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Dryvit: What Owners Should Know
Many people call any foam-backed stucco “Dryvit,” the way tissues get called by one brand name. Whatever is on your walls, we can identify the system, check its condition and tell you what it needs.
- Identify your system
- Older barrier walls
- Inspections & repairs
- Homes & commercial
Request a consultation & estimate
Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.
We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.
A brand name that became a nickname
Dryvit is the brand name of a manufacturer of EIFS, the foam-based exterior system with a reinforced base coat and acrylic finish. It was one of the first EIFS brands sold in the United States, and it was used widely on Georgia shopping centers, offices and homes in the 1980s and 1990s. Because of that, “Dryvit” became shorthand for EIFS in general, even on buildings clad with another manufacturer’s product.
For an owner, the brand matters less than the type of system and its condition. A wall from that era is usually a barrier system with no drainage behind the foam, and its long-term health depends on the windows, flashings and sealant joints around it. A newer wall may be a drainable system with a barrier and drainage path.
We are an independent stucco and EIFS contractor, not a manufacturer, and we work on EIFS from any brand. Read about Dryvit repair, our general EIFS overview, or leak detection if you suspect moisture.
How to tell if you have Dryvit or EIFS
A few simple checks narrow it down; an inspection confirms it.
The tap test
EIFS sounds hollow and gives slightly under a firm press; cement stucco feels solid as rock.
Edges & terminations
Look where the wall stops near the ground or at a vent; you may see foam board behind the coating.
Build date
Homes and buildings from the 1980s through the late 1990s are the most likely to have barrier EIFS.
Paperwork
Plans, inspection reports or old warranty papers sometimes name the system and manufacturer.
Often paired with this work
Most wall problems involve more than one part of the envelope.
EIFS
EIFS looks like stucco from the street, but it is a very different wall.
Learn more
EIFS Repair
A dent in EIFS is more than cosmetic once the mesh is broken, and a dark streak below a window often means wet foam.
Learn more
EIFS Contractor
On a commercial EIFS job, the details at windows, parapets and joints decide whether the wall performs for decades or leaks in its first winter.
Learn more
Exterior Insulation & Finish System
An Exterior Insulation and Finish System is cladding, insulation and drainage in one assembly.
Learn more
EIFS Finish System
The finish coat is the part of EIFS everyone sees and the part the sun works on every day.
Learn more
Dryvit Repair
Repairing Dryvit and other EIFS brands comes down to two things: stopping water at the windows and edges, and making the new finish disappear into the old.
Learn moreBarrier walls and drainable walls
The biggest change in EIFS over the years was the move from barrier systems to drainable ones. The older approach relied on a perfect outer skin; any leak at a window or joint went straight into the sheathing. Drainable systems assume some water will get in and give it a way out.
An older barrier wall is not automatically a failed wall. Many stay dry for decades when sealants, kick-outs and window flashings are kept in good shape. The point is to know which kind you have and to check it, especially before buying or selling.
| Feature | Older barrier EIFS | Current drainable EIFS |
|---|---|---|
| Behind the foam | Sheathing only | Barrier and drainage path |
| Leak at a window | Stays in the wall | Drains out at base |
| Sealant role | Primary defense | One of several lines |
| Inspection need | Regular probing advised | Routine checks |
| Upgrade path | Repair or drainable retrofit | Maintain and recoat |
What a Dryvit inspection covers
Most owners call us before a sale, after a stain appears, or because an old wall has never been checked.
Walk the exterior
We confirm the system type and look at windows, doors, roof-to-wall corners, decks and the base of every wall.
- System type confirmed
- Kick-outs checked
- Ground clearance noted
Probe for moisture
Small, sealed probe holes at high-risk spots measure moisture in the sheathing behind the foam.
- Below window corners
- At roof intersections
- Holes sealed after
Report & options
You receive findings with photos and a clear list of repairs, maintenance items or upgrades, with a written quote.
- Photos and readings
- Prioritized work
- Quote in Jobber
Buying a home with Dryvit?
An EIFS inspection before closing tells you what you are taking on.
What our customers say
Homeowners and long-time commercial clients on working with ASR.
“Great attention to detail and workmanship. Really appreciate the effort to carefully caulk all stucco penetrations and amazingly good job of matching the stucco color since I had the stucco painted 5 years before.”
“We had a section of our wall that was crumbling, and I was worried the repairs would stand out. Not only did they fix the issue, but they matched the color and texture so perfectly that I honestly can’t tell where the damage was.”
“Excellent customer service and craftsmanship! I have used Darrin and the team several times and have never been disappointed!”
Dryvit questions
What Georgia homeowners, buyers and building owners ask us about Dryvit.
Is Dryvit the same as stucco?
Should I avoid buying a house with Dryvit?
Are you a Dryvit company?
Can old Dryvit be replaced with something else?
Do commercial buildings have Dryvit too?
Find out what is on your walls
Call (888) 592-1304 or send the form. We will identify the system, check its condition and explain your options.
Request a consultation & estimate
Homeowners and commercial clients alike: tell us about the property and what you are seeing.
- Call(888) 592-1304
- E-mailinfo@advstucco.com
- Headquarters138 Mountain Brook Dr, Canton, GA 30115
- HoursMon–Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Send us your project details
Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.
We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.