Base Coat Application

You should protect it from sun/water damage. When you expose the EPS board to sunlight for extended periods, a powdery film develops on the surface.

Additional safety at doors and windows is accomplished by applying
“butterflies” or small strips of mesh sideways at the sills and headers
before application of field mesh.

You can remove it by rasping. Now that we know this let’s look at the step-by-step to apply your base coat correctly. 

Application at the corners

All inside and outside corners should have two(2) layers of mesh. This can
be accomplished in one of three(3) ways:
• Double wrap Mesh minimum 8“ (204mm) in each direction.
• Apply Corner Mat and overlap Mesh up to the corner.
•Also, apply Detail Mesh and overlap with Mesh minimum
8” (204mm) onto the adjacent wall.

Application at wall areas

Apply the base coat on the insulation boards in a coating approximately 1/8″ (3 mm) thick. Work vertically or horizontally in lines of
40” (1016mm). Also, instantly imbed the Mesh in the wet base coat.
Trowel off any additional base coat from the surface. You should embed the Mesh fully so that no mesh color is visible. Apply an extra base
coat if mesh color is visible and the base coat is dry. Do not butt mesh strips. Exist side-by-side the strip edges a minimum of 2-1/2″ (64 mm).
If the mesh is butted, it will result in cracks in the base and finish coats.
Feather the base coat at mesh extensions.

Coverage for base coat

1. When applying EIFS Base Coat adhesive as an adhesive using a 3/8” x 3/8” x 3/8” notched trowel to adhere enhanced polystyrene (EPS) insulation board to desirable substrates (70-80 sq/ft) per bag.

2. When applying EIFS Base Coat adhesive for the embedding of Reinforcing Mesh expect:

• 4.3oz = 130-140 sq/ft per bag
• 15oz = 90-100 sq/ft per bag
• 20oz = 70-80 sq/ft per bag

3. When applying as a leveling coat, coverage relies on the thickness applied.

Note that coverage may vary depending on the conditions of the applicator.

Mixing of base coat

Use a clean empty 5 gallon. Do not use a container that has come into contact with a petroleum-based product. 1. Empty the contents of 1 Dry mix EIFS BaseCoat adhesive. 2. Put in approximately 1 1/4 gallons of clean water per bag of Dry Mix BaseCoat. 3. Stir well with a drill mixer until a similar consistency is accomplished. 4. Let stand 5-10 minutes. 5. After the initial set , re-stir. Let stand 5-10 minutes.

Things you should know

• Do not apply to frozen surfaces or containing ice.
• Do not use if the ambient temperature or surface temperature is less than
13 ° C (55 ° F).
• Do not leave DUROCK Basecoat as finishing; it recommends
applying a sealer and finish.
• Do not apply basecoat on facades where there is a risk of getting wet
from the rain. Project the application to avoid the runoff and weathering
of the fresh product.
• Check the finishing so it will be consistent with the cement surfaces.
Store material in a cool, dry place. Avoid direct sunlight. Maintain
temperature above four(4) °C (40 °F).
Shelf Life should be up to 12 months under protected storage conditions.
Keep out moisture.
Avoid dew point conditions or excessive moisture.
After opening the bag, close hermetic as possible and stowing 60 packs maximum.

Acceptable practices we can follow

• Stir periodically during use to maintain a smooth, comfortable texture. The working time is about 3 hours.
• In hot and dry climates, you can moisten the surface of cement board
before applying a uniform layer to slow the drying duration of the compound and prevent possible cracks.
• The mesh should not be visible through the Basecoat.
• Maximum thickness proposed should be 3 mm. (1/8 “) across the
surface.
• Before the Basecoat is dry, you can sharpen the texture with a wet float.

