Proposal would toughen ban on fake stucco - By STEVE LAW, Statesman Journal, OR
Illnesses attributed to use of siding's synthetic version
A pinhole in the synthetic stucco can allow water to penetrate inside the walls, Adamson said. So can problems with windows, gutters, caulking, paint jobs and other exterior features.
Insurance companies started denying coverage to contractors who install the material. There was a successful class-action lawsuit in Tennessee. Chicago and North Carolina banned its use in residential applications, and Georgia also enacted a ban, Long said.
Product improved
Makers of synthetic stucco, also known as Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems or EIFS, devised better products that allow for water to drain instead of causing rot and mold inside walls. That product first was introduced in 1997, said Steve Klamke, executive director of the EIFS Industry Members Association.