EIFS - STUCCO HOMES in West Plano (neighborhood, buyers)

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by GripeWater

Good installation and quality materials are the key. All custom & semi custom builders do stucco and EIFS. Go out to Highland Park, Preston Hollow, West Plano or Southlake and you see beautiful homes that stand out among brick jungle of cookie cutters. California, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico specially love Spanish/ Mediterranian flair in homes. Texas adopted this late so people are more skeptic. Most relocation companies don't buy ANY homes any more, those ships have sailed.

Oil companies still buy homes for relocated employees.

[BiGeek]

In my next life, I'll either be a Saudi with my own oil well or an Oil company executive.

[Johnhw2]

Its not just executives, be an engineer or geologist, you wont have much fun in college with the curriculum of either but it pays off down the road

[Bigger G]

Love, love, love Stucco homes. This one is my favourite at the moment in Plano.


5236 Runnin River Dr, Plano, TX 75093 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Remember to send DMs with specific names. Like realtors and mortgage brokers, we don't want to turn into a yellow pages.

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by London29

Hi Everyone !

Two of the houses we like have EiFS.

Is it really bad ? What are the things to look out for ? Is a good inspection enough ?

Thanks !

No a "good inspection" is not enough! I have DM'ed you the name of an EIFS/Stucco specialist that also performs the rest of the home inspection if you want that as well.

Good luck!

[Keepingitsimple]

Problems happen like other aspects of construction but that's why we have inspectors. You can't miss out on good properties because some people smelled second hand smoke. Most people who say these things, never owned a stucco house. Third world people are against vaccines as well but what are you going to do?

[London29]

Thanks a lot for these really helpful informations !

I am less scared of buying an EIFS home now. Thanks !
To answer some of the reviewers questions : Hubby doesn't work for an oil company and we are not expats. We are the ones buying the house not the company.
Thanks for the DM about inspector infos, I appreciate it.

We will make an offer on the home that we end up choosing and a proper inspection will then determine if we close or not.

One of the homes did have a moisture problem. We did make an offer on it (before knowing...), it didn't go through but in the end we were glad that it didn't go through. We would rather get one that has never had any moisture issues.

And yes! Most people who say those things probably never owned a Stucco home! Good point on that one "Keepingitsimple"!

[ru4real]

Worked in the EIFS/stucco industry, ran work & quality control, inspected 100's if not more.
Some leak some don't, this is applicable to any exterior cladding past, present & future.
The devil is in the details during installation and proper maintenance thereafter.

The majority of the issues in East, Central and coastal TX market are prebuilt into many systems such as but not limited to incomplete/incompetent work, absence of required flashings or absence or deteriorating properly tooled elastomeric sealant joints.

Post installation are improper grade elevation at landscape & pedestrian or vehicle flatwork, clogged or negative drainage guttering and the irrigation folks that seem to think structures, windows, doors, AC condensing units, pavements and fencing require moisture to survive. Last I heard none of these grow any bigger or age slower from the frequent showering required in the keep up with the xyz neighborhoods.

Another of my favorites that will destroy most wall claddings are the owners that like climbing plants, you know the clingy kind with lots of tendrils that embed themselves into the finish & lots of vegetation so close to and hiding the structure that I wonder if some sort of shame syndrome doesn't require a therapist appointment.
This is also a nice pathway and nesting areas for the rodents, insects and WDI most of us enjoy dealing with.

Also the folks that like to hang stuff on the exterior thinking the walls need accessorizing. Walls are not fashionistas and do just fine without all the bling. Make a hole and make a problem, you've been warned.

Y'all have fun with and remember to maintain what you have...someone will be inspecting it one day and there's really no sense in being the responsible party for killing the deal. Even if you're told by others, "That inspector just killed the deal."

Forgot to add EIFS/stucco/Moisture Analysis inspecting requires specialized training and equipment. Most licensed Professional Property Inspectors and PEs don't have the required training or equipment.
For qualified pros try:
http://exterior-design-inst.com/members/texas.html
or
http://www.awci.org/pros.pl?type=inspector&state=TX

Always interview a few, find someone you're impressed by their knowledge, experience, comfortable with & price shoppers be warned inspections are not the place to shave a few hundred dollars if you really want a thorough job that is fact based.
The better guys/gals charge more for these specialized inspections than your top end Home Inspector or PE charges for the entire general property inspection. Pay now or pay many times over once the mortgage is in your name.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by London29

Thanks a lot for these really helpful informations !

I am less scared of buying an EIFS home now. Thanks !
To answer some of the reviewers questions : Hubby doesn't work for an oil company and we are not expats. We are the ones buying the house not the company.
Thanks for the DM about inspector infos, I appreciate it.

We will make an offer on the home that we end up choosing and a proper inspection will then determine if we close or not.

One of the homes did have a moisture problem. We did make an offer on it (before knowing...), it didn't go through but in the end we were glad that it didn't go through. We would rather get one that has never had any moisture issues.

And yes! Most people who say those things probably never owned a Stucco home! Good point on that one "Keepingitsimple"!

If you need another inspector's name let me know, the one I used is a Professional Engineer and a seasoned home inspector. I paid a little more for him but value the creditials of PE in an inspector. Had him shoot the elevation of the slab all across the slab for peace of mind. I dont now if he is an expert in EIFS as it was not a concern with the brick home I bought.