building product that provides exterior walls with a finished surface, insulation and waterproofing in an integrated composite system. Its also commonly known as syntetic stucco.
EIFS can be used on a wide range of buildings, including homes, apartments, condominiums, high-rise buildings, offices, malls, shopping centers, hotels, motels, clinics, government buildings, and so on. It can also be used to create facades and soffits on shopping centers, and for decorative purposes (to look like stone, or to create signage or artwork).
EIFS can be used on new buildings and also can be installed on existing walls, called "retrofitting", to upgrade the appearance and provide insulation, without affecting the activities indoors during the renovation (EIFS is installed completely from the outside of the building).

Stucco & Plaster- Stucco is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens when it dries. It is used as a coating for walls and ceilings and for decoration. Stucco may be used to cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe.
Traditional Stucco- Traditionally, stucco was applied directly to a masonry surface such as brick or stone. In wood-framed buildings, stucco was applied over a wood lath, similar to the lath and plaster technique used in the interiors of buildings. Modern stucco is usually applied over an expanded metal lath that is fastened with staples or screws through wall sheathing into studs. The material is generally applied in three coats — the scratch coat, the brown coat and the finish coat. The finish is usually an integral color and is where texture is also achieved.
Modern Stucco- Modern stucco usually consists of one layer of wire lath and two layers of Portland cement-based plaster. However, cement's crystalline structure cannot accommodate significant movements in the building structure (as lime does) and is thus prone to cracking. Thus an additional acrylic finish, which adds a waterproof flexibility, is often applied on top.

Manufacturer Partners
Dryvit Systems Canada - www.dryvit.ca
Durabond Products Ltd.- www.durabond.com
DuRoCK Ltd.- www.durock.ca
Builders' Suppliers Ltd.- www.builderssupplies.ca
Canamould Mouldings Inc.- www.canamould.com

EIFS & Stucco Benefits:

1) Durability: EIFS solves many of the problems associated with stucco, including cracking, fading and other signs of wear. A structure finished with EIFS is virtually maintenance free. Unlike wood, stucco and other siding materials, EIFS rarely needs painting. The acrylic binder gives EIFS superior resistance to fading, chalking and yellowing. The systems are designed to be very flexible, which makes them highly crack resistant.

2)Versitility: EIFS is offered in a wide variety of colors and textures and offers unmatched design flexibility as it allows for diverse shapes and designs. With EIFS installers can create exterior architectural detailing that would be cost prohibitive using conventional construction.

3) Energy Efficiency: EIFS wraps the exterior in an energy efficient thermal blanket. By insulating outside the structure, EIFS reducess air infiltration, stabilizes the interior environment and reduce energy consumption. The insulation board used with EIFS greatly adds to the R-value of the building.