exterior cladding
EIFS (synthetic stucco)
Exterior Insulation and Finish System. A foam insulation board with a synthetic acrylic-polymer finish coat. Lighter and more flexible than traditional stucco.
Cost tier
MID
Cost / sqft
$8–$14
Install
specialty
Durability
medium
Maintenance
medium
Moisture
fair
Cost notes
Drainable EIFS systems mandatory in residential per current code. Earlier barrier-EIFS systems caused widespread moisture damage in the 1990s.
Aesthetic
- Finish: smooth, fine-sand, medium-sand, coarse
- Color range: any custom — tinted to spec
- Visual weight: medium
Climate suitability
✓ Hot-humid
✓ Hot-dry
✓ Mixed-humid
✓ Mixed-dry
✓ Cold
✓ Arctic
Code notes
IRC R703.9 governs EIFS. Drainable systems with weep details required; barrier-only EIFS is largely obsolete.
Source
Architectural Graphic Standards — Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper) — Materials chapter
Tags: stucco, synthetic, insulating