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The difference between stucco and EIFS is rooted in how each one is constructed and installed. Stucco is made from Portland cement, sand, lime and water that is applied in three coats over metal lath. It’s then coated with an expansive acrylic-polymer finish to deter cracking. Much of the new cement stucco being applied today uses foam trim build-out details and acrylic finishes that look just like EIFS. EIFS is multilayered, made up of a foam insulation board, a coat of synthetic stucco, fiberglass mesh and then a top coat. It rarely needs to be repainted it since its special acrylic coating is resistant to fading, chalking and yellowing. It is also less likely to crack than traditional stucco because of the mesh netting that reinforces the base layers.