ATLANTA PEST, TERMITE & WILDLIFE CONTROL COMPANIES

Read our reviews on Atlanta pest and termite control companies

EIFS or synthetic stucco continued...

EIFS inspection and repairs. Industry experts recommend that all EIFS homes be inspected for water or moisture in the walls.  Two moisture gauges are used in this inspection.  One gauge simply reads the water content through the intact wall.  The second gauge requires sticking a probe into the wall through small holes.

If water is found in the wall before it creates a termite problem or structural damage, repairs are relatively inexpensive.  If a problem exists and is not addressed, repairs can be much more costly.  Once water is detected, the source of the water must be identified and repaired.  Once water stops entering the wall, the moisture levels should go down over time, and the additional damage caused by the moisture will stop.

Historically, extending EIFS all the way to the ground was a generally accepted building practice.  However, Georgia building codes changed in 1997.  The new codes require the builder to leave a six-inch gap between the EIFS or other foam insulation board and the ground.  The gap is intended to prevent termites from finding an easy pathway into the home and to allow for easy inspection by termite companies. 

Currently, some termite companies will not put an EIFS-clad home under contract unless the home has the six-inch gap.  Additionally, just as life insurance premiums are higher for a 65-year-old smoker with high blood pressure than for a healthy 25-year-old non-smoker, some termite companies may charge a premium for EIFS-clad homes to cover their increased costs and liability. (See the stucco repair section for more information on EIFS and EIFS repair.)

Next page >>>

 

More about Atlanta pest and termite control