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While curtain wall and window wall cladding systems are typically employed in prominent developments, particularly highrise projects, homes and small commercial buildings often utilize Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), more so during renovations. The exterior wall cladding system has been in use since the 1960s in North America, when it was mostly attached to commercial masonry buildings. In recent years, EIFS has been a common implement on wood framed buildings.
Compared to brick and stucco, EIFS generally has superior thermal and moisture control properties. But incorrectly installed systems in the 1980s and 1990s were beset by moisture seeping behind them, causing damage to the structures. The so-called "leaky condo crisis" in British Columbia and the "leaky homes" issue in New Zealand led to building code revisions that mandated drainage instruments to let water escape down and out of the cladding.
Homeowners and commercial property owners typically opt for EIFS to improve insulation. According to the EIFS Industry Members Association, the system can reduce air filtration by up to 55 percent compared to brick and wood construction. EIFS is also known for its durability. Formulated with 100 percent acrylic binder, EIFS generally maintains its appearance over time. Its inherent flexibility ensures that in rising and falling temperatures, building movement is absorbed, preventing the development of cracks common in concrete, stucco, and brick structures.
In addition to its structural flexibility, EIFS is widely acknowledged for its design flexibility. The exterior, fashioned into a number of shapes, can come in a variety of colours and textures. Special architectural details or decorative elements that are rare in modern construction — which is often characterized by smooth glass elevations — can be created in EIFS. Though these design embellishments can give the building a distinct appearance, some utilitarian applications of EIFS, essentially creating blank walls with no distinguishable exterior detailing, have attracted criticism on our sister site UrbanToronto.ca. Though EIFS is a practical solution for older structures rife with inadequate insulation, its use, when applied haphazardly, can negatively impact the architectural integrity of the building.
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