Finishes-Synthetic Stucco (Exterior Insulated Finish System)

Scope:

1.	Provide all labor, material, hand tools, equipment (including safety equipment), supervision, supplies, and other incidentals necessary to install the synthetic stucco work and perform all such work in accordance with the contract drawings, specifications, addenda, and other documents that make up the contract documents but not limited to the following:
a.	Rigid board insulation, tape, mesh, joint materials base coat, and finish coat 
b.	Flashing at roof to wall with kick-outs at the lowest end to prevent water from migrating behind wall finish
c.	Sealant for all expansion joints, window and door edges with backer rod, and a continuous seal to prevent water migration into the wall cavity
d.	Stop molding, corner bead, vents, fasteners, and other accessories necessary to provide a complete installation
2.	Protect all surfaces before application including window and door trim to prevent etching. Cold weather protection to include tent and heat or termination of work until air temperatures rise to acceptable levels.
3.	Install work according to the specifications, procedures, and practices prescribed by the manufacturer(s).
4.	Allow base coat to cure before applying top coat.
5.	Clean all excess materials from windows, doors, trim, floors, patio slabs, and sidewalks. 

Optional Scope Items for Multifamily and Light Commercial Projects:

6.	Provide a sample board and receive written approval from builder before starting installation work.
7.	Provide an affidavit indicating that the installation has been made in accordance with the EIFS manufacturer's specifications.

Exclusions:

1.	Cementititious stucco

Caution:

Because of the problems that have arisen with many homes with EIFS systems, NAHB is advising builders to carefully research the facts about these products before deciding to use them. For additional information about technical issues involving EIFS homes, builders can call the NAHB Research Center's HomeBase Hotline at (800) 898-2842.

At the time this book went to print a number of lawsuits were underway arising out of the use of EIFS. Some liability insurance carriers had informed builders that homes built with EIFS would not be covered under existing policies, and at least one bank had indicated that it would not provide mortgages on EIFS homes.

A July 11, 1997 article in NAHB's Nation's Building News reported "considerable debate over whether the traditional 'barrier' EIFS is compatible with other systems in a typical house and with the methods builders normally use to build homes." Builders should be cautious when using EIFS systems, particularly in relation to the risk of possible water migration around windows and in walls. A lot of these products are supposed to be installed by manufacturer-approved installers. However, while caulking and sealing are part of the manufacturers' specifications, the installers generally do not perform these tasks. Confusion over who is responsible for applying caulking and ensuring proper sealing has resulted in a lot of the water-related problems.

Product manufacturers have developed new drainable systems, some of which are now available as an alternative to the barrier EIFS systems. Additional EIFS systems are currently being evaluated by the code evaluation services.

Builders wishing to use EIFS must become familiar with the specifications and requirements of the particular product they are using. Components from different EIFS products should not be mixed. And builders must inspect the work thoroughly, both to ensure that the product has been installed according to manufacturer's specifications and to ensure that all potential areas of water infiltration have been flashed, caulked, and sealed. Builders who require their trade contractors to provide affidavits indicating that the installation has been made in accordance with the EIFS manufacturer's specifications should include a copy of the affidavit with documents used to register the project with the manufacturer for purposes of activating the EIFS manufacturer's warranty.


When writing a scope of work for EIFS installation, builders are urged to emphasize quality installation, well-drawn details, and adherence to the manufacturer's specifications. It is important to spell out who will be responsible for each step in the installation, especially who is responsible for the caulking, flashing, and sealing around all of the penetrations in the building envelope. It is also important to specify that substitution of components and materials from different manufacturers will require reinstallation with proper materials, the cost of which is to be borne by the trade contractor.