Liability of Synthetic Stucco

Synthetic Stucco or EIFS, are multi-layered exterior wall systems used on both commercial buildings and residential homes.

These systems are usually comprised of five layers: an exterior finish, a reinforcing mesh to protect the system, an insulator, an adhesive substance binding the insulator to the building and a substrate to which the insulator is attached.

EIFS were originally developed in Europe, making their first appearance in the United States more than thirty years ago, and becoming very popular in the early 1980s.

Termites like the EIFS system foam. They don't like to eat it. They like to move through it. It gives them cover and freedom of movement so they can get to the "wood buffet" without being harassed by their natural enemies and by exterminators.  Because they need a continual source of water and they aren't fond of sunshine, termites build protective tunnels from the ground to their target so that they can move back and forth.  Being able to spot these tunnels is the main way that pest control technicians detect the presence of the little critters.  It's a popular myth that pest control guys and home inspectors have X-Ray vision.  But think about it, if the termites are behind the face of the foam they can't be seen and are free to destroy your home at will. See pictures of EIFS damage.

Many experts say that synthetic stucco repair is a myth, and that barrier EIFS is a defective product that should not be used on one and two-family residential construction. Can Eifs be repaired?

Some Termite Companies no longer treat any structure for sub-terranean termites that utilizes insulation foam as an outer covering (EIFS). Read the articles in the right column to see why. Any further questions please contact me.