How to Determine If You Have Chinese Drywall
- Foul, sulfurous odors coming from your walls.
- Metal in contact with relatively new drywall is corroding quickly.
- Copper, in particular, will corrode rapidly in contact with poor drywall from China. ...
- Black corrosion on wiring.
- Appliances and electronics inexplicably failing (they have copper wiring, which can corrode).
- Drywall is newer than 2001.
Full Answer
How do you test for Chinese drywall?
How do you test for Chinese drywall? BLACK SOOT ON THE AIR CONDITIONING COILS: Another Chinese drywall test you may do involves the following: Remove the panel of your air conditioning system and look at the coils inside – if they are blackish or covered with a black soot, then you may have defective Chinese drywall ; e.
What are the problems with Chinese drywall?
One of the easiest ways to detect contaminated drywall is to remove a switch plate and look for black soot on the wiring just inside your wall, but if you've answered yes to any of these questions or feel uncomfortable conducting your own inspection, you shouldn't hesitate to hire a professional contractor.
How to check for Chinese drywall?
Briefly, the identification process for identifying whether problem drywall is present in a home is a two-step process. Step One: A visual inspection must show: Blackening of copper electrical wiring and/or air conditioning evaporator coils and. Drywall installed between 2001 and 2009.
How to identify problem Chinese drywall?
Jan 16, 2013 · How do I test for Chinese drywall? There are several homes in the Houston area that have Chinese drywall. Some of that drywall has a high sulfur content that causes problems. In Florida consumer protections are in place but Texas has not confronted the issue. I found a home I want to buy but it has Chinese drywall.
How do I know if I have Chinese drywall?
The smell from the corrosive gas emitted from Chinese drywall is very potent and smells similar to rotten eggs. This noticeable indicator may tell you that your drywall is from China. From your attic, take a look at your drywall for the name KNAUF. The drywall may also say Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin).Jun 10, 2021
What does Chinese drywall damage look like?
Signs of Contaminated Drywall Problems corrosion or blackening of metal items within the walls or protruding from the walls, and. frequent failures of air conditioning units and other appliances and electronics.
What year houses have Chinese drywall?
Chinese drywall was first imported into the United States beginning in 2001. Most of the homes that have Chinese drywall were built between 2001 and 2008.
How do I know if I have toxic drywall?
How to Tell if You Have Toxic DrywallFailure of information displays on TVs, DVD players, radios and microwaves.Light bulbs burning out at a faster rate.Silver jewelry and utensils may be tarnished.Failure of satellite TV receivers.
What do I do if I have Chinese drywall?
If your home does have Chinese drywall, it's usually recommended that you replace all of the affected drywall. You may also need to replace corroded copper fixtures, including pipes and wiring, in some cases.Jan 10, 2019
Can Chinese drywall be fixed?
The best solution to the Chinese drywall issue is to remove all of the Chinese drywall from your home, fix affected areas, and then install new drywall. All of the drywall must be removed and disposed of in an approved method.Mar 23, 2021
Did home Depot sell Chinese drywall?
“When we heard about the issue, we immediately got suppliers on the phone,” a spokesperson for The Home Depot told the Palm Beach Post. “We have only three or four suppliers and they provided us with written documentation that … we have not and do not purchase Chinese-made drywall.”Feb 2, 2017
What color is Chinese drywall?
They should be a shiny copper color, not the dull gray they now display. The dull gray comes from hydrogen sulfide being emitted by the Chinese drywall. It attacks light switches, electrical outlets and electrical junction boxes.Oct 29, 2009
Who sold Chinese drywall?
WCI eventually discharged billions of dollars in debt, as well as its obligation for at least 100 homes with the drywall problem in a bankruptcy reorganization. Secured creditors took control of the company and sold it to Lennar for more than $640 million.Feb 11, 2020
Does Chinese drywall cause mold?
Eleven deaths have been popularly linked to the Chinese drywall, but the CDC denies any connection. Toxic mold claims have been reported, but the precise cause of the symptoms is still unknown. The symptoms attributed to the toxic drywall have been most heavily reported in southeastern states.
Does Chinese drywall have asbestos?
The severity of the Chinese-made drywall (wallboard) issues may be huge, potentially reaching proportions similar only to the asbestos crisis. Basically, only since 2006, more than 550 million pounds of toxic Chinese drywall was imported in the U.S. (according to Sen. Nelson).
