|
|
|
July 2000
According to The News & Observer (July 5, 2000), McDonald's is suing five major manufacturers of EIFS as well as the general contractor and several distributors and applicators. McDonald's is claiming that 70 of its restaurants in North and South Carolina have sustained moisture damage because of the exterior synthetic stucco. In many buildings clad with barrier EIFS, water that enters behind the cladding does not evaporate or escape quickly enough to allow structural members to dry out. The moisture content and temperature inside the wall cavities of these homes often promote rapid growth of wood-destroying fungus, leading to deterioration or rot of the sheathing/substrate or structural members. These conditions are also conducive to infestation of termites and ants. Depending on the size of the commercial building or home, EIFS repairs can range from tens of thousands to more than one hundred thousand dollars. The McDonald's lawsuit is the first large-scale litigation against EIFS involving commercial buildings. The EIFS industry defends its product and attributes the moisture damage on construction contractors' and subcontractors' poor workmanship. Learn more about EIFS.
|