Will EIFS lower my power bill?

It can, and we won't put a number on it. Your windows, your AC unit and your thermostat habits matter as much as the wall does.

Where does the 55 percent figure come from?

From EIMA, the EIFS industry association. It compares air filtration in an EIFS wall against standard wood-frame construction.

Does thicker foam mean a better wall?

Up to a point. Two inches insulates more than one, but past that you start fighting window depth and trim details.

Is EIFS worth it on a home I'll sell in two years?

Probably not for the energy alone. It makes more sense if the exterior needs work anyway or you want custom shapes.

Does the foam make the house hold heat in winter?

It slows heat moving either way. Phoenix winters are mild, so most of the value here is the summer side.

EIFS guide

Energy efficient stucco for Arizona

Your AC fights the wall all summer. An EIFS wall wraps the house in foam, so less of the heat you're paying to remove gets back in.

The problem

Most Phoenix walls have gaps in the insulation

A standard wall insulates between the studs. The studs themselves are a straight line of wood from outside to inside.

Heat takes that line. Framing, corners and headers pull warmth into a house that the batts between them never see.

Foam board on the outside closes that path. The insulation runs across the whole wall, studs included, with no break.

The numbers

What the foam layer buys you

Two of these are material facts and one is a Phoenix reality. None of them are a promise about your power bill, since your house, your AC and your habits set that.

55%: Less air leakageEIMA reports EIFS walls can cut air filtration by up to 55 percent versus standard wood-frame construction.
R-4: Per inch of foamTypical rated value for the rigid board we install. Two inches roughly doubles it.
110°F: Summer days herePhoenix runs past 110 for weeks each summer. That heat pushes on the wall all day.
No gaps: At the studsThe foam runs across the framing, so heat has no straight path in.

Source: EIMA (EIFS Industry Members Association).

Where the savings actually show up

The clearest change is comfort, not the bill. Rooms on the west side stop feeling hot at 4pm while the rest of the house is fine.

Your AC also short-cycles less. It runs longer and less often, which is easier on the unit.

Any savings on the bill depend on your home. An older house with single-pane windows leaks through the glass no matter how good the wall is.

EIFS versus adding insulation inside

Blowing insulation into the wall cavity helps, and it's cheaper. It still leaves the studs as a heat path.

It also means opening up your interior walls. EIFS does its work from the outside, so nobody has to move out of a room.

If your exterior needs a recoat anyway, that's the moment EIFS makes the most sense. You're already paying for the wall work.

What it costs against what it returns

EIFS usually runs a few dollars per square foot more than traditional stucco. The foam board and the extra steps are the difference.

Nobody can honestly tell you the payback period without seeing your home and your bills. Anyone who quotes you a payback in an ad is guessing.

What we can tell you is the wall spec. You get continuous insulation, a drainage layer and a flexible finish that resists cracks.

Services

Where this work sits.

Stucco & EIFS

The layered EIFS system, installed on new builds and over sound existing walls.

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Remodeling & Exterior

Exterior painting and siding when the rest of the outside needs to catch up.

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ROC #336509 · ROC #349457 · Family-owned since 2020

Energy questions

What homeowners ask about EIFS and heat

Tell us about your project

New stucco, a repair, drywall, or a full exterior. Send a few details and we'll get you a free estimate, or call and ask for Alan or Ana.

Call (602) 754-6461 Email us

ROC #336509 · ROC #349457 · Family-owned since 2020