{"id":33570,"date":"2017-10-24T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T13:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog-test\/?p=33570"},"modified":"2021-06-04T07:52:06","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T11:52:06","slug":"stucco-eifs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/practice\/details\/stucco-eifs\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose Between Stucco and EIFS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Have you ever met siblings, who despite being very, almost uncannily similar, are determined to distinguish themselves in every way possible? In order to set them apart, you really have to dig a bit deeper. That\u2019s kind of like stucco and EIFS (Exterior insulation and finish system)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Left: EIFS fa\u00e7ade at Knickerbocker Commons<\/a> Passive House Apartment Building by <\/span>Chris Benedict R.A.<\/a> in Brooklyn, New York; image via <\/span>EIMA<\/a>; <\/span>Right: Stucco fa\u00e7ade at TassiloHof by 03 Architekten GmbH in Munich, Germany, image via <\/span>Haslre\u00edter<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While some of stucco\u2019s most fervent advocates might disagree, it can be very difficult to distinguish between stucco and EIFS by simply observing them on the face of a building. In fact, they can look so similar that many manufacturers recommend pressing on the buildings rather than looking at them, in order to tell them apart. Further, the reason that you might choose to specify both traditional stucco and EIFS are actually very similar: they both offer the possibility of creating a continuous and seamless building envelope and can be fashioned in limitless shapes and colors. They are both incredibly versatile.<\/p>\n

Their close running in the competitive building-product race is what makes this such an important comparison to make. As a result of these similarities, the details that will lead you to select one over the other are a bit more subtle than usual, and often quite challenging to tease out.<\/p>\n

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Vitra Design Museum by Gehry Partners<\/a>; image via ArchDaily<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

What is stucco?<\/h2>\n

Before continuing on in this article, we recommend that you take a few minutes to look over this week\u2019s kick-off piece, How to Specify: Stucco<\/a>. It will provide you with a great foundation on the architectural usages of stucco and set you up to properly understand this comparison.<\/p>\n

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Left: two-coat stucco assembly diagram; image via <\/span>International Masonry Institute<\/a><\/span>; right: three-coat stucco assembly diagram; image via <\/span>International Masonry Institute<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

In summary, \u201cstucco siding is a mixture of Portland cement, sand and water. It\u2019s not radically different from concrete. It is applied in a combination of layers with a standard base coat and a refined finish coat.\u201d This means that stucco can be applied directly onto brick or concrete masonry walls, as well as timber-framed walls, often without a vapor barrier or insulation in between. Versatile as this may be, it has also led manufacturers to experiment with alternatives that boast an additional set of advantages.<\/p>\n

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The East Coast Building by Blitstein Design Associates features a multi-colored, bespoke EIFS fa\u00e7ade; image via <\/span>EIMA<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

What is EIFS?<\/h2>\n

Since the late 1960s, when EIFS was first introduced in the United States as a cladding material on commercial buildings and homes, it has commonly been used as a replacement to traditional stucco. Today, they are some of the most tested and well-researched cladding materials in the construction industry. As a multi-layered product that is much newer than traditional stucco, an EIFS modifies certain elements of cement stucco to create a product with some exciting flexible assets.<\/p>\n

According to the EIFS Industry Members Association<\/a> (EIMA), \u201can Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) is a non-load bearing, exterior wall cladding system that consists of an insulation board attached either adhesively or mechanically, or both, to the substrate; an integrally reinforced base coat; and a textured protective finish coat.\u201d While this may sound extremely complex, an EIFS can first be boiled down into a polymer-based or non-cementitious coating (sometimes referred to as \u201csynthetic stucco\u201d), that is fixed on top of an insulation panel.<\/p>\n

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Typical EIFS configuration; image via EIMA<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

According to the EIMA, an EIFS typically consists of the following components:<\/p>\n