| EIFS |
| Definitions (of those "weird" words!) |
| (pronounced "eefs" or "eefis") Exterior Insulation and Finish System. EIFS is a synthetic coating over foam core and fiberglass mesh. It is used to provide detail around windows, doors, columns, etc. and also on flat wall surfaces when a finer texture is wanted. Allows a lot of artistic expression and has a much smoother texture than conventional stucco. It can also be applied over a "hard coat" of conventional stucco brown mud for durability. |
| Cultured Stone |
| Synthetic stone applied over a base surface, usually consisting of black paper, keymesh and a scratch coat. Comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and prices! Adds a touch of class and flair to front of home, basement or bathroom. |
| Thin Brick (or Z-brick) |
| Thin brick is similar to cultured stone. It is applied piece by piece over a pre-existing surface and resembles real brick. It looks great on chimneys, fireplaces, kitchen walls, etc. |
| Cut Brick |
| Also called "stucco brick". A base coat of brown mud is applied to the wall, then another coat of a color wanted for the joints between bricks, then a thin layer of brick color over all. While the top two layers are still wet, the mechanic cuts lines into the wet mud to resemble bricks. |
| Brown Coat |
| Usually applied over keymesh unless being applied over cement block or brick. This is the "undercoating" for the finish, stone, thin brick, or EIFS. It provides stability, insulation and a smooth surface for the finish to run on. It is applied with a trowel and is usually applied in two coats. The first brown coat is called a "scratch coat". |
| Finish Coat |
| The finish is a color coat that is applied after the brown coats have dried, usually one to two weeks later. Finish can be mixed in a variety of colors and can be applied in a variety of textures, though one should keep the color of the finish light as a lighter color keeps its color longer without fading or streaking. |
| Keymesh |
| Keymesh is nailed or stapled over the 15# black felt paper. It looks like chicken wire and gives the stucco something to "grab" onto. ASD uses 18-guage self-furring keymesh which is a little more expensive but provides MUCH more stability and durability than the lighter guages of wire. |
| Resurface |
| A "resurface" is applying a new finish coat to an existing stucco surface. Many people who have a lot of stucco repairs to be made might find it cheaper to simply have the whole wall resurfaced. A resurface gives the owner the opportunity to update the color and texture of the stucco, too. |
| Repair |
| Repairs can include: chips in the stucco, stucco "flaking" off wall, wire/stucco sagging, fixing around replaced windows, cracks in chimneys or walls. No repair is too big or too small for us to handle! Call us and we'll talk about your options! |