EIFS or Exterior Insulation and Finish System is a wall cladding system used for the exterior finishes of the buildings and that provide an insulated and waterproofed surface.
EIFS is wrongly confused with stucco considering that it is a kind of synthetic stucco. Unlike stucco, which is a traditional construction material used for centuries, EIFS is a lightweight material that provides also an insulated and waterproofed surface.
EIFS is a smart choice for the exterior of your home. The only drawback could be a damage caused by patio furniture, or a negligent owner. These damages are clearly visible and require some repairs.
Minor Damages: Most minor damages such as surface abrasions, nicks and scuffs can be fixed easily. A touch up that match the original look of the EIFS will solve the problem. It is recommended the use of paint like top coats that are acrylic-based coats produced by the EIFS manufacturers.
However, you can also use a compatible elastomeric or latex paint. If you choose carefully your colors to match with the original color, then any minor imperfection on the façade of your house can be easily remedied.
Deep Gouges: The best solution is to patch the gouge with a piece of EIFS.
– First, you need to cut an EIFS rectangle not larger than the damaged area.
– Fill the gouge with EPS foam patch and glue this patch with adhesive made from: Portland cement, a dry polymer and sand. You can find this adhesive to any EIFS suppliers.
– Allow 24 hours for the adhesive to dry.
– Tape off the EIFS rectangle, but let at least an inch between the tape and the patch edges.
– Sand carefully and gently the taped-off area, using a 40-grit sand. You should sand the taped-off area of the old EIFS until you reach the base coat.
– Apply a fiberglass mesh tape over it.
– Using a trowel apply a new EIFS coat material; Try as much as possible to smooth the new EIFS layer, especially around the patch area.
– Allow again 24 hours for the new applied EIFS layer to dry.
– Using again the trowel apply the last coat, namely the acrylic finish. Trowel the coat carefully to match the old texture.
– While the acrylic coat is still wet, you should remove the tape. Use a soft and damp brush to correct the traces left by the perimeter tape.
– The last step is the painting of the patch to match with the existing EIFS. However, sometimes it is very possible that the new patch color to match exactly the color of the old EIFS, and in this case there is no need to paint.
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