EIFS Covered by General Liability Insurance Program 
Leading manufacturers like Dryvit Systems, Inc. are helping to promote an innovative program that enables home builders to use EIFS as a cladding option for their homes without having to worry about general liability. With U.S. headquarters in West Warwick, R.I., Dryvit is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Supplier 100 of NAHB. Under the general liability insurance program, the American Wholesale Insurance Group (AmWINS), a California-based wholesale insurer, is able to offer residential EIFS coverage directly to EIFs applicators, who can then indemnify the builder and the home owner through the policy. The program is backed by an A-XV rated principal carrier. “We are extremely pleased to offer this program to EIFS contractors who are listed by an acceptable manufacturer,” said Jill Bay, vice president and program manager for AmWINS. “We recognize that there is a void in the EIFS residential insurance market, and we are pleased to be able to fill it.” From the builder’s perspective, the AmWINS EIFS endorsement is extremely easy to access, according to Dryvit. The EIFS applicator obtains the policy, and then for as little as $350 per project, the applicator can add the builder to it. The original home owner can be similarly indemnified. Because it is a per-project, pay-as-you-go plan, builders can participate without having to change existing insurance carrier relationships. The policy is a simple rider and acts in tandem with other coverage. A critical component of the policy is a three-stage EIFS inspection process that is performed at appropriate stages during the EIFS application to the home. The inspections ensure that the building envelope is properly prepared and that the EIFS is applied according to manufacturer’s specifications, which is a critical element to any cladding installation, according to Dryvit. More information can be obtained from AmWINS and its nationwide network of 28,000 brokers, or from Dryvit Systems, the nation's leading manufacturer of EIFS. This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page. | 
