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Photograph of - simple errors like this missing downspout elbow and extension can lead to a flooded basement

Exteriors, Landscaping, & Siding - Inspection, Repairs, Product Failures
ExteriorAPedia ©

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This website explains to find, diagnose, repair & prevent building exterior defects in most building systems.

  • Age of buildings - determining how old
  • Condensation causes & remedies
  • Chimney hazards, inspections, repairs
  • Exterior siding defects: EIFS, synthetic stucco, hardboard siding, vinyl siding, paint failures, warranty claims
  • Roofing defects, shingle failures, warranty claims
  • Lightning protection system advice
  • Oil tanks, leaks, abandonment procedures, regulations, contamination cleanup services
  • Septic failures, sewage backups, cleanups, repairs
  • Stair and railing safety hazards, repairs, litigation
  • Termites, rot, inspection, detection, prevention
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

How to find, diagnose, and repair building exterior defects in most building systems. See links at page left or scroll down. chimneys, vinyl siding, hardboard siding, synthetic stucco, lightning protection, paint failures, oil storage tanks, roof leaks, slate roofing, asphalt shingle roofing, and septic systems. This includes explanation of causes of building exterior defects, how to spot them, how to repair them, and how to prevent them. Topics include attic condensation, chimneys, environmental hazards, vinyl siding defects, masonite or other hardboard siding, exterior paint failuires, lightning protection, above ground and buried oil tanks, septic systems, termites, and structural rot. proper use of vapor barriers, We explain how to identify, diagnose, repair or prevent building defects and environmental hazards associated with building exteriors, site conditions and the building envelope. Links on this page direct the reader either directly into an in-depth article on the topic or to our collection of such articles. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.


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Exteriors
  ATTIC CONDENSATION
  CHIMNEYS
  ENVIRO HAZARDS
  SIDING EIFS STUCCO
  SIDING HARDBOARD
  SIDING VINYL
  VAPOR BARRIERS
  LIGHTNING PROTECTION
  OIL TANKS
  PAINT FAILURES
  ROOFING PROBLEMS
  SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  TERMITES, ROT

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Synthetic Stucco, EIFS Siding Products, Failures, Litigation, Services

Photograph of EIFS synthetic stucco building interior. Photograph of EIFS installation leak at a window sill.

EIFS is an abbreviation for "Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems" or "barrier", a synthetic stucco material which is usually applied over a system of solid foam insulation board and synthetic fabrics to form a stucco building exterior surface. There have been substantial building failures and costly damage at many EIFS covered buildings, primarily because the EIFS-covered building exterior may leak into the building walls but the foam insulation used beneath this stucco method may not allow moisture to escape from building cavities.

In a nutshell, leaks into the structure of an EIFS-covered building can cause major mold, rot, and structural damage because water leaks into the structure from installation defects (very common), holes, or damaged siding. The product manufacturers say that if their materials are installed according to their specifications there will not be problems with this synthetic stuco method. We have rarely found a building at which the demanding and detailed product specifications have been followed during installation, and in my OPINION, the specifications may be just too demanding for many installers. EIFS siding material has been the subject of failures and litigation.

The photographs above are of an EIFS building exterior showing the attractive EIFS finish in the left photo and a typical wall leak at an improperly installed window sill in the right-hand photo. Further invasive inspection found rot and damage in building walls at multiple locations where penetrations or absent flashing or caulking had led to leaks.

At another EIFS building we investigated and one which was in litigation, the EIFS installation contractor defended a defective EIFS installation (no caulking, no sealants, no flashing) by arguing that the prime contractor was responsible for those details and that his contract excluded those details. He was "just hired to apply the stucco system". In view of the fact that "application" of the particular manufacturer's stucco system called for numerous sealing details, not one of which was followed, this was a ridiculous argument. Damages were substantial.

EIFS, Synthetic Stucco, Dryvit, Sto wall type system failure investigations, EIFS leaks, building rot from siding leaks, EIFS defects-caused mold damage, EIFS siding inspection and repair methods are discussed at the links to articles, attorneys, associations, and product manufacturers listed at this website.
[If you are an EIFS manufacturer, installer, or EIFS inspector, contact us to add listings - there is no fee.]

[Thanks to Michael Leavitt, an professional home inspector, for help with the EIFS resource links.]


InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
  ATTIC CONDENSATION
  CHIMNEYS
  ENVIRO HAZARDS
  SIDING EIFS STUCCO
  SIDING HARDBOARD
  SIDING VINYL
  VAPOR BARRIERS
  LIGHTNING PROTECTION
  OIL TANKS
  PAINT FAILURES
  ROOFING PROBLEMS
  SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  TERMITES, ROT
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
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Hardboard, Composite, "Masonite"-type Siding Failures, Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation

Hardboard, Composite, "Masonite"-type Siding: failure and leak inspection, siding repair, siding litigation, hardboard siding class action lawsuits and settlements are listed here

  • Abatibi-Price Hardboard Siding Failures
  • Boise Cascade Hardboard Siding Failures: examples and documentation
  • Siding Links to other websites and articles: EIFS, Georgia Pacific Siding, Louisiana Pacific Siding, Masonite and other Hardboard Siding failures, Siding Book

Vinyl Siding Failures, Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation

Vinyl siding used as building exterior wall cladding has its own installation requirements, inspection methods (which should look for failure-related installation errors such as improper detailing of J-channel around windwos, as well as its own reporting and repair requirements.

  • Photograph of - damaged vinyl siding
      Vinyl Siding Article review & comments about moisture & vapor barriers
      Vapor Barriers Need For and Role of Vapor Barriers Beneath Vinyl Siding

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

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Exteriors
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Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
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Accuracy & Bias Pledge
More Information
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

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goto InspectAPedia.com - authoritative, in-depth Building Diagnostic and Repair Information for building buyers, owners, inspectorsInspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection.Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

GO TO the MOLD and INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTER for in-depth advice on avoiding testing for or cleaning up mold and other indoor environmental hazards, odors, gases, contaminantsThe Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

GO TO MOLD TEST KITS: This expert-recommended mold test kit is cheap and yet top performing *IF* you use a competent analysis laboratory!Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

GO TO IAQ/MOLD-TEST LAB SERVICES: Mold, Pollen, indoor air quality, field and laboratory services by an expert.Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigationContact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

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01/11/2008 - 09/01/97 File: www.inspect-ny.com/exteriors.htm
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