Stucco

Stucco is durable, less expensive than brick or stone, and may be installed over almost any type of wall.

A fiber reinforced cement stucco is applied over a substrate wrapped with a weather barrier and metal lath. It can be installed up to 5/8" in one application. Next, after drying, a primer and a finish is applied.

EIFS (exterior insulation and finish system) is made up of a layer of insulation board, fiberglass mesh, base coats, and a finish coat of synthetic stucco. It looks like stucco but resists cracking.

The well known failures of EIFS were caused by deficient flashings/installation and by the system itself, witch did not allow any water trapped behind the insulation to escape. 

In a cement stucco the metal lath provides a gap for any water that gets into the system to drain out. In old EIFS, when water gets trapped between sheathing and insulation, rot and extensive damage may occur.

National Contractors installs real stucco and new, improved EIFS with water drainage. In this system, insulation boards with grooves and channels are applied so any water that incidentally enters behind them may drain out. But proper sealing and correct flashing details at windows, doors, and roof-wall intersections are vital for any stucco system.

Visit Parex for more information, especially: 1 Coat Stucco 210, Fiber-47 (real stucco), and Parex Water Master With House Wrap (EIFS).