed, flashed, and caulked.
According to a study conducted by Williams Building Diagnostics and presented by the NAHB Research Center, residential water damage has occurred on wood frame homes clad with EIFS on average as follows:
45% damage from windows
30% damage from kickouts
10% damage from decks
9% damage from chimneys, doors, penetrations
6% damage from EIFS features (quoins, accent bands….)
Some of these problems are inherent in the components themselves and others result from incorrect installation practices.
Building codes require the use of flashing at the potential trouble spots – windows, rooflines, and deck attachments. Often, these details are completely omitted. This will allow water to enter a wall and damage it regardless of the exterior cladding. Without those details, any cladding will fail. The key to a dry wall is good construction practices and building to code requirements.
For more information on the water intrusion issue, please see the EIMA web site
Additional interesting articles about water intrusion:
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Brick Veneer & Water Intrusion:
The Canadian Housing Information Center concluded that even constructed according to codes with above average quality of workmanship; brick veneer/steel stud wall systems do "not perform in a satisfactory manner".
"Accumulation of moisture mainly due to air leakage were such that premature deterioration of the brick, ties and sheathing, if not framing is likely." Also, "moisture in the exterior sheathing reached levels that would cause it both to weaken in time and to support mold".
For the entire report, please click, Performance of a Brick Veneer/Steel Stud Wall System. |
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Sto EIFS Third Party Inspection Manual
The objective of the manual is for application of EIFS and adjacent construction to be in compliance with the applicable building code, the EIFS manufacturer's recommendations, and the specifications and details that apply to the project. |
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Moisture Patrol
Latest technologies and proper installation can help prevent moisture penetration in EIFS applications |
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Avoiding Moisture Accumulation in Walls
You will need Adobe Acrobat to open this file. |
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| NAHB Research Center Progress Report on Mold Program - October 2002 |
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EIFS Vigilance
Describes an alternative moisture monitoring system contractors can use with EIFS |
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Owners of newer homes face water damage risk
is an article that discusses several cases of residential water damage and how moisture intrusion is a construction industry problem |
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Stucco: What are we doing differently?
review excerpts from an article that was published in Hot Spot, a newsletter by the Minnesota Lathing & Plastering Bureau. |
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EIFS: Lessons Learned, Advancements, and Challenges (pdf)
An article published by the Institute for Business and Home Safety |
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New houses in Minnesota at risk for moisture, rot
a 1997 article on poor building practices |
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EIFS and Good Practice on the use of Flashing in Wall Construction
discusses EIFS and how to avoid installation problems. |
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| Brick Manufacturers and Organizations Linked to Anti-EIFS Publicity |
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Water Penetration Studies:
 Water Penetration Resistance of Windows: Study of Manufacturing, Building Design, Installation and Maintenance Factors (63367)
Water Penetration Resistance of Windows — Study of Codes, Standards, Testing and Certification (63339)
Window and Door Renovations (62256) |
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