What is EIFS?

Construction sites seem to be a place where a lot of terms get thrown around. This can be quite confusing, especially if you are building a new home, or doing a significant remodel for the first time. A term that came up here recently, as a result of building a French Country style home in Windsor, is something called EIFS (pronounced like this, eefis) Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems.

And you have probably seen it more than you realize.

How Does EIFS Differ from Traditional Stucco?

Traditional stucco covers your home with a layer of portland cement plaster (a fine grained concrete) which is adhered to your home by a waterproof barrier paper, galvanized wire mesh, and metal flashings. The flashings are used to channel any water to the exterior wall.

In similarity, EIFS (synthetic stucco) is also a multi-layered process and uses cement, however, in contrast to traditional cement stucco, it uses a foam insulation board as its first layer. The second layer is a water resistant base coat which has been reinforced with a fiberglass mesh. The finished coat is so similar to traditional stucco that aside from being a stucco pro, you may not be able to tell them apart.

If they are so similar in their finished appearance, why do people choose synthetic (EIFS) over traditional stucco?

Is EIFS Better?

Perhaps the most significant difference between the two is that one has an “R” value and one does not. If you are already an energy efficiency expert, than you know what the “R” value is, but for those who are not familiar with the term, here is a brief explanation according to the Insulation Institute:

“Insulation is identified and labeled by R-value. ‘R’ stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the insulation R-value, the greater the insulating power.”

From this information, we learn that synthetic stucco (EIFS) actually works as an insulator for your home, insuring more energy efficiency, and keeping in line with important green built practices.

Although traditional stucco and synthetic stucco both bear the same rich appearance, only synthetic stucco (EIFS) has superior design versatility and flexibility. In fact, EIFS (synthetic stucco) is available in an almost limitless array of colors and textures, allowing many options for the home owner. And it doesn’t stop there. Due to the fact that EIFS is made out of insulation board, skilled applicators can create numerous forms of architectural detailing by the use of precision-cutting. This allows for many beautiful exterior details, including, but not limited to, cornices, arches, columns, keystones, cornerstones, special moldings, and decorative accents.

Thinking about building a home? We would love to hear from you, and maybe together we can come up with a beautiful plan that is

An Above the Garage Master Suite Addition Remodeling Project

We recently completed an addition for our clients, John and Amy, a professional couple with young children living in the Blooming Meadows neighborhood in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Their home featured three bedrooms on the second floor. The existing master bedroom was outdated and impractical for modern living, and with three young children, two needed to share one of the two remaining bedrooms, and all three kids shared the second-floor bathroom. Another problem the family needed addressed was that John needed a private home office, and the one they currently had was a shared space that did not work well for his job.

Let's take a look at our creative solution for this young family!

A New Private Bathroom for the Adults!

One of the major elements on John and Amy's wish list was a private bathroom space just for them. They wanted plenty of space to get ready in the morning, away from the kids, and we delivered! The bathroom features a handcrafted Amish custom double vanity with a tower cabinet in alder wood, stained Carbon Gray. The contrasting Linnstone Quartz Calcutta pattern countertop brightens the space and ties in visually with the elegant tile work in the spacious walk-in shower. We added custom alder wood framed mirrors stained in the same Carbon Gray as the cabinets to complete the vanity. Over each of the mirrors, we installed Quoizel 2 light vanity fixtures to provide plenty of warm light.

In the shower, the 21st Century Tile 12x24 floor-to-ceiling tiles in Tivoli Silver give the room a bright and modern feel, and the low entry shower makes entering the shower safe and easy for the couple. We included a helpful niche in the shower for shampoo and other toiletries and, for contrast, used a beautiful hexagon mosaic accent tile. The glass doors give the space an open feel, making it bright and inviting. The Arbor Hills luxury vinyl plank flooring in timber adds a warm feel, giving the room a natural look with the benefit of waterproof LVP.

The Result

The final result of this second-floor master suite addition is a home that fits John, Amy, and the kid's needs and lifestyle perfectly. John now has the perfect private office space. Since John and Amy now have their private master suite, and each of the kids has their own bedroom giving them their own space to grow as they grow, their home is more comfortable and functional. And on the exterior, you can't even tell there's been an addition!

Are you considering an addition or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.