EIFSFACTS.ORG
The Real Facts About EIFS
- U. S. Gypsum -
In March, 1996 United States Gypsum (USG) made a public announcement that it would pull its barrier-EIFS products off the market effective April 8, 1996. It subsequently did so. USG based its decision on an internal study it conducted following the Wilmington incident and a Jan. 1996 report by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The announcement stated "U.S. Gypsum [a manufacturer of EIFS] has concluded that barrier-EIFS wall construction and maintenance is impractical and EIFS performance is unreliable."
USG subsequently honored all warranties for previously-installed EIFS and payed for replacing the EIFS cladding on existing homes. USG is a huge, Fortune 500 company, but it is one of the smaller EIFS manufacturers. It should also be noted that USG is not a member of EIMA and has suffered attacks by EIMA and other EIFS manufacturers in the press for there decision.
It is also interesting to note here the similarity to Big Tobacco. You may remember the CEOs of the Big Tobacco companies appearing before the U.S. Congress and stating, under oath, that they did not believe cigarettes were addictive. The Liggett Group, the smallest of the Big Tobacco companies, subsequently came clean, admitted to knowing about the addictive properties and turned over documents to the Congress. The Liggett Group was subsequently attacked in the press by the other Big Tobacco companies. Well, for many years EIFS manufacturers have stated that there is no systemic problem with barrier EIFS products. USG begs to differ.
* Please note that in no way do we intend to infer that the EIFS situation is the threat to public safety or health that tobacco is.
USG has what no other EIFS manufacturer apparently has: integrity. We encourage everyone in the building industry to consider doing business with USG as they are obviously a company that cares about their customers. It should also be noted the USG was the pioneer of the new water-managed EIFS. USG is available on-line.