Above is a photo of a well-kept EIFS home.  This home was constructed in the mid-south approximately four years ago.  While talking with the owner, we realized that this home was retrofitted within the last year and a half.

The retrofit contractor holds several certifications for product knowledge and is a certified EIFS inspector.  The contractor has a reputation for being one of the best retro contractors in the area and is active in a national organization to promote good EIFS installations.

On inspection of this home we found the EIFS details to be up to standard in every aspect with the exception of metal head flashing over the windows and doors.

On the front left elevation of this home you will notice a triple-ganged set of double hung windows.

If you could inspect these windows, you would observe no metal head flash, but the overhang of the EIFS trim offers protection to the headers.  You would also observe good working EIFS to wood sealant joints.  If you looked at the window unit itself, you would not be able to detect any problems.

At the owner's request, we were asked to look at the interior of the room behind these windows.

The complaint of the owner was very obvious.

He had discovered that his hardwood floor under the windows had rotted away.  Once he discovered the problem, he removed the base board under the windows and found additional water damage beginning to take place in the framing.  Notice the growth of mold on the framing and subfloor.