A lot of synthetic stucco (eifs) in Lafayette? (Baton Rouge: for sale, houses)

[bpollen]

Does anyone know why there is so much synthetic stucco (eifs) in the Lafayette area?

In looking at houses online, I've seen a LOT of houses with that synthetic stucco. It looks fine, but I remember the big lawsuits of the '80s and on, from that stucco rotting the wood underneath, which wasn't visible from the outside. It wasn't just the installation procedure. It was the material itself.

But even now, a lot of the homes, and particularly new construction, have that material. I don't see that in my current state and city, or other cities.

Is there some particular reason, you think? Does that material no longer present a problem?

[Innotech]

Its probably not a big deal if they still use it

[annie_himself]

I used to do stucco for a few years, never heard of synthetic stuff before.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

I used to do stucco for a few years, never heard of synthetic stuff before.

It's everywhere. Starting in the 80s there were a lot of lawsuits. You can find youtube videos on it (synthetic stucco, or EIFS).

Ins. companies charge you more for your homeowner's if you have it.

It's not real stucco. It's very lightweight, is my understanding (you can put your hand through it), but insulating. If moisture gets in behind it, it rots the wood (synthetic stucco is applied on top of wood) because the moisture doesn't get out.

But maybe it's made differently, now. Synthetic stucco has been used in Europe for eons, I read. But there, they apply it to masonry. So no rotting problems.

If you are in Lafayette, you can't miss it. Any time you see a house that looks like it has parts that are stucco, that's the synthetic stucco, probably.

[brownbagg]

there alot of it in the south

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by brownbagg

there alot of it in the south

Not in another city in La., where I have relatives. I haven't seen any there. It's just an hour from Lafayette. But I bet it's in Baton Rouge.

I'm just curious as to whether it presents a problem. I've seen a house for sale there that is gorgeous. But it's got that eifs on it in places in the front and in the back.

I don't know what to think about that. Would they still be using it for building, if it's a problem? Maybe, maybe not. I don't know.

I've read that some companies paying for relocation and housing won't allow purchasing a house with synthetic stucco. One reason is that they're hard to sell, so the co. doesn't want to get stuck with it.