This week, our 'Explainer' takes a look at Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS). Typically used in low and mid-rise properties, EIFS is a popular insulation system installed on many building exteriors as it provides a number of benefits. Despite its popularity, however, many concerns about its negative aesthetic impacts have been expressed and heavily scrutinized on a UT Forum Thread. Our sister site, SkyriseCities.com, provides an overview:

A building in Germany with half its facade covered in EIFS, image by Handwerker via Wikimedia Commons

While curtain wall and window wall cladding systems are typically employed in prominent developments, particularly highrise projects, homes and small commercial buildings often utilize Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), more so when renovating. The exterior wall cladding system has been in use since the 1960s in North America, when it was mostly attached to commercial masonry buildings. In recent years, EIFS has been a common implement on wood framed buildings. 

You can find the rest of the story on our sister site, SkyriseCities.com.