Is Chinese drywall illegal?
The substance has been banned for use in U.S construction since 1989. Tests of drywall samples by the EPA and the Florida Department of Health showed radioactivity at levels no higher than those ordinarily found in the natural environment.
What is Chinese drywall?
Chinese Drywall. by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Kenton Shepard. Amidst a wave of Chinese import scares, ranging from toxic toys to tainted pet food, reports of contaminated drywall from that country have been popping up across the American Southeast. Chinese companies use unrefined “fly ash,” a coal residue found in smokestacks in coal-fired power ...
Why was drywall imported from China?
An estimated 250,000 tons of drywall were imported from China during that time period because it was cheap and plentiful. This material was used in the construction of approximately 100,000 homes in the United States, and many believe this has lead to serious health and property damage.
Can Chinese drywall be repaired?
This is the best testing method but also the most expensive. Contaminated Chinese drywall cannot be repaired. Affected homeowners are being forced to either suffer bad health and failing appliances due to wire corrosion or replace the drywall entirely, a procedure which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Can drywall cause respiratory problems?
Although not believed to be life- threatening, exposure to high levels of airborne hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds from contaminated drywall can result in the following physical ailments: sore throat; sinus irritation; coughing; wheezing; headache; dry or burning eyes; and/or. respiratory infections.
How to tell if drywall is Chinese?
Problem Chinese drywall is associated with some easy-to-spot signs that can help you identify this product in your home. If you suspect you have a problem, start by trying to determine when your drywall was installed. According to the CPSC, the contaminated drywall was installed between 2001 and 2009, and most was installed after 2005. The high-sulfur content of this drywall results in a telltale rotten egg smell, and you will likely spot black corrosion on copper and other metal elements, such as air conditioning coils and electrical wiring. Finally, if you can access the back of the drywall, you may spot the words "Made in China" or Chinese symbols or lettering printed on the back. Some homeowners also report that this drywall caused appliances like televisions, refrigerators and microwaves to suddenly and inexplicably fail, according to the "New York Times."
What are the problems with Chinese drywall?
Associated Problems. Contaminated Chinese drywall can cause a multitude of problems in the home, from property damage to health effects. In addition to failing appliances, homeowners with problem drywall report corrosion of gas pipes, wires and electrical equipment. This corrosion can cause this equipment to fail, ...
When was drywall contaminated?
According to the CPSC, the contaminated drywall was installed between 2001 and 2009, and most was installed after 2005. The high-sulfur content of this drywall results in a telltale rotten egg smell, and you will likely spot black corrosion on copper and other metal elements, such as air conditioning coils and electrical wiring.
Can drywall cause asthma?
This corrosion can cause this equipment to fail, leading to expensive and time-consuming replacements and remodeling. The CPSC also reports that living in a home with contaminated drywall can irritate eyes and skin, lead to persistent coughing, sinus infections, asthma attacks and frequent headaches.
What are the health risks of Chinese drywall?
Health problems are said to include headaches, respiratory ailments, irritated eyes, and nosebleeds.
How many homes have Chinese drywall been installed?
since 2004. It’s thought to have been installed in somewhere between 50,000 to 100,000 homes. Problems have been reported so far in over a dozen states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, ...
What gases are released from drywall?
When combined with humid air, trace amounts of the toxic gases hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide were released. Tests conducted on imported Chinese drywall by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found sulfur levels from 83 to 119 parts per million (ppm).
When was Chinese drywall imported to the US?
Chinese drywall made by 20 different companies was imported into the U.S. between 2004 and 2008. Several of them—including Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin (KPT), Knauf Gips (KG), and Taishan Gypsum Co.—have been the focus of the lawsuits that have been filed to date.
Is Chinese drywall toxic?
As if homeowners didn’t have enough to worry about, they can now add toxic gases emitted by imported Chinese drywall to the list. Increasing evidence indicates that some of the over 500 million pounds of drywall shipped to the U.S. from China during the housing boom following Hurricane Katrina contained potentially toxic materials that can release gases believed responsible for damaging homes and causing health problems.
Does China import drywall?
Many of the top U.S. manufacturers—including Georgia Pacific, National Gypsum, American Gypsum, and USG —have stated that they do not import drywall from China.
Is sulfur in drywall?
