IF you have EIFS on the exterior of your home, you probably have significant water damage anywhere in your house and can not know anything about it.
The acronym "EIFS" stands for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems. " Most people call it "stucco," although it is not true stucco. It is synthetic stucco. In this article, the concepts of EIFS, stucco and synthetic stucco will all be interchangeable.
It was an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on 4 November 2008 throughPost Properties, based in Atlanta. Post owns apartment complexes throughout the U.S.. Post will spend $ 40 to $ 45 million U.S. dollars repairing over 11,000 homes, the water damage to improperly installed EIFS.
"This is a design which was popular in the 90s. We use it anymore," said David Stockert, Post's CEO and president, told analysts on Tuesday. Stockert also said that very little of the damage is covered by insurance.
45 million U.S. dollars is onlyA drop in the bucket to the damage to single-family homes across America, compared with synthetic stucco covered.
In the last twenty years, millions of single-family houses with stucco as the exterior was to end. Stucco looks great, is easy to install, has great power search functions and can be provided as finished stone and masonry.
But in my own experience as a claims adjuster, I have seen very little that residential stucco was installedright. Almost every EIFS-clad house that I had ever been tested, water, mold and termite damage behind the stucco. Sometimes the damage is so great that the houses are condemned and torn down.
I spent a lot of time for the processing of claims construction defect liability that involved stucco. I know of no single building material, which is responsible for more builder bankruptcies in the U.S. as stucco. And, like the stucco product ages, more and more homeDamage is discovered.
I remember checking a large, three-story wood framed stucco exterior home in a golf course community in Athens, Georgia a few years ago. The owner discovered the damage when the woman went into a dining room bay window and her foot fell through the wood floor.
There was water damage on all four sides of the house, and behind every door and window open. Worse still, let the water behind the walls of the ideal breeding ground for termites, hadFood was the house for a long time. That said, I guess, was for $ 439,000, and the house was estimated at about 500,000 U.S. dollars. The house was demolished and rebuilt on the foundations. The builder of liability insurance paid the claim. The new house does not have a stucco facade.
EIFS manufacturers issue shop drawings that builders should use in the installation of EIFS. They state that flashing to open any door or window must be used. Be "formed flashing, metal platesalways keep the water from behind the stucco. But in millions of homes, the builder Butts simply kill the stucco to the outside of the window or door, dirt on the piece and the joint with gaskets for sealing. This saves installation time and costs to the flashing.
It does not take too many months on the outside seals to crack and separate. Once this happens, the water behind the stucco, whenever it rains.
So, if the water behind EIFS, it is caught. Many homeshave a layer of "housewrap" or plastic foil as a vapor barrier beneath the stucco. But Vapor Lock that moisture to keep out moisture even when water is trapped behind the EIFS, it creates the perfect habitat for termites ... Food and water. They will remain until the expired food and water.
Termites can destroy a house unprotected by pesticides. However, termites can also damage or destroy a protected home. Termites thrive only need three things:
1. Access ... a way toin.
2. To drink of moisture.
3. Food ... What's in a house average wood. Walls, floors, plywood, cut, windows, doors ... all wood products are the termites in the menu.
The other major problem for stucco is that builders ran the product on the side of the outer wall and then landscaped garden, to help customers. Stucco, which comes into contact with the ground, makes it super easy for termites, without conquering discovered.
Why did I tell you this about your stucco-covered home? BecauseYour damage will probably not be covered by your homeowners insurance. Wet Rot is excluded in your homeowners policy. The standard HO-3 policy has exceptions for any damage caused by insects. The policy also includes damage caused by mold and mildew can often lead to, where the water damage.
I urge you to inspect a home inspector or contractor to have your house. Just look at the exterior trim around your windows and doors. If you are not easily recognize, a metal flashing between theStucco and the door or window frame was not properly installed on your stucco manufacturer. The chances are great that you have internal water damage anywhere in your house.
The final insult is that you probably will not sell your house without that initial repairs.
If you find damage, and your insurance company denies coverage for your damages, you must specify who the builder built your house that you have a claim against his insurance policy. I recommendthat you consult a lawyer, how to start the process.
EIFS, improperly installed on any building, increases were only nightmares and financial ruin. Do not be a victim ... find out your rights and fight hard!
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