EIFS

EIFS green energy saving solutions for homes and business

EIFS   E.I.F.S     exterior or interior finishes for ultimate durability.
 Stucco
Traditional Portland cement plaster (stucco) is a time-tested exterior finish. It consists of Portland cement-based materials and sand, mixed with water to form a workable plaster. Portland cement, the same material that is the basis for the hardened properties of concrete used to build super-highways, bridges, and skyscrapers provides strength, durability, and toughness in Portland cement plaster. Stucco on a single family home from California to Florida, traditional stucco is a proven system that works in all climates, always demand Riverside Portland cement plaster is applied either by hand or machine to exterior and interior wall surfaces in two or three coats. It may be applied directly to a solid base such as masonry or concrete walls, or it can be applied to a metal lath attached to frame construction, solid masonry, or concrete construction. Applied directly to concrete masonry, Portland cement plaster provides a tough 1/2-inch thick facing that is integrally bonded with the masonry substrate. When applied to metal lath, three coats of plaster form a 7/8-inch total thickness. A vapor-permeable, water-resistant building paper separates the plaster and lath from water sensitive sheathing or framing. Portland cement plaster has high impact resistance, sheds water, but breaths, allowing water vapor to escape. It’s a proven system that works in all climates, always demand plastering.Traditional Stucco Is Strong And Beautiful Traditional Portland cement stucco provides a tough exterior that resists attack from woodpeckers to weed whackers.        EIFS That inherent toughness is beautifully complemented by the variety of colors and textures available. Appearance is an important consideration in selecting a wall cladding. You can select a color and texture consistent with the message and image you wish to convey. Stucco on a single family home  Traditional stucco provides a strong, beautiful, low maintenance finish. Color is determined by selecting cement and aggregate color, and quite often modified by adding mineral oxide pigments to the plaster mix. In many areas, factory-prepared finish-coat products are available. Pre-pigmented packaged cements also can be used to achieve the desired stucco color or pre-weighed mineral oxide pigments can be added to the finish coat stucco EIFS during mixing. Texture is achieved by selecting aggregate size, controlling finish mix consistency, and using special treatment techniques during and after application of the finish coat plaster. Texture gives substance and character to the plaster surface. It can be used to provide highlights, depth, continuity, segmentation, and even achieve the look of a completely different construction material such as wood timbers, brick, or stone masonry construction. To confirm the suitability of a desired color and texture, be sure to ask your plasterer to provide a sample panel for evaluation prior to starting work. Demand plastering in California where it is hot, Portland cement plaster has a well documented history of proven performance in extreme climates from the desert southwest of Arizona, to the severe winters of Minnesota, to the hot-humid Florida summers. It performs in all climates. That durability is complemented by its versatility. Portland cement plaster provides an ideal finish or cladding for any building construction system including concrete, concrete masonry, brick masonry, wood frame, or steel frame. Portland cement stucco can be applied to any flat or curved surface either inside or outside. Don't Mistake Traditional Stucco For "EIFS"Portland cement plaster (sometimes called traditional stucco) should not be confused with the exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) or synthetic stucco systems that have become popular but more recently have been the subject of controversy as a result of performance problems, including water leakage and low impact resistance. Synthetic stucco consists of a polymer based laminate that is wet-applied, usually in two coats, to rigid insulation board that is fastened to the wall with adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or both. Polymer based (PB) systems, sometimes known as thin coat, soft coat, or flexible finishes, are the most common. The base coat for PB systems is usually only 1/16 in. thick and finish coat thickness is typically no thicker than the maximum sand particle size in the finish coat. While the PB skin repels water very effectively, problems arise when moisture gets behind the synthetic stucco and is trapped inside the wall. Trapped moisture eventually rots insulation, sheathing, and wood framing. It also corrodes metal framing and metal attachments. There have been fewer problems with EIFS used over solid bases such as concrete or masonry because these substrates are very stable and are not subject to rot or corrosion. Polymer modified mineral based (PM) exterior insulation and finish systems are sometimes known as thick coat, hard coat, or rigid finishes. The mineral base is Portland cement, while the polymer is usually an acrylic. PM systems have greater impact resistance than the PB systems, but are typically less than 1/3 the thickness of traditional three-coat stucco.Traditional Stucco is Ideal For Concrete Wall Systems The durability and versatility of traditional Portland cement stucco provide a great finish for other concrete building systems including concrete panels, insulating concrete forms (ICFs), and autoclaved aerated concrete. Depending on the condition of the concrete surface, Portland cement plaster may be directly bonded to the concrete or applied to metal lath attached to the wall. EIFS demand plastering for durability, when directly bonded to the concrete a dash bond coat or surface applied bonding agent is typically needed to enhance the bond between the plaster and the concrete. When concrete surfaces are extremely smooth or contaminated with excessive form oil metal lath is used as a plaster base. Metal lath can be mechanically attached to concrete, ICF, or to autoclaved aerated concrete walls to provide a base for durable, traditional three-coat Portland cement plaster exterior.demand plastering Concrete masonry provides an excellent base for direct application of Portland cement plaster in 2 or 3 coats, consisting of base coat(s) and a finish coat. The use of open-textured concrete masonry units promotes mechanical keying between the plaster and base masonry wall. Because EIFS plaster and concrete masonry undergo similar volume changes, they are inherently compatible. traditional stucco works great on frame construction Portland cement plaster has been used over frame construction in the United States since before the turn of the century, long enough to develop proven procedures for installation. When Portland cement plaster is selected as the exterior surface for frame construction, metal lath is attached to framing members. Vapor permeable, water-resistant paper is applied over sheathing before attachment of the lath. The paper protects the sheathing and interior of the wall from outside moisture intrusion without trapping moisture vapor in the wall. Furring dimples in self-furring lath, furring nails, or other furring attachments hold the lath about 1/4 inch away from the sheathing, frame, or solid base wall. This permits the Portland cement to penetrate lath openings and surround the metal strands, embedding them. As the scratch coat plaster hardens, the lath and plaster become rigidly interlocked with the lath, essentially performing as reinforcement. Encasement of the metal also protects the metal lath against corrosion.demand plastering Lath may be expanded-metal lath, woven-wire lath, or welded-wire lath. A variety of accessories are also available for use in different plaster installations. Movement joint accessories isolate plaster panels from building movement and accommodate thermal- and moisture-induced volume changes in the finished plaster. Flashing redirects moisture to building exteriors. Foundation weep screeds serve as a plaster stop and directs moisture to wall exterior. The availability of different types of metal lath, fiberglass mesh and accessories increases the versatility of Portland cement plaster and contributes to its serviceability in many applications get It right with Demand Plastering EIFS Stucco Systems is like actually using the Manual For the right planning base and preparation of Portland cement plaster over frame, concrete or block, the first step is to follow the guidelines given in PCA’s Portland Cement Plaster (Stucco) Manual. The result will be an attractive stucco finish having the toughness and durability of concrete. For unlimited design possibilities in a tough, durable, and beautiful exterior cladding, use traditional Portland cement plaster.

