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NEW
JERSEY HOME INSPECTOR. CERTIFIED, LICENSED, HOME INSPECTOR IN NJ
Exterior
Insulation and Finish
System (EIFS)
EIFS is also
called synthetic stucco. Home inspectors
in most of the US cringe when they see it on a
home because they know there is likely to be
latent damage that can be very expensive to fix
below the great looking cement stucco like
finish with decorative elements the buyer fell
in love with etched in.
Relocation companies and home owner's insurance
companies are not fans of the material
either. Frequantly relocation companies
will not deal with EIFS home and home owner's insurance
companies will not write coverage on these type
homes.
If you must buy an
EIFS home make sure you have invasive moisture
testing performed. I have yet to hear
about an EIFS home where a invasive moisture
test showed no problems or one where an
installation expert found no problems.
EIFS costs builder 3 Million Dollars
I have seen homes with EIFS that had MAJOR
damage when they were only a few years
old. I have also seen EIFS that was
patched up and painted, it looked great on the
outside, however the neighbors home built at
about the same time appeared to have major
defects. Perhaps the neighbors EIFS crew
had a bad day, Perhaps the fresh paint was covering
tens of thousands of dollars worth of latent
damages.
Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS)
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