Sulfur was not detected in the samples of U.S. made drywall that were tested. In addition, strontium was found at levels of 2,570 to 2,670 ppm in the imported drywall and 244 to 1,130 ppm in the U.S. manufactured drywall.
How to tell if drywall is Chinese?
There are several symptoms of the defective drywall that indicate to the homeowner that there is a problem. The most easily identified characteristic of Chinese drywall is the smell. The sulfur gases emitted have a strong smell, like rotten eggs. You may also notice some visual signs of corrosion from the gases. Your air conditioner, furnace coils, electrical wiring or plumbing may all become corroded. You may also see corrosion on personal items, such as jewelry or guitar strings. Chinese drywall may have markings indicating its origin, as well, though you can only see these markings from the back.
What is Chinese drywall?
Chinese Drywall. "Chinese drywall" refers to defective, contaminated drywall that was imported from China between the years 2001 and 2008. Though the problem was known in 2008, it was installed in some homes in 2009 as well. This defective drywall emits large amounts of corrosive sulfur gases. This can cause health problems, including headaches, ...
What are the health problems caused by drywall?
This defective drywall emits large amounts of corrosive sulfur gases. This can cause health problems, including headaches, irritated eyes, skin and throats and numerous types of respiratory problems. The gases cause severe corrosion of metal and wiring and can cause appliances to prematurely fail.
What is a real inspection?
A real inspection requires a visual inspection of the drywall and wiring or testing samples of material from the home.
Is it safe to replace drywall?
If your home contains this type of drywall, it poses a serious hazard to your health and to the safety of your home. Getting rid of the drywall and making your home safe again can be a major project, as you must replace all of the drywall. Some aspects of this project are possible to do yourself, but some are not.
Can you see corrosion on Chinese drywall?
Your air conditioner, furnace coils, electrical wiring or plumbing may all become corroded. You may also see corrosion on personal items, such as jewelry or guitar strings. Chinese drywall may have markings indicating its origin, as well, though you can only see these markings from the back.
Where did drywall come from?
Few of the complainants provided evidence that their drywall came from China, but the report included no shortage of devastating medical reports, panicked letters written to government officials and photographs ...
Who is Knauf drywall?
Knauf, a Taiwanese drywall manufacturer, initiated its own investigation after complaints started to surface. Here is an excerpt from their study, conducted by the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, LLC, based in Arkansas:
Is drywall organic?
The drywall was also believed to have organic components and the study included in the exhibits showed that the combination of drywall waste and organics in the drywall were generating Hydrogen sulfide gas in sufficient quantities to be extremely harmful to humans and cause corrosion.". 6.
How to test for Chinese drywall?
Homeowners can do tests on their own to indicate presence of Chinese drywall. • Take a piece of copper wire and hang it on the return of the air conditioner , where the air that circulates through your house is drawn back into the unit. Wait about two weeks.
How much does it cost to fix drywall?
If something wrong surfaces, the buyer has to prove the seller knew about it. The average cost of fixing a home with drywall is about $100,000. Homes basically have to be taken down to the studs and rebuilt.
What county in Florida has drywall?
Lee County is the focal point of the problem in Florida. About 2,000 homeowners in Lee have asked for property tax relief because their homes have been tainted by the drywall since September 2009, when Ken Wilkinson, county property appraiser, began to offer it. In comparison, Collier County had only about 140-150 homes reported as having defective ...
Who is the judge for drywall remediation?
There are guidelines for remediating homes set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and more stringent guidelines from federal Judge Eldon Fallon, who presided over thousands of drywall cases in multidistrict litigation in New Orleans. Neither protocol is mandatory.
Which state has the most drywall?
Florida has the highest number of drywall homes among 44 states reporting the problem, along with the District of Columbia, American Samoa and Puerto Rico. Estimates range from about 12,000 to 20,000 homes affected. Lee County is the focal point of the problem in Florida. About 2,000 homeowners in Lee have asked for property tax relief ...
Do you need an inspection for drywall in Florida?
Homeowners need to have an inspection for the drywall to protect themselves , said Allison Grant, an attorney who has represented about 1,000 drywall clients across the state, including about 300 in Southwest Florida.
Is a drywall repair protocol mandatory?
Neither protocol is mandatory. As a result, some contractors just fix a home until they believe it is repaired well enough, removing drywall, repainting, but not replacing fixtures or wires that are corroded by sulfur compounds the drywall emits.
