Exterior finish system

Abstract

An exterior finish system for building walls is provided. The system includes a moisture permeable insulation layer having interconnected voids and exterior finishing materials applied over said insulation layer. A building wall incorporating the exterior finish system is also provided. A process for finishing an exterior building wall is further provided.

1 . An exterior finish system for building walls comprising: 
 a raspable, moisture drainable insulation layer having a plurality of openings; and    an exterior finish disposed over said insulation layer.    
   
   
       2 . The exterior finish system of  claim 1 , wherein said insulation layer comprises a plurality of discrete beads manufactured from a polymeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The exterior finish system of  claim 2 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin and polystyrene materials.  
   
   
       4 . The exterior finish system of  claim 3 , wherein said polyolefin material is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The exterior finish system of  claim 3 , wherein said polymeric material is expanded polystyrene.  
   
   
       6 . The exterior finish system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of discrete beads are coated with a water resistant coating.  
   
   
       7 . The exterior finish system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of discrete beads are bonded at points of contact.  
   
   
       8 . The exterior finish system of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior finishing material is selected from the group consisting of brick, wood siding, vinyl siding, aluminum siding, stucco, and exterior insulation and finish system materials.  
   
   
       9 . The exterior finish system of  claim 8 , wherein said exterior finishing material is stucco.  
   
   
       10 . The exterior finish system of  claim 8 , wherein said exterior finishing material is exterior insulation and finish system materials.  
   
   
       11 . The exterior finish system of  claim 10 , wherein said exterior insulation and finish system materials comprise said moisture drainable insulation layer, at least one base coat layer, a reinforcing layer, and at least one finish coat layer.  
   
   
       12 . The exterior finish system of  claim 11 , wherein said base coat is selected from cementitious base coats, polymer base coats, and polymer-modified cementitious base coats.  
   
   
       13 . The exterior finish system of  claim 11 , wherein said reinforcing layer is selected from the group consisting of reinforcing fabrics and meshes.  
   
   
       14 . The exterior finish system of  claim 13 , wherein said reinforcing mesh is a woven mesh of glass fibers.  
   
   
       15 . The exterior finish system of  claim 11 , wherein said finish coats are selected from the group consisting of cementitious finish coats, polymer based finish coats, and polymer-modified cementitious finish coats.  
   
   
       16 . A building wall comprising: 
 a frame having an exterior surface; optionally, a sheathing attached to said exterior surface of said frame;    a raspable, moisture drainable insulation layer having a plurality of openings disposed over said exterior surface of said frame, or disposed over said sheathing if said sheathing is present; and    an exterior finish disposed over said insulation layer.    
   
   
       17 . The wall of  claim 16 , wherein sheating is present and said sheathing is selected from the group consisting of plywood sheathing, oriented strand board, wafer board, particle board, cement board, and gypsum board.  
   
   
       18 . The wall of  claim 16 , wherein said insulation layer comprises a plurality of discrete beads manufactured from a polymeric material.  
   
   
       19 . The wall of  claim 18 , wherein said polymeric material comprises polyolefin materials.  
   
   
       20 . The wall of  claim 18 , wherein said polymeric material comprises expanded polystyrene materials.  
   
   
       21 . The wall of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of discrete beads are bonded an points of contact.  
   
   
       22 . The wall of  claim 16 , wherein said exterior finish is selected from the group consisting of brick, wood siding, vinyl siding, aluminum siding, stucco, and exterior insulation and finish system materials.  
   
   
       23 . The wall of  claim 22 , wherein said exterior finish comprises exterior insulation and finish system materials.  
   
   
       24 . The wall of  claim 23 , wherein said exterior insulation and finish system materials comprise said moisture drainable insulation layer, at least one base coat layer, a reinforcing layer, and at least one finish coat layer.  
   
   
       25 . The wall of  claim 24 , wherein said base coat is selected from cementitious base coats, polymer base coats, and polymer-modified cementitious base coats.  
   
   
       26 . The wall of  claim 24 , wherein said reinforcing mesh is woven mesh of glass fibers.  
   
   
       27 . The wall of  claim 24 , wherein said finish coats are selected from the group consisting of cementitious finish coats, polymer finish coats, and polymer-modified cementitious finish coats.  
   
   
       28 . The wall of  claim 16 , wherein said moisture drainable insulation layer is attached to said building wall frame or sheathing, if sheathing is present, by means of (i) an adhesive attachment, (ii) mechanical fasteners, or (iii) a combination of an adhesive and mechanical fastners.  
   
   
       29 . The wall of  claim 16 , wherein a weather resistant barrier is attached to said sheathing if sheathing is present.