Preserving the past and constructing for the future

By Emma Peterson. 

Why contractors are using the Dryvit Outsulation system for historic and heritage projects. 

Historic buildings are fundamental to preserving our cities’ culture and heritage. However, because of their age, they are often in need of renovations to make them structurally sound and safe for modern use. Historical remediation projects come with a variety of challenges, as the American Society of Civil Engineers points out, “Renovation and restoration present unique challenges over new construction projects, such as complying with preservation laws, managing hazardous materials, addressing potential rezoning concerns, as well as ensuring the availability of skilled workers.” 

But just because it’s a challenge doesn't mean it’s impossible, and Tremco CPG’s Dryvit brand has developed an exterior facade solution that makes it easier to tackle these restoration projects – the Outsulation® system.  

What is the Dryvit Outsulation system 

Dryvit Outsulation is a modern exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) that, as the name suggests, insulates a building from the outside. It features “continuous insulation (CI) adhered or attached to an approved substrate, a basecoat with reinforcing fiberglass mesh and an impact-resistant architectural finish.” Traditionally, the insulator used in the CI of a Dryvit Outsulation system is EPS foam, but GPS, XPS and Mineral Wool are also usable.  

Dryvit Outsulation provides maximum durability, sustainability and thermal performance for all types of climates and structures. It has been shown to lower energy costs, reduce exterior maintenance needs and keep building looking their best.   

Designing with the Dryvit Outsulation system for historic integrity 

For the restoration of aging structures, Dryvit Outsulation is an ideal system for maintaining historical integrity. This is because EIFS provide the perfect balance of design flexibility with contemporary performance. 

Versatility 

EIFS, like the Dryvit Outsulation system, are remarkably versatile when it comes to design. They can be custom shaped and finished to mimic a wide variety of materials, even the intricate details often found on 19th and 20th century buildings (like cornices, dentils and keystones). Additionally, you can choose from countless textures and colors for a Dryvit Outsulation façade, making it simple to refresh a fading coating to match the historical intent. 

Because the CI is used in the system is typically a lightweight EPS foam, they put far less weight strain on a historical structure than other options.  

Performance 

A common challenge for historic renovations is getting the structure up to modern building codes and standards. Dryvit Outsulation is great at bringing heritage buildings up to contemporary energy codes and performance expectations. The combination of CI and the air/water barrier that are installed as a part of the system reduces thermal bridging and air leakage. In fact, since 2013, many national code bodies have started requiring CI for new construction projects for its ability to increase buildings’ R-value.  

Affordability 

These days, every building project seems expensive, but historic work is especially costly since it often involves sourcing rare materials or locating specific skilled labor. By working with the Dryvit Outsulation system, you can save money on the exterior restoration without cutting any corners. Not only is the material itself more affordable than other options, using field-applied or prefabricated EIFS shortens timelines and minimizes labor costs.  

One contractor, Rob Little of Little Construction, shared the benefit of working with Dryvit on his company’s Boston Hill Center project, “You can design it anyway you want, any color you want, almost any texture you want...and get your CI requirements and durability.” 

Conclusion 

Overall, the Dryvit Outsulation system is a powerful tool to have when renovating historical or heritage structures. The CI and other components of the EIFS combine visual adaptability, high-performance and cost-effectiveness to create the perfect balance of “preserving the past and constructing for the future.” 

Learn more about preserving historical buildings with Dryvit Outsolution EIFS.