Q. What is Manufactured Stone veneer?

A. Stone veneer is a manufactured stone offering the advantage of being lightweight, relatively simple to install and being considerably more cost-effective than real stone. Manufactured stone products are also available from manufactures all over the world.

Q. What materials are manufactured stone products made of?

A. Manufactured stone products are generally cast in molds and consist of materials made from real stones, Portland Cement and naturally occurring iron oxides (for coloring). Manufactured stone products looks and feel like natural stone and can be formed to fit almost any architectural design.

Q. How long will manufactured stone products last?

A. Manufactured stone products will last as long as any other concrete product. Lifespan really depends on how well the system is maintained.

Q. How are manufactured stone products installed to surfaces?

A. Manufactured stone products are generally installed by “sticking” the stone to the wall using a Portland cement-based mixture which bonds to the surfaces through curing. Grouting with mortar is optional and mortars are available in a wide range of colors and joint styles.

 

Q. Can manufactured stone products be used on both exterior and interior applications?

A. Manufactured stone products can be used on almost any properly prepared surface, exterior and interior.

 

Q. What kind of maintenance is required for manufactured stone?

A. Occasional washing of the surface with water is all that is really needed to maintain the look and durability of the product.

Q. How many product types are available?

A. Manufactured stone products are available in hundreds of styles, colors and configurations and can vary depending on the manufacturer.

 

Q. In a stucco frame-wall assembly, what purpose does building paper serve?

A. The main purpose of building paper is to keep water from contacting the substrate and structural support members—very commonly sheathing like plywood or OSB (oriented strand board) and wood or metal studs—so that these materials stay dry. Metal can rust and wood can rot. Also, wood is prone to expand and contract with changes in moisture, so it’s essential to keep sheathing dry to provide the plaster with a sound substrate. Minimizing the changes in moisture minimizes the stresses that might be placed on plaster from behind. In addition to structural considerations, excess moisture within a wall creates a potential for mold or mildew inside buildings.

 

Q. Can stucco (portland cement plaster) be applied directly over painted brick?

A. This is a common question that often arises when people are rehabbing or updating older construction. Plaster is a cost-effective finish, relatively easily installed, that improves the appearance and creates a water-resistant wall surface
  1. A painted surface will not typically absorb water and, as such, is a substrate to which stucco will not readily bond—at least not uniformly. There are two basic alternatives to covering a painted brick surface with a new coating of portland cement plaster. Sand blast or water blast to remove the paint in its entirety, then direct-apply a two coat system. It is essential to have a surface that is uniformly absorptive to accept the plaster coating. In addition, it may be beneficial to use a bonding agent or dash-bond coat with this approach.
  2. Attach paper-backed lath or install appropriate building paper between walls and attached metal lath to provide a moisture barrier and to serve as a bond breaker. Apply traditional three-coat stucco to metal lath and accessories. In this approach, the idea is to treat the plaster like a sheathed system, using metal lath to support the plaster on the substrate, while completely isolating the plaster layer from the backup with building paper. This prevents a partial bonding situation, which could set up undesirable stresses in the plaster and lead to cracking.

 

Q. How do you create ornamental shapes on plaster surfaces?

A. Stucco finishes are popular across North America. They lend themselves to nearly every type of architectural style. Certain styles can be enhanced with built-out shapes, such as cornices, quoins, or decorative tiles. Achieving these details on plaster finishes has evolved over time to today’s simple techniques. Creating Shapes Shapes are sometimes referred to as “plant-ons” because that’s how they are attached to stucco surfaces. An expanded polystyrene foam section is bonded to the basecoat with a material made specifically for that purpose. Some people use an EIFS basecoat material as the glue. This is attached to a portland cement plaster base, typically the brown and scratch coats, before final finishing. The shape is then finished like EIFS: covered with a basecoat and mesh, then a finish coat. What to Consider The shapes must be securely attached to the wall. The basecoat material acts like a glue to hold the backside, then also embeds the mesh that goes over the top of the shape. As the foam itself has no structural strength, the mesh and basecoat together provide an impact-resistant surface to the shape, protecting it in service.

 

 

Q. How long does stucco last on a building?

A. While the service life of stucco can’t be quantified as a specific number of years, properly applied and maintained portland cement plaster, or stucco, is as durable as any commonly used cladding material. Its hard surface resists abrasion and can take a lot of physical abuse. It stands up to all sorts of climates, from cold to hot and wet to dry. Many older homes built in the early 1900s have had very little maintenance and remain in good shape today.

 

Q. How long does stucco last on a building?

A. While the service life of stucco can’t be quantified as a specific number of years, properly applied and maintained portland cement plaster, or stucco, is as durable as any commonly used cladding material. Its hard surface resists abrasion and can take a lot of physical abuse. It stands up to all sorts of climates, from cold to hot and wet to dry. Many older homes built in the early 1900s have had very little maintenance and remain in good shape today.

 

Q. What are EIFS?

A

Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) are multi-component exterior wall systems which generally consist of:  

  1. an insulation board;
  2.  an adhesive and/or mechanical attachment of the insulation board to the substrate or existing wall surface (e.g., plywood);
  3.  a base coat reinforced with glass fiber mesh on the face of the insulation board;
  4.  and a finish coat which protects the entire system and can be applied in a wide variety of colors and textures to create virtually any "look" imaginable, including that of stucco or natural stone.

 

Q. What advantages do EIFS have over other building materials?

A. EIFS have two major advantages over other building materials: maximum energy efficiency and unmatched design flexibility. EIFS bring insulation to exterior walls to provide an unbroken layer of insulation, which significantly reduces air infiltration. EIFS offer tremendous design versatility as well, introducing new shapes, colors and textures to the field of home design -- in a durable, crack-resistant surface that requires minimal upkeep.

 

Q. Were EIFS developed for a particular climate or region?

A. EIFS are designed to perform in all regions, during all seasons. EIFS effectively insulate homes coast to coast, in both hot and cold climates. The system's insulation board reduces heat flow both into and out of a home -- to retain heat in cold temperatures, and to keep heat out in hot temperatures. And an EIFS finish can be easily styled to create the special looks that characterize different regions of the US.

 

Q. What type of maintenance do EIFS require?

A. EIFS are virtually maintenance-free. Colors are integral to the finish coat, which virtually eliminates the need for painting. Due to technologically-advanced 100% acrylic binders in the finish coat, the system resists fading, chalking and yellowing, so EIFS colors maintain a just-painted appearance, for a longer period. Most Common pollutants, such as dust, can simply be rinsed off of EIFS finish coats with water. As with most building materials, an occasional washing using simple cleaning agents is recommended to keep EIFS exteriors looking brand new. An annual inspection of sealants around, windows and other openings, routinely conducted by prudent owners regardless of the cladding material, is typically all that is required.

 

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