Construction Performance Guidelines
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About the Guidelines
These helpful guidelines outline work and material deficiencies in new homes and residential condominium units covered under the statutory warranty [...]
Article Number
Condition
EIFS CRACKING
Acceptable Performance/Condition
Surfaces shall be generally free of cracks.
Warranty
One-Year - Work and Materials. Damage resulting from normal wear and tear, improper maintenance or additions, alterations and deletions made by the homeowner is not covered by the statutory warranty.
Action
Cracks not meeting the acceptable performance requirements must be repaired. Repairs must meet the requirements of the system manufacturer. Every reasonable attempt should be made to match the finishes.
Remarks
EIFS (exterior insulated finish systems) should be designed to minimize cracking through the use of control joints/limited panel sizes. ULC S716.1 Materials and Systems; ULC S716.2 Installation of EIFS Components and Water Restive Barriers; and ULC S716.3 Design Application provide guidance for the design and installation of EIFS. Some cracks may be acceptable from a performance perspective if the system is drained, but may not be acceptable from an aesthetic perspective depending on the location of the cracks. Some cracking in areas of the building which are not routinely occupied (mechanical penthouse for example) may be considered acceptable if it does not negatively impact performance (leakage resistance etc). The colour or texture of repaired areas shall match the existing as close as possible, and the patched area should not be readily apparent when viewed from a distance of 6 m under normal lighting conditions. Generally the cracks which are intended to be repaired will be visible from a distance of 6m however, in some instances; smaller cracks may negatively impact performance. The width of cracks will vary with temperature. Wider in cold weather, narrower in hot weather.