Exterior Insulating Finishing Systems (EFIS), commonly referred to as DriVit in the business, has been a topic of concern in Seattle for years. This type of building product looks like stucco but is actually a panel with stucco looking material applied to it. It is often confused with stucco since they look similar. Since it is a newer building product the issue with EFIS in our area is that it had been installed incorrectly in many circumstances, causing water to seep into houses/buildings and causing rot from the inside out. We now have an understanding of what to look for with this material and how it can be properly used. I believe the next big issue will be those homes with cultured stone applied to the exterior. Often times there is no backing and the stone is applied directly to the house without any type of vapor barrier being used. Builders call this "lick and stick". The issue will be that water will get behind the stone and rot the house but will not be visible because it is behind the stone. If you are buying or building a home with a stone facade make sure all the stone work is property installed with a vapor barrier behind it.
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