An exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) is a lightweight wall cladding made of rigid insulation board, a base coat reinforced with glass-fiber mesh, and a textured finish coat that resembles stucco.
On parking structures EIFS usually shows up on enclosed elements, such as stair and elevator towers, retail frontage and architectural features, rather than on the open parking decks themselves. It is popular because it is light, insulates well and can take almost any shape or color.
How it is built
- Insulation board, usually expanded polystyrene, attached to the wall with adhesive or fasteners.
- Base coat with embedded glass-fiber reinforcing mesh.
- Finish coat that provides color and texture.
- Drainage EIFS adds a water-resistive barrier and drainage plane behind the insulation, the standard approach today after moisture problems with early barrier systems.
What to watch on a garage
- Impact damage at grade and wherever vehicles, carts or snowplows can reach it; use high-impact mesh or a harder material at the base.
- Sealant joints at windows, penetrations and transitions, the most common source of water entry.
- Fire rules for foam plastic insulation, which limit where and how EIFS can be used. See building code.
The Parkonomics view
EIFS is a good way to give a garage a finished face cheaply, as long as it stays out of reach of bumpers. Put it up high and on the towers, and give the ground floor something tougher.
Related terms: Graphic Panel, Concrete, Building Code, Expansion Joint, Biophilic Design, Future-Flexible Design