Safety

To handle and correctly apply Basecoat, we recommend the following safety equipment:
• Mask to keep safe nose and mouth to prevent dust inhalation.
•Wear safety glasses for safety during application.
• Gloves, the alkalinity of the outcome can infuriate the skin if the contact is
tightened.
• Hard hat, Steel-Toe boots, tool belt are some of the attachments expected
to work on-site.
Dust may irritate sights, skin, nose, throat, and upper respiratory
region. Avoid irritation by decreasing exposure to dust. Use in a well-ventilated area or give adequate local ventilation.
Follow these acceptable safety hygiene practices during installation. Also, wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

Now you know the process to guide you for installation. Hiring the right person would be ideal for you to use EIFS stucco. Sky Stucco Systems is a reliable installer of EIFS exterior stucco, architectural moldings, foundation parging, and repair in Toronto, GTA, and all over Ontario. You can learn more about EIFS and how they work here, or you can contact us for a free consultation.

The post How To Correctly Apply EIFS Stucco Base Coat for a Traditional 3 coat Application appeared first on Sky Stucco Systems Contractor.

Necessary things to do before you start install EIFS stucco.

Coming up with these activities before starting the whole process can really speed things up for installation.

• Set up scaffolding the day before you want to start by making sure it is erected by OSHA safety regulations.
• Protect all the important areas using masking tape before you start working.
• Make sure you are using the correct material to work.
• Finally, making sure you are following the manufacturer’s guide or manual.

Application Process of how to install EIFS Stucco

There are so many different methods to create a perfect EIFS stucco but I am going to show you the best form and the simple way to go by. The key ingredient here is to make sure there is no moisture in the systems. Now let’s begin on how to install your EIFS stucco.

Attachments

The most common way and Effective way to Install EIFS stucco and to attach the insulation to the building is with adhesive. Use specially designed adhesives to fasten all elements in the EIFS structure. You should avoid metal fasteners since the conductivity of the metal contradicts the process of reducing energy. Here, Sto does not recommend the use of mechanical fasteners, they only do when the substrate is incompatible with adhesive. Security-wise, some architects will specify a mechanical attachment. It all depends on who you are working with.

Backwrapping

In other to apply the insulation boards to the wall, a strip of reinforcing mesh is attached to the base of the substrate. This mesh will fasten around the edge of the insulation. This is what we call “backwrapping.”

The two major purposes of back wrapping are:

• Ensuring you protect the edges of insulation boards.
• Ensuring you attach the whole edge of the insulation system.

Insulation Boards

The insulation boards used are Expanded Polystyrene or “EPS” boards. There are several thicknesses available. The minimum thickness allowable is 3/4 inches (19 mm). Most building codes will permit the thickness to be up to 4 inches (100mm) maximum. When applying the boards, make an effort to remove any gaps between each piece. The insulation boards should be cut with a knife using a T-square to guide the cut. Keep the knife sharp and hold the blade at a low angle( around 30° or less ) when cutting the board. This allows it to slice through the insulation.
Upon delivery, the following should be checked:

• EPS should come in plastic bags.
• Each bag should identify technical properties.
• All the boards should be wire cut and the edges are to be square cut.
• Also, make sure the EPS boards were not damaged in handling.

Adhesive Application to ensure Effective way to Install EIFS stucco

Apply the adhesive to the insulation board using the correct size notched trowel. Hold the notched trowel at a minimum 30° angle to create the correct size ribbons. When creating the ribbons, press the trowel firmly (this will prevent the excess adhesive from collecting between the ribbons). Keep the trowel clean to prevent any adhesive build-up in the notches.
The ribbons should run horizontally (parallel to the long dimension of
the board) when the boards are applied to the wall. The ribbons of adhesive are applied vertically (parallel to the short dimension of the board). This creates channels for moisture drainage. To make application easier and quicker, build an “easel” to hold the insulation boards as you apply the adhesive.

Applying the Insulation boards

Before placing the EPS boards on the wall, be sure to wipe any additional adhesive from the edges of the boards. Any adhesive collecting between the boards will create “thermal bridges”. When applying the boards, butt them tightly together. This will prevent any “thermal breaks” in the system. Gaps between the EPS boards can cause cracking in the EIFS base coat and finish and telegraphing of joints through the finished wall surface. After installation, check for any breaks or spaces. If there are any, even the width of a credit card, they must be filled with an insulating material.

