FAQs
Q: What is EIFS?
A: EIFS is the acronym for "exterior insulation and finish systems" - or a high-performance cladding system that features insulation on the exterior of the sheathing. EIF systems are used in both commercial and residential construction. Dryvit is the leading manufacturer of EIF systems in the United States, having brought the technology from Europe in 1969.
Q: Why should I consider using Dryvit EIFS on a home?
A: EIF systems offer features that are extremely desirable to homeowners, including:
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Improved Energy Efficiency - the potential to save anywhere from 20% to 40% on heating and cooling bills.
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Aesthetic Value - a high end look that can increase a home's appraisal price.
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Design Features - a variety of trendy and traditional home exterior looks from premium finishes to details like columns and archways.
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Performance - a 30-year warranty program designed to last the length of the standard mortgage.
Q: Are EIF systems more expensive than other systems?
A: The short answer is generally no. As the cost of labor and other exterior materials can vary by region, however, it is challenging to provide a universal answer to this question. Dryvit EIF systems are typically considered a high-performance product, so there may be some additional expense upfront. However, the positive features of Dryvit EIFS, such as energy efficiency and aesthetic value, generally offset the initial cost of the system installation.
Q: How does a Dryvit EIF system save on energy costs?
A: Dryvit EIFS seamless exterior facade and the insulating properties of the insulation board (expanded polystyrene or polyisocyanurate) wrap the home like a blanket, yielding exceptional thermal performance. That translates directly into lower energy requirements, which can mean reduced heating and cooling bills for the life of the home. Homeowners and commercial property owners using a Dryvit EIF system have reported energy savings of up to 40%, depending on a variety of factors, including the number and location of windows.
Q: Didn't EIFS have problems with moisture intrusion in the mid 1990s?
A: There have been widespread issues with moisture intrusion in homes with all cladding types since the last building boom in the early-to-mid-1990s. There were also EIFS homes in the mid 1990s that experienced moisture problems resulting from construction deficiencies (lack of window and door flashings, poor construction practices, etc.). It is important to note that moisture intrusion is a general construction concern, regardless of the exterior system used.
The International Residential Code (IRC) changed in 2000 to require that all residential cladding systems have a secondary weather-resistive barrier to protect the building substrate and a positive means of drainage. All Dryvit EIFS homes are now built with our Residential MD® or Sprint MD® systems to ensure that incidental moisture is able to weep from the wall. As such, homes clad in Dryvit Residential MD® or Sprint MD® systems benefit from two levels of weather protection, plus all of the attractive features that EIFS have always had to offer.
Q: Does Dryvit offer a competitive warranty for its EIF systems?
A: Yes. In fact, if an EIFSmart certified contractor* and a National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) member builder uses a Residential MD® or Sprint MD® system to clad a home, the owner will be eligible for Dryvit's industry-first 30-year warranty. This strong expression of Dryvit's confidence in its residential systems lasts for the life of the typical home mortgage, and provides the peace of mind the homeowner simply cannot get with any other residential system offered on the market today.
*The EIFSmart certification program is run by The Association of Wall & Ceiling Industry (AWCI) and is not a Dryvit program.
Q: Is Dryvit EIFS a complicated system to apply?
A: Dryvit systems, like all cladding systems, must be applied in a manner consistent with published specifications, application instructions and details. However, EIFS is not a more complicated cladding system to install than comparable claddings available. Of course, you can always call Dryvit if you have technical questions relating to our products and systems.
Q: Can an owner apply a Dryvit system himself if he builds his own home?
A: No. Dryvit systems are not do-it-yourself systems. Dryvit recommends that all of its products be applied by listed contractors familiar with Dryvit's published specifications, application instructions and details and the Residential MD® or Sprint MD® systems must be installed by a contractor trained in those systems in order to qualify for a warranty.
Q: Can the owner get insurance for her Dryvit EIFS clad home?
A: Some homeowners' insurance carriers carry exclusions for EIFS homes, based on out-dated information on a type of residential system that is no longer allowable by the building code. Owners can get insurance from other carriers who recognize the changes that have taken place within the building codes, and those who understand that the use of moisture drainage systems are just like the cavity wall systems present in brick, wood and other homes.
Q: Can I add decorative shapes to Dryvit systems?
A: Yes. EPS can be easily cut and shaped to create numerous decorative shapes that can add a unique level of architectural sophistication to the design of the home. These lightweight shapes can be finished in any way you choose - either with the same color and texture as the exterior wall, or in a complimentary finish color or texture.
Q: How many colors do I have available to me?
A: The sky is the limit. Because most Dryvit finishes can be custom colored to meet almost any specification, your exterior color can be as individual and unique as you.
Q: What if the owner really likes brick on the outside of his home? Can I mix Dryvit finishes with other exterior cladding products?
A: You can easily mix Dryvit systems and finishes with other cladding types. If brick, for example, is a look that you want to achieve, you can either use a Dryvit system with Dryvit's unique Custom Brick™ finish, or you can use clay brick on one elevation, and a Dryvit system on the other elevations of the home. In addition to a finish like brick, Dryvit offers premium finishes that replicate traditional limestone block (Lymestone™); granite (TerraNeo®); and aged Italian plaster (Tuscan Glaze™). For even more design flexibility, Dryvit Textured Acrylic Finish Systems (TAFS) can be applied directly over non-EIF systems like Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), tilt-up concrete or traditional hard coat stucco.
Q: What is different today about Dryvit?
A: In 2000 the International Residential Code (IRC) changed to require that all cladding systems include a secondary weather-resistive barrier to protect the building substrate and a positive means of drainage. Dryvit homes built today using our Residential MD® or Sprint MD® systems ensure that any incidental moisture is able to weep from the wall. Dryvit has also introduced a 30-year warranty on any EIFS installed on a home built by an NAHB member builder using an AWCI EIFSmart contractor.
Q: Why Should I Build With Dryvit EIFS As Opposed To Other Types of Cladding?
A: There are actually several reasons. Dryvit residential systems offer benefits you can only achieve with EIFS. You get unmatched design flexibility - the ability to choose virtually any color, texture and style possible, along with the ability to easily re-create brick, limestone, granite and other premium finishes. You can easily add decorative shapes that add architectural sophistication to the home. With Dryvit EIFS, the owner has the potential to save anywhere from 20 to 40 percent on his home heating and cooling bills. The money the owner can save in energy costs makes the life-cycle cost of the home even lower over time. The uniquely flexible, lightweight Dryvit systems also permit you to build with less costly structural members; again, saving construction costs without sacrificing any design or performance criteria. For example, Dryvit's Custom Brick™ finish is approximately five times lighter than traditional clay brick, meaning you can build your residential project with less costly structural framing. Finally, the owner is eligible for an industry-first 30-year warranty if builders and contractors who meet the program requirements install the EIFS.
Q: Are there any other things that the owner can do to help protect her home against moisture intrusion regardless of what exterior cladding is chosen?
A: In addition to making sure the home is properly maintained over time (see Dryvit's Homeowner's Maintenance Guide for details), owners can mitigate the risk of moisture intrusion by installing OmniSense™ moisture and humidity sensors in the wall, under floors and appliances, and under roofs. These high - performance, wireless sensors check for signs of potential moisture 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year - transmitting an alarm whenever moisture levels elevate to a significant level. For more information on OmniSense, visit their website at www.omnisense.com.
