Serving Metro Atlanta with Stucco and EIFS Application and Repair

GRADE CUTS - Get your EIFS out of the ground!

EIFS Below Ground - the Termite Superhighway!

Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS), or Synthetic Stucco should never be installed below the ground (below grade), it should terminate 2 to 6 inches above ground. The reason? Over time moisture will wick up between the foam and the foundation. Termites follow the moisture into your home. If you are in the process of selling or buying a home, an  inspection report or termite company has likely listed this problem as a roadblock. Correcting this installation error can prevent a host of other repairs, so it is in the home owners interest to correct this problem.

The Grade Cut!

A "Grade Cut" can be simple or complex, depending on the circumstances. If EIFS is attached to the foundation, and the foundation extends above the grade, then the operation is as simple as cutting away the stucco, then at the new line terminate the product by reapplying the fiberglass mesh, covering basecoat, and then applying finish to match the existing texture, all the while sealing the stucco to the slab. Unfortunately the wall framing and the substrate (the material that the EIFS attaches to) extends below ground and requires some special work. The substrate is replaced with cement board, then the EIFS at that point must be replaced with a lathe and concrete conventional stucco and sealed to the foundation slab. Follow the "Details" link for more information.

Details - How GPE Fixes the problem-

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