n The finish line: Attachment of Signs By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 Over the years, I've had a number of companies as clients that make and install signs. Most of the signs are used for commercial applications (stores and hotels) and they are usually made of metal and plastic but occasionally they'll even make one out of EIFS. Either way, they sometimes ask me how to attach their signs to EIFS walls. If you've ever purchased a custom sign, they are not cheap, so it's not a dumb question. Here are some guidelines on how to deal with signs. These notes relate to design considerations, as well as installation issues. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Katrina One Year After By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 First, you can go to New Orleans right now and have a good time, at least in the popular tourist areas, which look like nothing ever happened. But if you drive a little way from those restored areas, it's a different story. There are blocks and blocks of abandoned single-story houses and there are shopping areas that look fine, except a lot are not open. These buildings are in the areas that were flooded and stayed submerged. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Cast Stone and EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:48:00 -0400 Lately I’ve been working with some cast stone products and have found that product to be a good complement to EIFS in terms of dealing with the damage-susceptible edges of EIFS. This month’s column gives some examples of how cast stone can be used with EIFS. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Changing Stucco to EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:51:00 -0400 This month’s column gives you a checklist of things to keep in mind if someone wants an alternate price or prefers the other cladding. This list will be handy if you are working with a designer or owner who needs guidance when making a switch. Full Article
n The Finish Line: A Case Study: What is Causing This? By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:23:00 -0400 For a change of pace, I’ve decided to periodically write about contracting and field issues, including case studies of interesting projects. The idea is to offer insights that will help readers deal with aspects of EIFS in their work. Full Article
n The Finish Line: All About Rust By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:47:00 -0400 Large rust stain streaks can be created by an almost invisibly small piece of iron, located in the EIFS finish. They can become amazingly big and very noticeable. In the midst of a huge blank EIFS wall, such streaks can really standout, which can result in irate building owners who want you to redo the whole façade. That level of repair is hardly necessary and the following information on rust streaks on EIFS can help you fix the problem and keep the owner calm. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Backwrapping vs. Edgewrapping By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:56:00 -0500 There are two basic ways of terminating the edge of an EIFS. One is by using the EIFS materials themselves, and the other is using some type of non-EIFS trim product, such as preformed plastic or metal pieces. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Cleaning EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:21:00 -0500 An EIFS finish coat is a textured, paint-like material. It’s usually made with acrylic resins or a blend of acrylic resins and other resins, such as silicones. The hardness of the coating and its textured surface make it susceptible to getting dirty. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Floor Line Joints By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:11:00 -0500 In multi-story wood frame residential construction, the various floor levels are usually constructed as a series of platforms, one at a time, on top of each other. The horizontal framing at the floor line has its grain running parallel to the ground. Full Article
n The Finish Line: FAQ's About EIFS Part 1 By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:10:00 -0400 This is the first of a two-part series about common EIFS questions. My Web site www.eifs.com generates a lot of e-mail and phone inquiries. Usually they are basic questions from people looking to learn more about EIFS. Over the last 30 years of working with EIFS I’ve seen or heard of almost anything that can be done with EIFS. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Drainage Efficiency By www.wconline.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:07:00 -0500 The origin of the EIFS with drainage goes back to the 1990s. The idea of adding drainage came about due to a rash of water intrusion problems on houses in the southeast. Water had gotten behind the EIFS and ruined the supporting wood structure, causing a flurry of lawsuits and repairs, and sparking the interest of building code officials. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Earthquakes and EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:48:00 -0500 The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti has focused attention on many things about that country, including politics, economics, its history and culture, and many other poignant topics, not the least of which is the safety and design of buildings there. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Types of EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:22:00 -0400 In North America, EIFS is pretty much a single type of design, namely expanded polystyrene insulation adhesively attached to the supporting wall, and a thin, synthetic, two-layer, glass fiber mesh-reinforced coating system. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Eco-Friendliness of EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sat, 01 May 2010 13:06:00 -0400 If you spend any time working with specifiers, end-users, designers and contractors who are involved with EIFS, you’ll find out right away that the environmental friendliness (“eco-friendliness”) of EIFS is a hot topic. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Foam Shapes Revisited By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:07:00 -0400 One of the most popular design features of EIFS is its ability to mimic other materials. This includes being a stone, concrete or stucco look-alike. This feature of EIFS is widely used for many reasons, including its attractive appearance, light weight and low cost. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Firestopping By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:02:00 -0400 Firestopping is an especially important topic for EIFS, due to the system’s unique multi-layered form of cladding construction. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Adhesives vs. Mechanical Fasteners By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:46:00 -0500 When I do technical seminars about EIFS, one of the most frequent questions is, “Should I use adhesives or mechanical fasteners (screws plus washers), or even both, to attach the foam insulation to the wall?” The answer depends on a number of factors, and sometimes you have no choice about which to use. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Inspecting Eifs By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:38:00 -0500 There is work underway to develop a standardized protocol for inspecting EIFS as it is being installed. This work is being done by the ASTM technical society. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Beefing Up EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:09:00 -0500 I often get calls from people wanting to “beef up” the performance of their EIFS walls. There are some things you can do to improve performance and this month’s column has a potpourri of strategies for common problems. Full Article
