Nick Hindley is a nationally certified Third Party Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) and STUCCO Inspector. 

Nationally Certified EIFS / STUCCO / Moisture Inspector (EDI # PA 57)Nationally Certified EIFS / STUCCO Inspector. Moisture Warranty Corporation.

We are nationally certified to perform Moisture Free Warranty Inspections on your EIFS or Stucco clad home. We can also monitor the repair or installation of the systems to ensure that they are properly applied in accordance with the manufacturers requirements. This is important to help prevent re occurring problems due to faulty details or installation. Call us for details.

Our company has been in the inspection business for over fifteen years. During this time we have inspected thousands of buildings both commercial and residential. An EIFS / STUCCO inspection is your best protection. The inspection is designed to evaluate the system to determine if water entry has occurred. Probing is performed at key areas to determine if underlining damage has resulted form water entry. 

Water intrusion behind these systems will ultimately result in rot, structural damage and the formation of mold. These conditions will adversely affect your health and home. Either can result in costly damage. 

A regular home inspection does not cover these issues. Only a certified EIFS inspector can determine the condition of the system. This requires probing of the system as well as a professional evaluation of the installation. 

Repair:                                                                                                      Repair of these systems can be regulated with a proper inspection. The inspection report will identify areas of concern and nor damage. The repair contractor can then use the inspection report to determine the extent of repair. Beware of inspectors and or contractors that recommend full re cladding. Re cladding is needed only in extreme cases. Localized repairs can be made to bring the system up to standard. This will minimize the overall cost of repair. This can only be achieved with a full stucco inspection.

Call our office at 570-253-1941 to arrange for an inspection.

EIFS & Stucco systems are notorious for hiding serious problems.                           Many times, extensive damage and rot can occur in a wall cavity before any outside evidence of a problem is found.

The proper installation of the EIFS system is absolutely essential.                                               In order for stucco system to properly perform and protect your home against water intrusion there are several critical details that must be allowed during installation. Failure to install the system correctly can lead to major problems and damage to your property.

Repairs to EIFS systems can be VERY expensive!                                                    One manufactures representative stated that their repairs to stucco home with water intrusion problems were costing as much as 30% of the value of the property! While most properties won’t experience this extreme repair cost, repairs can get costly very quickly when wood rot occurs.

EIFS homes are taking a hit in MARKET VALUE.                                              Realtors report that some stucco homes are taking longer to sell and are typically selling for less because of the public perception of stucco. Although we feel the media has exaggerated some of the problems, prudent buyers and realtors are having stucco homes inspected. Very few if any home inspections include the stucco as part of their inspection.

How a quality EIFS / Stucco Inspection can help

FIND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS before they become major ones.                                Many times, some of the most damage causing problems are problems that can be easily and inexpensively corrected if found before damage occurs. Our inspection includes checking many specific items and details we know to cause most problems and damage that occur with stucco systems.

PROTECT THE MARKET VALUE of your home.                                                     We strongly suggest that the owner have their home inspected before they put the house on the market. Any problems found can be corrected before the house is listed and therefore will not become an issue once an offer is made. This can reassure potential buyers and reduce problems at closing time, which often occurs when an inspection is made late in the sales process.

EDUCATE YOURSELF.                                                                                       Our inspection gives you an in depth expert evaluation of the system as well as more than a dozen pages of good information about stucco systems, typical problems, their causes and possible corrective actions as well as maintenance suggestions.  

Call us at 570-253-1941 To Order Your inspection. 

Don't wait till damage or leaks occur. 

Prevention is best!!!!

 

What are Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems?

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), sometimes referred to as synthetic stucco, typically consist of five components: adhesive, insulation board (attached to substrate with adhesive), a base coat into which a fiberglass mesh is embedded, and a decorative finish coat in the desired color. This type of system is called a face sealed barrier EIFS and resists water penetration at its outer surface. It is not intended to drain water that gets behind it. It differs from other types of cladding that have a weather resistive barrier behind the cladding (tar paper or house wrap) and/or may have air spaces between the cladding and substrate.

There are many types of cladding materials that look like stucco. Traditional stucco is made of cement and is different than EIFS cladding, which uses the five components listed above. Other types of "hybrid" stucco include polymer/cement base coat directly applied to a substrate, or traditional stucco with an acrylic finish coat.

How is water entering behind EIFS?

Interfaces between EIFS and dissimilar materials are a common source of water intrusion, not the EIFS lamina (base coat and finish coat). The most frequent source of water intrusion is windows. Water frequently enters the EIFS at window locations in two ways: either through the joint around the perimeter of the window or through seams and joints in the window construction itself. Large quantities of water resulting in some of the most severe damage have frequently been discovered entering behind where a roof meets and terminates at the lower edge of a wall. Other potential sources of water intrusion are chimneys, decks and any other penetration of the EIFS lamina.

Architectural design, severity of weather (rainfall), exposure, and the performance and integration of other building components usually determine whether water infiltration behind the EIFS will occur. Although the likelihood of penetration through the lamina is remote, water can enter the system through cracks in the lamina.

Why does water intrusion occur behind EIFS, and why is it important to discover it?

Water intrusion occurs through and/or around building components such as windows, doors, gable vents, penetrations, and a variety of flashing and construction details. Water intrusion also occurs when maintenance is ignored for these components and other critical areas, such as caulk joints. It is important to discover the occurrence of water intrusion, because water can enter behind the cladding and wet unprotected sheathing, and in some cases, the wood structural members. Depending upon climate and the overall make-up of the wall assembly, the wall may not readily dry out. As water intrusion continues to occur undetected in a particular area, it can accrue to levels substantial enough to cause damage. Early detection of water intrusion is the key to minimizing and preventing such damage.

