Should I Buy a House with EIFS?

With all of the controversy surrounding EIFS being used in home-building, you may be asking yourself, “Should I buy a house with EIFS?”

What is the Problem with EIFS?

EIFS stands for “exterior insulation and finish system” and is often referred to as fake or synthetic stucco. EIFS was originally created in Europe over 75 years ago. The product has become popular with builders in the US because it can be cheaper and easier to apply than traditional stucco.

However, EIFS has a proven reputation of resulting in costly and extensive damage to homes. Homeowners across the country have filed lawsuits against various EIFS manufacturers and home builders.

There are a few reasons why EIFS can result in damage to a home. One reason is because EIFS can crack easily. EIFS is usually a thin, brittle, coating applied over a soft substrate. This combination of a thin coating over a soft base make EIFS vulnerable to damage. Impacts to the surface can result in cracks. And those cracks will allow water to seep in and create further damage to the wall.

Improper sealing is another reason EIFS remediation is often necessary. Water and moisture can make their way behind the artificial stucco wall if it is not properly sealed. The moisture can’t drain or dry once it gets behind the walls. The trapped moisture results in mold and rot, severely damaging wooden studs and wall sheathing underneath.

Should I Buy a House with EIFS?

It depends on who you ask.

If you ask supporters of the product, they’ll tell you that EIFS is a great building material. The synthetic stucco is cost-effective because it is cheaper than actual stucco. EIFS has a less labor-intensive installation process. And the product is completely water proof.

But if you ask any homeowner who has had to have costly EIFS remediation, they may tell you to think twice.

We’ve heard many stories of homeowners buying a home only to later find that the house has tens of thousand of dollars worth of damage. One unlucky homeowner bought a house where the home inspector missed the first signs of damage. Now she finds herself stuck between a rock and an expensive place; she either sells the place and loses money or pays to fix the damage while accumulating more debt.

Not Sure if Your Home has EIFS? Call Ai Restorations for an Inspection today!

We recommend that you ALWAYS check to see what kind of siding the house you’d like to buy will have. While we can’t tell you whether or not to buy that house, we can tell you about the condition of your stucco, real or synthetic!

Ai Restoration is a stucco repair company outside of Philadelphia. Our skilled craftsmen have 17 years of experience in stucco and EIFS remediation. Call us today at (215) 794-6858 to have your home inspected by professional who has expertise in stucco!