Replacing EIFS Stucco with Hardie

For this dramatic transformation, we removed EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing System) stucco and replaced it with new James Hardie fiber cement siding. This house was full of surprises: biggest of all was that the original rock-dash stucco was hiding underneath all that fancy new EIFS stucco! That forced us  to change our installation details on the fly to install HardiePlank lap siding with HardiePanel and Shake accents.

Unfortunately when the new EIFS was applied on top of the original stucco, the installation allowed very little in the way of moisture management. Thankfully, the home inspector caught this when our client purchased the home, and we were called in to tear off and start over.

We started by tearing off the EIFS stucco, which removes easier than cementitious stucco. It does however, create a lot of mess with the Styrofoam underlayment, so we took measures to make the process as clean as possible.

In order to install new Hardie siding without removing the original stucco, we strapped out the walls with pressure treated lumber nailed to the house framing. Custom metals were bent to correct the moisture management issues of the EIFS install, allowing any penetrating water to migrate away from the wall.

The homeowner designed a unique and fun exterior with lots of detail. A 4 foot band of Hardie Panel featuring batten strips wraps the front and west wall, adding a lot of character but also minimizing waste with the full sheet design. Light Mist Hardie Shingles decorate the front gable, and 8.25” Night Gray Hardie Plank anchors the whole exterior for a look that will never go out of style.

3.5” NT3 Hardie Trims in Midnight Black surround the doors and windows, while 5.5” corner Hardie Trims add some extra weight to the design. The end result is a unique and gorgeous home that is better prepared to last long term, with functional moisture management design and new exterior insulation.

Interested in a quote to renovate your home’s exterior? Click the button below to book your consultation today!