n The Finish Line: EPS Vs. Polyisocyanurate Insulation By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:53:00 -0500 Expanded polystyrene insulation and polyisocyanurate foam polyiso are the two main insulation types used in EIFS in North America. Overseas, many other types of insulation are used to make EIFS, such a mineral wool and “glass foam.” Full Article
n The Finish Line: Sealants By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:31:00 -0400 Because EIFS are a jointless type of wall cladding that can be installed over a huge wall area without joints at all, it’s clear that the only way for water to get behind the EIFS is somewhere at the edge of the EIFS. This penetration is most often at windows, openings and flashings. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Keep it Dry By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:53:00 -0400 In EIFS, water resistive barriers are a layer between the EIFS substrate and the EIFS insulation. They are most commonly used in EIFS with drainage wall assemblies. They are an additional layer within the wall cladding system and present some unique issues that are worth knowing about. Here are some of the issues. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Keep it Dry Part 2 By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:11:00 -0400 In the May column “Keep it Dry,” I talked about issues to be dealt with when using EIFS that incorporate a water resistive barrier. WRBs are most often used in the increasingly common EIFS with drainage. Most of the discussion in that article was about various design aspects. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Design Features By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:07:00 -0400 There are lots of small details and design features about EIFS that can help create a better-completed EIFS project. This month’s column is a list of many known-and not-so-well-known-design features that you should be aware of. Full Article
n The Finish Line: A (Faux) Monument for the Ages By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:56:00 -0400 Everyone’s heard of Stonehenge in England-the weird stone blocks in the middle of a field. But who has heard of Foamhenge in Virginia? It is a full size replica of the real Stonehenge made of EIFS. Who could dream up a cooler name? Full Article
n The Finish Line: EIFS Inspection By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:34:00 -0400 No doubt you are aware that the quality of EIFS is very dependent on the contractor. One way to ensure quality is to monitor the process of installing the EIFS as it is being installed. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Building Walls in the Land Down Under By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:13:00 -0400 Every American I know wants to visit Australia. It’s sometimes called “The Land of Milk and Honey” and it is. Next to Canada, Australia is more like the U.S. than any other country I can think of. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Right Solutions for the Right Problems By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:49:00 -0400 EIFS is like any other building material in the sense that it is well-suited for some uses and not for others. This column is a compilation of my thoughts about where EIFS works well and where it does not, including some unusual specialty uses. Full Article
n The Finish Line: Know Your EIFS By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:03:00 -0500 When EIFS was first introduced to the North American market, there were a lot of questions about its strength. Full Article
n EIFS in the South By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400 I moved to Florida a few years ago. Construction is different down here. Full Article
n Green Globes vs. LEED By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0400 I began my multi-year involvement with LEED and the USGBC as an architect dedicated to the design of greener buildings at about the time the LEED v1.0 pilot program was coming to a close. Full Article
n Will Synthetic Biology Save the World? By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400 What do skin moisturizer, anti-malarial drugs and diesel fuel all have in common? Full Article
n Cloaked in Green? By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Under that greenery is hidden something very un-green, very dirty, and very big: Parking garages. Full Article
n EPDs, HPDs and Red Lists (Oh My)! By www.wconline.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0400 The latest Green Globes and LEED green building rating systems have introduced new building materials credits. Full Article
n Building Product Transparency— Be Careful What You Ask For By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Since when did architects become responsible for ensuring occupant health resulting from exposure to building material ingredients? Full Article
n LED Lighting is the Future By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500 Fifty one. That’s how many light bulbs I have in my house, I know because I counted them. Full Article
n Anti-LEED Legislation By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500 An interesting anti-LEED movement seems to be gaining momentum among states that are opposed to the USGBC LEED rating system. Full Article
n An Energy Label for Buildings By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0500 In 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy began work on the development of a voluntary national scoring system used to quantify commercial building’s energy efficiency. Full Article
n A Green Screw? By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -0400 If you are like me, you have a love-hate relationship with screw fasteners. Full Article
n Hydronic Floor Heating By www.wconline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 May 2014 00:00:00 -0400 Not too many years ago, hydronic floor heating systems were all the rage with the hip-green crowd. Full Article
n Meeting Codes with Wall Assemblies By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0400 Designing exterior wall assemblies that satisfy both energy and building code requirements is a challenge. Full Article
n Benefits of the Variable Refrigerant Flow By www.wconline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400 The variable refrigerant flow is starting to gain popularity in the U.S. Full Article
n Alternatives to LEED By www.wconline.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0400 It’s no surprise that there are less expensive, less complicated alternatives to LEED. Full Article
n Green Advocacy vs. Informed Consent By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0400 “Green advocacy” is the very opposite of informed consent. Full Article
n New Gadget Analyzes Everything Including Building Industry By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400 TellSpec and SCiO are about to release devices which will allow you “to get instant relevant information about the chemical make-up of just about anything around you. Full Article
n Green Building Mistakes By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -0400 The first LEED Platinum certified building is in danger of an imminent collapse. Full Article
n The Greenest Low Slope Roofing Solution By www.wconline.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0500 The greenest low slope roofing solution really sucks. Full Article
n ANSI Green Globes 2015 By www.wconline.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Hard work by Green Globes’ committee—and community—shows it’s only getting better. Full Article
n Is a LEED Building Healthy? By www.wconline.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -0400 According to a recent paper, the answer is no. Full Article
n Embodied Energy of Building Materials By www.wconline.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2015 00:00:00 -0400 Do embodied energies deserve greater attention now that buildings are becoming “greener”? Full Article