EIFS & Stucco Problems and Fixes

The Problems Of EIFS In The United States

Growing evidence suggests that once water gets into the EIFS insulation board, it has no way of getting out. Thus, water penetration is not the problem itself, as water can easily penetrate many types of exterior finishes, such as wood and brick. The problem is, according to some civil engineers, water retention. The EIFS system virtually wraps the exterior of the home in an energy-efficient blanket, which promotes energy efficiency but can leave water trapped within.

According to a member of the Georgia Area Home Inspectors in Atlanta, “This product cannot breathe.” He contends that it collects moisture, and the moisture has no way to drain or evaporate.

To counteract these problems, the EIFS industry developed a more drainable type of exterior finish in the last few years. The new “drainable” or “water-managed” system incorporates a secondary moisture barrier and a drainage mat with weep holes in the bottom that allow the escape of water that might get trapped.

There are a variety of issues surrounding Atlanta synthetic and hardcoat stucco homes – the negative stigma associated with stucco homes and a reluctance by agents to buy or sell stucco homes are just two.

1. Have the home inspected by a qualified moisture inspector following the EDI or MoistureFree Warranty Inspection Protocol.
2. If the inspections indicates that the property needs remediation or repairs, have them performed by a certified Atlanta stucco repair contractor. Make sure you choose from a number of Atlanta certified stucco repair contractors. Contact 3 or 4 and get estimates for your repairs.
3. Once the repairs are completed you may want to have the inspector come back out and perform a follow up inspection. This follow up inspection report will help you market your property and/or give you some peace of mind if you are buying an Atlanta stucco home.
4. Many of the issues can be mitigated by having a MoistureFree Warranty protecting the home. A MoistureFree Warranty on the home will preserve the home’s value, protect all parties in a stucco sales transaction, and give buyers the peace of mind they need to purchase a stucco home.

A warranty provides payment for repairs related to the stucco if elevated moisture levels are found during the term of the warranty.  It pays to modify or repair the affected area so it can be dry again.   How can I purchase a warranty? The home must be inspected by a qualified moisture inspector following the MoistureFree Warranty Inspection Protocol. The inspection report then should be submitted to Moisture Warranty Corporation (MWC) for review along with a warranty application form that has been completed by the inspector. MWC professionals will prepare a Certified Repair Analysis (CRA) on the home which details what needs to be done to the home to make it eligible for the warranty. Once these items have been completed, a second inspection is performed to verify repairs have been completed and are correct, and the warranty is issued.

The MoistureFree Warranty is the only national third-party warranty without the potential conflicts of interest inherent with a guarantee from a repair contractor. Without knowing specifics, generally speaking, most other programs are backed by a single insurance policy on the contractor and are not geared to multiple homes. Several large claims can put these companies out of business, leaving the homeowner at the mercy of his/her own pocketbook. In addition, many times these guarantees demand that you use their inspectors and that all repairs are done by those same inspectors.

You can see this as a potential conflict of interest.

You choose the inspector, and as long as that inspector uses our inspection protocol, we are able to accept his/her report. You then choose the repair contractor, and as long as repairs are made according to our Repair Standards and Options, we will write the warranty (MWC Inspection Protocol and Repair Standards and Options are available to inspectors and repair contractors who visit our web site). In some states, MWC has the only approved warranty by that state’s insurance commission.