Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems is an insulating, decorative and protective finish system for exterior walls that can be installed on any type of construction. It is the only exterior wall covering that insulates and provides weather protection in a selection of shapes, colors, and textures that can replicate almost any architectural style or finish material, or stand by itself as an architectural finish. While similar in appearance to traditional stucco, EIFS is an exterior cladding system that consists of components and installation requirements very different from traditional stucco.

While giving the appearance of traditional stucco, EIFS is actually a multi-layered wall system that consists of the following components:

• Air/vapor barrier
• Insulation Board - Made of polystyrene (or similar material), which is secured to the exterior wall surface.
• Base Coat - Applied on top of the insulation and reinforced with fiberglass mesh.
• Finish Coat - Applied on top of the base coat giving a durable, flexible crack-resistant finish.

EIFS advantages:

EFIS provides many advantages that other exterior finishes and sidings do not. Chief among these are superior energy efficiency and great design flexibilitylow maintenance product, sound dampening, non-combustible, weather resistant and adds value and appeal to the building.

EIFS can be used on a wide range of buildings, including homes, apartments, condominiums, high-rise buildings, offices, malls, shopping centers, hotels, motels, clinics, government buildings, and so on. It can also be used to create facades and soffits on shopping centers, and for decorative purposes (to look like stone, or to create signage or artwork). EIFS can be used on new buildings and also can be installed on existing walls, called "retrofitting", to upgrade the appearance and provide insulation, without affecting the activities indoors during the renovation (EIFS is installed completely from the outside of the building).

EIFS has a number of features that contribute to its popularity, including a modern seamless look, the ability to mimic other materials, reasonable cost, and high energy efficiency. EIFS looks like traditional stucco or concrete, and is widely preferred by architects and builders.