THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603050364
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRIS KIDDER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
While Tidewater Builders Association, the Home Builders Association of Virginia and North Carolina building inspectors have seen no significant problems with an exterior stucco siding known as EIFS, some builders report that they've been repairing moisture and rot problems with EIFS-sided houses for years.
EIFS is short for exterior insulation and finish system. Reports of trouble with the synthetic stucco siding started circulating last fall in North Carolina after New Hanover County building inspectors asked the state for a moratorium on EIFS construction. New Hanover County inspectors had discovered rot-producing moisture levels in a significant number of EIFS houses.
In most cases, damage was not visible and homeowners were unaware of the problem. But beneath the finish, moisture was rotting wood and leading to termite damage.
The National Association of Home Builders began investigating EIFS moisture problems shortly after the North Carolina findings were published. According to Thomas Kenney, a building engineer at the NAHB Research Center, they found evidence of similar problems in every area of the country except the Southwest.
Problems with EIFS are not limited to the United States. Vancouver, British Columbia, issued a moratorium on most EIFS construction, effective Jan. 1, 1996. The moratorium came after the city tried unsuccessfully for three years to abate EIFS problems with revised building code guidelines.
The North Carolina Building Code Council issued their own EIFS guidelines on Jan. 1, 1996. They require that local code enforcement officials insure that manufacturers' installation and application requirements are followed.
J. Allen Golden, assistant director of the New Hanover County building inspection department, says that ensuring builder compliance with the requirements of four dozen or more different companies is not feasible.
In response to the state guidelines, New Hanover County has said it will no longer issue building permits for any type of EIFS construction.
So far, no such restrictions have been issued in Virginia. According to the Tidewater Builders Association, the problem found in coastal North Carolina may not be as extensive in coastal Virginia because of difference in state building codes.
Most construction experts agree that EIFS itself is not at fault. Installation, lack of maintenance and building components not designed for use with a water-tight siding system appear to be the major culprits.
EIFS is a water-tight siding. So if moisture seeps into walls through windows, doors, chimneys or other cracks and seams, it can't escape.
EIMA, North Carolina building officials, NAHB and other groups are currently working on ways to identify and correct EIFS problems. The EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA), representing the major EIFS manufacturers, calls New Hanover County's decision unfair.
The county ``singled out EIFS as a problem product without accounting for a myriad of practices and inspection oversights that are the responsibility of home builders, a range of housing sub-contractors, building inspectors and other parties.''
A North Carolina task force appointed to study EIFS last fall found elevated moisture in 98 percent of their test sample. The average repair bill for moisture damaged EIFS houses in Wilmington was $25,000.
According to EIMA, testing by their representatives has found a lower incidence of moisture problems. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
FOR EIFS HOMEOWNERS
EIFS homeowners are urged to contact their builder if they
believe excessive moisture may be a problem in their house. Based on
the North Carolina EIFS task force findings, a moisture inspection
is probably warranted even if no visible signs of damage exist.
Free house inspections can be scheduled through EIMA by calling
813-726-6477 or 800-294-EIMA.
For EIFS homeowner support, contact SHOC (Stucco Home Owners'
Committee), 910-686-1863.
by CNB