All major manufacturers of EIFS such as Senergy, Dryvit, Parex and Sto recommend “regular” inspections and maintenance. On their web site Dryvit® Systems, Inc. states “It is important that you inspect your building to see if any problems are developing. However, your visual inspections should not replace the recommended schedule of inspections by a qualified professional”

Our inspection services have been established through knowledge gained from our years of experience, and by utilizing the various standards and protocols developed by other industry experts, including such organizations as, the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Exterior Design Institute (EDI) and the Association of the Wall & Ceiling Industry (AWCI).

We recommend annual inspections if your home is clad with a “barrier” EIF system. Water-managed or drainage EIF systems and homes clad with cultured stone, stucco or thin brick should also be inspected periodically, depending on your geographical location. For example, homes in the Midwest experience an extreme weather cycle with rain and sleet in the fall, snow, ice and temperatures below 0°F in the winter, rain in the spring and lots of sun with temperatures over 90°F in the summer. These extremes can cause excessive structural movement of many of the different materials on a house (wood, aluminum, vinyl, stucco, brick, stone, etc.) which in turn can cause sealant joints to fail, as well as ice damming, flashing failure and structural cracking.

In most cases water intrusion problems are not apparent from a visual inspection of the exterior. However, we have the methods and tools necessary to detect any problems or potential problems.

Some of these methods may be more invasive than others and some are non-invasive. They include a thorough visual inspection and various types of meters that can measure the moisture content of the building components behind the exterior. One of these meters can detect moisture through electronic impedance technology, by scanning the surface of the wall (although this type of meter is not 100% reliable). Use of a scan meter should always be coupled with a probe or pin-type meter.

Do not allow any inspector to convince you that they can perform a thorough assessment of any EIF System without invasive testing of some kind.

Pin-type meters, which utilize the principle of electrical resistance actually penetrate the sheathing, which also allows the inspector to not only determine if there is excessive moisture but the condition of the substrate and whether damage may have occurred in a specific location. 

When exterior inspection is limited due to weather conditions or logistics other tools can be successful in detecting problems. One such tool is infrared photography or thermography which can be used to inspect the exterior walls from the inside.

At minimum, the use of moisture meters to detect excessive moisture levels and probing into the substrate to determine if it is firm or soft is required. Occasionally, more invasive measures such as core samples or other cuttings and/or removal of the EIF system is necessary to fully assess the source of the moisture intrusion as well as the extent of the damage.

Once a thorough evaluation of the cladding has been conducted EnviroSpec will provide you with a written report which will detail any problems or maintenance issues that have been discovered as well as specific recommendations for remedial action.