S. Nesmith of Chicago asked: “I found a home in Naperville that we liked very much. It has a Dryvit exterior. Some of my friends said to be careful of Dryvit due to the moisture problems that can occur. What is dryvit and is there a problem?”
Dryvit is a common name for EFIS-Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems. It is sometimes referred to as Synthetic Stucco. It is a well insulated exterior with an elegant stucco look. Many homes use brick or stone trim with the EFIS. There are several manufactures of this type of exterior; Dryvit, Sto, and Senergy are the major players in the industry.
When first introduced to the Chicago suburbs, many builders were not careful in the selection of application subcontractors. Thus, due to faulty installation, moisture problems and subsequent class action lawsuits plagued the industry. Corrections in application procedures and quality of subcontractors have resulted in much better results.
Synthetic Stucco is more energy efficient than other types other exteriors. The EFIS systems add more “R” value to the home, less expensive gas and electric bills. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory funded through The U.S. Dept. of Energy completed a study in 2007 highlighting the benefits of Synthetic Stucco. For more information on Oak Ridge Labs see www.ornl.gov.
With proper maintenance your Dryvit home will put you ahead of the “going green” movement in the country. For more information on Dryvit please e-mail us at pikettrealtors@hotmail.com, or call 630-803-2437.