Is the location of water entry visible, and is the damage visible?

The location of water entry is often difficult to see, and the damage to the substrate and structural members behind the exterior wall cladding frequently cannot be detected by a visual inspection.

Are the water intrusion problems unique to any part of the country?

No. While the problems were discovered in Wilmington, North Carolina, this in no way means that you could not have similar moisture intrusion problems where you live. Field investigations of non-drainable EIFS in other areas of the country have identified entrapped excessive moisture resulting from water intrusion. The degree to which the problem may exist in your area could be influenced by local climatic conditions. The more rain, the greater the likelihood of having water intrusion problems. In arid climates, the opportunity for water intrusion is smaller, and there is more opportunity for drying out of any incidental water intrusion.

Should I have my EIFS home periodically checked for elevated moisture levels?

Yes. Testing should be done at least annually. A combination of two moisture meters should be used: (1) a non-invasive meter that scans through the wall without penetrating the EIFS lamina, and (2) a probe-type meter that penetrates the EIFS lamina and gives moisture readings of materials in contact with the probes. Only a professional experienced in EIFS water intrusion inspections should perform these tests. Testing is recommended to be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Moisture Testing Guide for Wood Frame Construction Clad with Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, that is published by the New Hanover County Inspections Department in Wilmington, NC. (The telephone number is 910-341-7456.)

How serious are the problems if water intrusion occurs in EIFS-clad houses?

Damage can be significant if moisture intrusion goes undetected. Damage can become more serious if allowed to continue over time.

Can damaged homes be repaired, and does the EIFS cladding have to be removed?

Any repair method undertaken should render the house into a serviceable condition. The performance criterion used to determine if a serviceable condition is being sustained is a moisture assessment. A serviceable condition exists when damage or excessive moisture is not detected behind the EIFS cladding. This may be true even if the EIFS manufacturer's standard specifications and construction details were not originally followed. Localized removal of EIFS may be necessary to facilitate repairs where damage is discovered. Total removal of the cladding may not be necessary.

Home owners who are deciding whether to re-clad should consider the following questions:

• Does the substrate have prolonged excessive moisture that causes decay? If water intrusion has occurred, what is the extent of damage? Do the areas requiring repair represent the majority of the cladding area, or are they localized?

• Is the cost to repair the house in excess of the cost to re-clad?

What are the repair objectives?

The primary objective of repair is to eliminate water intrusion. Repairs should be made where elevated moisture is detected or structural integrity of the material is impaired. Where structural damage has occurred, those areas require replacement of decayed wood products in addition to eliminating the source of water intrusion. Areas of elevated moisture in the absence of damage or decay may require no more than eliminating the source of water intrusion. It has been discovered that wet but undamaged substrate can dry out over time once the source of the water intrusion has been eliminated. Repair methods should address leaks associated with but not limited to:

Roofs - Install effective kick-out flashing at roof-to-wall intersections, diverter flashing around trapped valleys, and rake flashing.

Caulk Joints - Install effective caulk joints.

Windows and Doors - Caulk window jamb to sill joint and joints in any molding surrounding the window or door. Specially designed sill flashing is needed below most types of windows and most windows that are mulled together.

Decks - Install effective flashing.

Chimneys - Install effective cap flashing, cricket flashing at trapped valley, and effective kick-out flashing for roof-rake wall intersections.

Other Penetrations - Install effective caulk joint and/or flashing.

Cracks and Damaged EIFS Lamina - Repair according to manufacturer's specifications.

Effective implies that flashing and caulking prevents water intrusion. Special care, craftsperson skill and design consideration are required to make repairs and install flashing.

Repairs for every component, penetration, architectural detail and flashing detail have not been submitted to or reviewed by the EIFS Review Committee. Some repair methods have been developed in laboratory conditions and are currently being tested and monitored in the field for effectiveness. Preliminary test data indicate that effective repairs to some limited components frequently used in EIFS can be achieved. The repairs do not restore windows, flashing or EIFS to match the EIFS manufacturer's original specifications or details, but focus on eliminating leaks by modifying the as-built conditions. The effectiveness of any repair is dependent upon accurate diagnosis of the source of water intrusion and the skill of the contractor making the repair. The repair is performing successfully when elevated moisture diminishes to an acceptable level over time and does not recur in sustained elevated levels in the long term.

Should the repair be monitored?

Yes. You should hire a professional experienced third party inspector certified in EIFS water intrusion inspections to advise, monitor and perform follow-up inspections within six months after the repair. Then once every year, the effectiveness of the repair should be monitored as part of the whole house moisture survey. If the repair is not successful, elevated moisture levels will be detected, and the repair method should be evaluated for the reason for failure. After making additional repairs, follow up with another inspection until such time that the moisture level becomes acceptable.

How should the home be maintained?

Frequent visual inspections should include thorough checking of windows, flashing and sealant/caulk. Damaged flashing should be repaired or replaced immediately. Cracks or deteriorated sealants should be repaired or removed and replaced. Periodic moisture testing would be prudent, especially for houses that were diagnosed with elevated moisture levels. 

If you have additional technical questions about EIFS, please contact Tri - County Home inspections at 1-800-621-1958

Key Benefits

• To determine the need for repairs due to moisture infiltration

• To asses the general condition of the system.

• To determine if significant structural damage has occurred. 

• To act as a third party inspector during the construction phase of the inspection. This will help prevent the improper installation of the system. 

Pricing

Please call for pricing. This will depend on the type of inspection needed. 

Take this check list and evaluate your home. 

CHECK LIST