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Stucco Traditional

Most of the oldest stucco in the U.S. dating prior to the late-nineteenth century, will generally have a smooth, troweled finish (sometimes called a sand or float finish), possibly scored to resemble ashlar masonry units. Scoring may be incised to simulate masonry joints, the scored lines may be emphasized by black or white penciling, or the lines may simply be drawn or painted on the surface of the stucco. In some regions, at least as early as the first decades of the nineteenth century, it was not uncommon to use a roughcast finish on the foundation or base of an otherwise smooth-surfaced building. Roughcast was also used as an overall stucco finish for some outbuildings, and other less important types of structures.Many finishes at demand plastering. For rough-cast stucco finish the stucco house has a rough cast plastering finish. A wide variety of decorative surface textures may be found on revival style stucco buildings, particularly residential architecture. These styles evolved in the late-nineteenth century and peaked in popularity in the early decades of the twentieth century. Frank Lloyd Wright favored a smooth finish stucco, which was imitated on much of the Prairie style architecture inspired by his work. Some of the more picturesque surface textures include: English Cottage or English Cotswold finish; sponge finish; fan texture; adobe finish; and Spanish or Italian finish. Many of these finishes and countless other regional and personalized variations on them are still in use.
The most common early-twentieth century stucco finishes are often found on bungalow-style houses, and include: spatter or spatterdash (sometimes called roughcast, harling, or wetdash), and pebble-dash or drydash. The spatterdash finish is applied by throwing the stucco mortar against the wall using a whisk broom or a stiff fiber brush, and it requires considerable skill on the part of the plasterer to achieve a consistently rough wall surface. The mortar used to obtain this texture is usually composed simply of a regular sand, lime, and cement mortar, although it may sometimes contain small pebbles or crushed stone aggregate, which replaces one-half the normal sand content. The pebble-dash or drydash finish is accomplished manually by the plasterer throwing or "dashing" dry pebbles (about 1/8" to 1/4" in size), onto a coat of stucco freshly applied by another plasterer. The pebbles must be thrown at the wall with a scoop with sufficient force and skill that they will stick to the stuccoed wall. A more even or uniform surface can be achieved by patting the stones down with a wooden float. This finish may also be created using a texturing machine.Demand plastering is here to help.
Stucco on historic buildings is especially vulnerable not only to the wear of time and exposure to the elements, but also at the hands of well-intentioned "restorers," who may want to remove stucco from eighteenth and nineteenth century structures, to expose what they believe to be the original or more "historic" brick, stone or log underneath. Historic stucco is a character-defining feature and should be considered an important historic building material, significant in its own right. While many eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings were stuccoed at the time of construction, others were stuccoed later for reasons of fashion or practicality. As such, it is likely that this stucco has acquired significance over time, as part of the history and evolution of a building. Thus, even later, non-historic stucco should be retained in most instances; and similar logic dictates that new stucco should not be applied to a historic building that was not stuccoed previously. When repairing historic stucco, the new stucco should duplicate the old as closely as possible in strength, composition, color and texture.