EIFS (exterior insulation and finishing system) is a building cladding that offers better thermal and moisture performance over conventional cladding systems. This is a multi-layered exterior wall system that is used on both commercial buildings and homes. There are four layers to an EIFS, which are, from exterior to interior, a spray-applied acrylic and stone finish, a fiberglass strengthening mesh, insulation, and an adhesive which joins the cladding system to the building. Most EIFS systems use expanded polystyrene for the insulation.

EIFS were developed in Europe in the 1950’s and then presented to the U.S. They were initially used on commercial buildings and then on homes. Today, EIFS account for about 30% of the U.S. commercial exterior wall market.

EIFS systems have a number of advantages over some of the other cladding systems. The combination of EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) and concrete tilt-up walls offers the ultimate in architectural freedom and low-maintenance durability. EIFS systems are applied directly to the concrete wall surface after the panels have been erected, providing the architect with an infinite variety of creative detail options. In addition, because insulation is put on the building exterior, the structure keeps warm, minimizing contraction and thermal expansion. Building airtightness is also improved because of this. And finally, the system prevents the build-up of moisture in the cladding.

The rising popularity of EIFS is because very few competitive materials offer such a wide range of desirable product advantages. Chief among these are greater energy efficiency and practically boundless flexibility in design.