Rasping

The entire surface of the EPS wall must be level and uniform. EPS
boards are very easy to level and shape using a “rasping board.” To make a rasping board, simply cut a straight scrap of 1/2″ (13 mm) plywood, install a wooden handle on one face, then glue a piece of 12 grit floor sanding paper to the other face of the plywood. Floor sanding paper is approximately 8″ x 22″ (203 x 599mm) and should be available at local equipment rental shops. When rasping the insulation boards level and even, you must rasp the whole surface of the boards, not the joints or edges.

Base Coat and Mesh Application

After the preparation of the wall, you should be able to protect it from sun and water damage. If the EPS board is exposed to sunlight for extended
periods, a powdery film develops on the surface. This film must be
removed by rasping. Moreover, einforcement is then added to all the boards for
impact protection. All the EPS boards are to be covered with the base coat and mesh application and to dry before applying any finish.

Finish Application

Plan the Finish application so enough workers are available to finish
entire sections of wall area at one time without interruption. Mix the finish with a clean, rust-free mixer. Small amounts of clean water may be added to aid workability. Limit water to the amount needed to achieve the Finish texture. Use only stainless steel trowels to apply the finish. Work in pairs with the first person applying the finish to the wall and the second person floating the finish to the proper texture.

By strictly following these guidelines listed below, we won’t face such problems and an aesthetically pleasing wall surface will be the result.

1. Apply finish directly over the base coat only after it is dried. 24 hours minimum drying time is required.
2. Resist application in direct sunlight. This can cause shadow lines from scaffolding.
3. Apply finish in a continuous application, always working a wet edge toward the unfinished area.
4. Aesthetic V-grooves can be designed into the system to accommodate workability on multi-level buildings. A minimum of 3/4 inch ( 19mm ) insulation board should be left after any grooves are cut.
5. “Rilled texture” finishes must be floated with a plastic trowel to achieve proper textures and avoid discoloration of the finish.
6. Avoid installing different batches of finish side by side.
7. Also, interrupt application at natural breaks in construction: expansion joints, changes of plane, system termination, etc.

Floating or Spraying Textures

You can apply the texture to the outer surface with various products and application methods. Using the Natural Stone Finish, it is applied to the wall by spray application in two coats.

Also, you can apply the first coat by moving the spray vertically and horizontally with the second coat to achieve a full and uniform coverage to a thickness of not less than 1/8 inch ( 3.2mm). After the finish is dry, a sealer is also applied over the whole surface by a roller.

Also, when selecting a finish color always select a color with a lightness value
of 20 or greater. The use of dark color finishes (lightness value less than 20) over EIFS should be avoided because dark colors absorb light energy from the sun and heat up. This can cause EPS board deformation and delamination of the EIFS basecoat/mesh from the surface. The surface temperature limit of the EPS board is approximately 160°F (71°C).

Sealants – Final process to install EIFS stucco

Wherever the insulation system or the EPS boards meets another material, i.e., door/window frame, roof, pipes, meter boxes, exterior faucets, etc., a minimum 1/2” (13mm) wide sealant joint must be provided.
To properly install sealant, you need to provide a joint between two
materials.

The sealant works like a rubber band or a shock absorber bonded between two surfaces, stretching back and forth as the two surfaces move.
In addition, there are two important factors to remember when applying sealant.

The sealant must bond to only two surfaces such as the coated
EPS board edge and a window frame. It should never bond to
a third surface such as the substrate. If you bond to the third
surface, the “rubber band” will not be able to stretch back and
forth and the sealant will crack. There must be enough sealant material (minimum 1/2″) (13 mm) to stretch, yet not too much material (maximum 1″) (25 mm)

Also, there is an easy way to solve both of the above problems: use a closed-cell “backer rod” material. This can be pushed into the joint under compression. This will provide a backing to hold the size of the joint correctly and provide a third surface that the sealant will not bond water.

Conclusion on how to install EIFS stucco

Now you know all these processes but if you don’t get the right installer you will be causing damages. Sky Stucco Systems is a reliable installer of EIFS exterior stucco, architectural moldings, foundation parging, and repair in Toronto, GTA, and all over Ontario. You can learn more about EIFS and how they work here, or you can contact us for a free consultation.

The post Most Effective Way To Properly Install EIFS Stucco appeared first on Sky Stucco Systems Contractor.