Stucco Moldings (sometimes called Architectural Moldings) are a prime example of how new construction technologies such as EIFS are replacing conventional products. For the sake of clarity, the article is referencing "Synthetic Stucco", otherwise known as EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finish System). The advent and development of EIFS proven, over time, it's superiority to traditional building products in terms of moisture management, insulation and aesthetic value. Among the prime reasons for EIFS' aesthetic appeal is the use of Stucco Moldings -- moldings made of the same styrofoam core, fiberglass mesh and base coat as the EIFS wall itself. These products do not warp, bend, rot or crack, while providing the durability required by exterior building products. But how exactly do these products prove to be superior to existing ones?
For starters, a sill made with a styrofoam core is much, much lighter than a pure concrete sill. This lighter weight results in less structural stress on the wall cladding, allowing you to place the concrete sill in more locations without worrying about the underlying support structure. Where an architect may need to consider the weight of a 30 pound/foot concrete sill, a comparable Stucco Molding might weigh in at about 3 pounds/foot, meaning less work for both the architect and the workers on site. Additionally, Stucco Moldings are manufactured in 8-foot lengths as opposed to 4-foot concrete sills. The manufacturing process provides superior turn around, as more pieces can be made simultaneously, and the flexibility of making faux-concrete-sills in custom profiles.
Because of it's light weight, the product is much easier to transport and install. Concrete sills require flatbed trucks with specialized unloading equipment in order to get to a site, as well as surcharges due to the extreme weight, whereas Stucco Moldings may be transported in any vehicle long enough to fit them, and weight need not be considered. On top of simply transporting, Stucco Molding's light weight makes it easier to unload and install, it can be unloaded and moved to the locatino of installation by hand, removing the need for a forklift and multiple men. The 8-foot length (as opposed to 4-foot) mean less painstaking joining work where the ends butt up against one another, cutting the labor for finishing work nearly in half.
It is no surprise then that Stucco Moldings come in at giant savings to contractors and installers. The lighter weight results in quicker and easier manufacturing, transporting and installing, while the longer length means less handling and less touch up work. It is not uncommon for the product itself to be anywhere from 50% to 25% of the price of concrete sills and provide a 75% to 90% reduction to transportation and installation charges.
Hanging on to the way your father and your father's father and so forth did their job is a recipe for disaster in modern day. New construction technologies such as Stucco Moldings save not only time and money, but also provide additional design options not previously available, making architects and building owners happy. What this means is that if you don't have the foresight take advantage of the better products now available, your competition will and gain the advantage of happier customers, lower costs and higher profits.
Jim Schwarznoff has taken courses in Classical Architecture and Building Sciences as a part of his Bachelor of Applied Technology in Construction Science and Management. For more information on Stucco Moldings and concrete sills, visit http://www.decoramould.com/
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