Exterior and Interior Insulation

Question 1

What does EIFS stand for?

Answer 1

Exterior insulation and finish systems for cladding exteriors

Question 2

What are the main components of EIFS?

Answer 2

1. Insulation boards fastened mechanically and/or with adhesive
2. Base coat with reinforcement (such as alkali-resistant glass fibre or coated glass mesh), which typically adheres to the insulation but is sometimes mechanically fastened.
3. Surface finish (sometimes with primer, adhred to the base coat)
4. Joint treatments, drainage accessories, seals and sealants may also form part of the system.

Question 3

What are the advantages of EIFS?

Answer 3

1. Continuity of thermal barrier: continuous exterior later of the insulation for the building envelope. This helps avoid thermal bridging, and protects wall structure against extreme temperatures, moisture damage from condensation, as well as thermal movements. All this improves energy costs heat/cool systems.
2. Lightweight: EIFS have low weight (dead load) compared to masonry or concrete cladding. This reduces structural costs, particularly where seismic loads influence design requirements.
3. Water Penetration Resistance: Properly applied/maintained provide good resistance to rain water penetration.
4. Flexibility: less rigid than cladding systems, accommodate substrate flexure/movement without cracking
5. Appearance: wide range colours/textures
6. Reparability: localized damage easily repaired
7. Retrofit applications: can be applied to exisitn gcladding systems to improve appearance, increase thermal performance, correct exisitng rain penetration damage, improve resistance to condensation or entrapped moisture, protect structure and exisitng cladding from deterioration

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of EIFS?

Answer 4

1. Combustability
2. Imact resistance: vulnerable to impact damage
3. Compatability: all components, such as lamina, sealants, joint treatments, insulation, adhesive/fastening, moisture/air/ vapour barriers and substrate.
4. Staining: when exposed to frequent wetting, mildew growth can result
5. Sensitivity to workmanship: put together correctly
6. Long-term performance: maintenance is key, and any local deterioration/moisture ingress must be dealth with promptly

Question 5

What are the advantages of ABOVE GRADE Interior insulation?

Answer 5

Application: remove exisiting finish wall serface, reinsulate, apply proper vapour barrier if required, seal around all windows/doors and exterior wall penetrations, re-apply finish wall surface.

adv:

1. properly insulated and sealed wall system
2. Can lead to the identification of other hidden problems that require attention

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of ABOVE GRADE Interior insulation ?

Answer 6

1. Time intensive and invasive
2. may lead to unexpected increased costs due to finding more problems
3. REducing air leakage from interior can increase dependency on mechanical ventilation systems
4. May reduce interior livable area

Question 7

List typical types of Interior insulation.

Answer 7

Fibreglass batt
Rock mineral wool
open cell spray foam
closed cell spray foam
wetted cellulose
blown cellulose/fibreglass

Question 8

What are the advantages of ABOVE GRADE exterior insulation?

Answer 8

1. Space is usually not limited, so easy to add additional layers of insulation.
2. Eliminates thermal bridging in some areas.
3. Drill and fill blown cellulose is a cost-effective method of densely packing insulation in exterior wall cavities with minimal intrusion on interior spaces.
4. Minimal disruption to occupants
5. Air sealing is more effectively ahieved from the exterior

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of ABOVE GRADE experior insulation (retrofit)?

Answer 9

1. Build out window and door flashing systems when applying exterior rigid packages
2. Moisture damage can remain hidden and unknown to the homeowner
3. Drill and fill blown cellulose can settle over time withing the wall cavity, thus leading tothe compression to exisitng insulation (if present)

Question 10

What are typical types of ABOVE GRADE exterior insulation application?

Answer 10

EIFS, rigid isulation, drill and fill blown cellulose/fibreglass

Question 11

What are the advantages of BELOW GRADE interior insulation?

Answer 11

1. piggy backed onto plans to finish a basement
2. work done anytime of year, and one section at a time
3. easier and cheaper to insulate the full wall, therefore high insulating value
4. Conecting with above slab insulation is possible for a thermal bridge-free connection
5. Landscaping and driveways are not disturbed

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of BELOW GRADE interior insulation?

Answer 12

1. if moisture problems, new walls risk of rotting
2. Interior finishes hide/obscure moisture problems: adding interior insulation makes the foundation wall colder; any humid air that comes in contact with these walls will condense
3. Obstructions, such as electrical panels, wiring, plumbing, stairs, and partition walls make the work more difficult, and insulation less effective.
4. REducing air leakage from interior can increase dependency on mechanical ventilation systems.
5. Possibly decreases interior floor area

Question 13

What are the advantages and BELOW GRADE exterior insulation?

Answer 13

1. outside wall is more continuous and easier to insulate.
2. You can effectively see and correct any moisture or structural problems. Rubble or brick foundations and foundations with water leakage, dampness or other moisture problems should be insulated from the outside. Repairing the foundation, parging, waterproofing and installing a drainage system can be simultaneously accomplished
3. No disruption, no interior work disturbed, and no inside space lost
4. Freeze-thaw stresses are eliminated, and frost is unlikely to penetrate down to the footings
5. The mass of the foundation is within the insulated portion of the house and will tend to even out temperature fluctuations.

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of BELOW GRADE exterior insulation?

Answer 14

1. Digging a trench around a house can be difficult and risky, depending on the soil type.
2. Storing dirt can be a problem
3. Porperties on high water table can be a problem, as well as working during winter and spring
4. non-removable features, such as steps, paved carports, shrubbery, trees or fences make work difficult
5. Rubble or brick foundations might be partially supported by the soil
6. expensive to obtain high insulation levels, and the retrofit might negatively impact the appearance of the house
7. Depending on the above grade wall insulation strategy, there can be a thermal bridge at the junction
8. Connecting with any slab insulation in the house is impossible; to achieve thermal-bridging free connection, a combination of exterior and interior insulation is required.