Defective Drywall emits levels of sulfur,methane, and/or other volatile organic compounds that cause corrosion of air conditioner and refrigerator coils, copper tubing, electrical wiring, computer wiring, and other household items and creates noxious odors that may pose health risks.”
Full Answer
What is a drywall wall?
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, is a building material typically consisting of gypsum -based plaster extruded between two thick sheets of paper and kiln -dried.
How many homes are affected by defective drywall?
Defective drywall that caused damage to property and health concerns hit people in 44 states, estimated at as many as 20,000 homes. Florida had the most. The drywall materials reacted to produce fumes that corroded fixtures.
What are the signs of a bad drywall?
Metal in contact with relatively new drywall is corroding quickly. Copper, in particular, will corrode rapidly in contact with bad drywall from China. Green corrosion is normal; black corrosion is not. Black corrosion on wiring. Appliances and electronics inexplicably failing (they have copper wiring, which can corrode).
Does Knauf make defective drywall?
Though a number of other Chinese companies are believed to have produced defective drywall, Knauf's name comes up most frequently, because the company prints its name on its products. Much of the other contaminated drywall has no markings, making it difficult to identify its origin.
What might indicate defective drywall?
CORROSION OVER PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL FIXTURES Another way of testing for Chinese drywall is looking for copper corrosion. Any observed corrosion indicates the possibility of having defective Chinese-made drywall; i. RUSTY BATH DRAINS could also be a sign of the presence of defective drywall.
Can you sell a house with Chinese drywall?
There is not a specific question about Chinese drywall on the sellers disclosure but IF a seller knows they have it, they should disclose it. Your best protection as a buyer is to get an inspection by a real estate inspector that does an inspection specifically for Chinese drywall.
What do you do if your house has 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.
What does Chinese drywall damage look like?
The contaminated drywall has high levels of sulfur, which may be responsible for a rotten egg smell in affected homes, blackened or corroded pipes, failure of air conditioners and other household appliances, and health problems such as asthma, coughing, headaches, sore throats, and irritated eyes.
What year did they stop using Chinese drywall?
1989The substance has been banned for use in U.S construction since 1989.
Should you buy a house with Chinese drywall?
As mentioned, asking for an inspection is the best way to protect yourself, even if there is no report of it from the seller. If Chinese drywall is found, you can negotiate the deal with your agent. It is quite costly to repair the defective drywall, as you essentially have to gut the house and rebuild the walls.
Can you live with Chinese drywall?
Risks to Health and Home Some homeowners with Chinese drywall report a strong sulfur smell, similar to that of rotten eggs, permeating their homes. Health problems are said to include headaches, respiratory ailments, irritated eyes, and nosebleeds.
Can Chinese drywall be fixed?
Repairing Chinese Drywall Replacing drywall is possible to do yourself, but replacing most of the other components should be done by a professional. You must clean up all drywall dust thoroughly.
How do you tell if you 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).
Should you replace old drywall?
There's no universal rule, but it's usually best to replace any section with a hole larger than five inches. You may also need to consider drywall replacement if your drywall is riddled with multiple smaller holes.
What year did they use Chinese drywall in Florida?
The use of Chinese drywall in Florida homes and buildings occurred between 2004 and 2006, during the housing boom. At the center of the drywall problems in Florida is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co.
What states have Chinese drywall?
As of August 30, 2010 According to the Florida Department of Health and CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission the States) States with the most reports of Chinese Drywall damaged homes include Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia.
Why was drywall bad?
Government scientists blamed the drywall for damaging buildings and causing health problems after its internal parts reacted and produced dangerous gasses. As the housing boom was replaced by the Great Recession, homes that had lost much of their value were abandoned.
Who found faulty drywall in homes?
More than individual homeowners were affected. Lennar Corp. , a major homebuilder in the state, said in a government filing that it had found the faulty drywall in hundreds of homes that it had built and put $40 million aside to fix it, while pursuing legal action against subcontractors who used the drywall.
How much did Russell Moody pay for drywall removal?
Moody argues that in his case, it will pay only a fraction of the estimated $163,000 it would cost to remove the offending drywall — and its effects — from his home.
How many states have drywall problems?
Defective drywall that caused damage to property and health concerns hit people in 44 states, estimated at as many as 20,000 homes. Florida had the most. The drywall materials reacted to produce fumes that corroded fixtures. The gas smelled of sulfur and raised health concerns. The settlement approved by a federal judge in New Orleans last month ...
How much is the drywall settlement?
A federal judge has issued a final order in the $248 million drywall settlement that includes a master list of more than 3,000 drywall victims. If you're not on the list, the judge has set Wednesday as the deadline to file a claim to be eligible for any money. Visit chinesedrywallsettlement.com for more information.
Will the Chinese drywall victims be compensated?
The emotional strain of a decade lost will not be compensated. The Biltzes decision to move out was based on the expense of fixing their home.
What does it mean when you see Chinese drywall?
Markings on the backside of walls (i.e., in laundry rooms, basements, or other places where you might find unfinished drywall) clearly indicate that the drywall may have a Chinese origin. Chinese characters would indicate Chinese origin.
How to tell if drywall is Chinese?
How to Determine If You Have Chinese Drywall 1 Foul, sulfurous odors coming from your walls. 2 Metal in contact with relatively new drywall is corroding quickly. 3 Copper, in particular, will corrode rapidly in contact with poor drywall from China. Green corrosion is normal; black corrosion is not normal. 4 Black corrosion on wiring. 5 Appliances and electronics inexplicably failing (they have copper wiring, which can corrode). 6 Drywall is newer than 2001. 7 Drywall was installed between 2006 and 2007 following either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. 8 Markings on the backside of walls (i.e., in laundry rooms, basements, or other places where you might find unfinished drywall) clearly indicate that the drywall may have a Chinese origin. Chinese characters would indicate Chinese origin. Also the word "Knauf" will indicate this, as this was the name of the drywall manufacturer.
Can Chinese drywall corrode?
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.
Can drywall be removed?
All of the drywall must be removed and disposed of in an approved method. Once the walls are open, the wiring should be inspected by electricians and the plumbing should be inspected by plumbers. Any items found to be corroded or otherwise affected by the drywall should be replaced.
Is drywall made in China?
It does not involve all drywall produced in China. To this day, China is a major exporter of drywall to the U.S. Most of this product is up to standard. Not long ago, the Chinese drywall issue seemed to be a minor problem. Now, not only has this issue expanded to include more homes, but the severity of the problem has increased.
Can you seal phosphogypsum drywall?
Unlike air-borne hazardous materials like lead-based paint and asbestos, phosphogypsum-based drywall cannot be sealed with a coat of paint.
Is Chinese drywall permanent?
But because the building material in question is meant to be installed permanently, its effects are still lingering. And for some homes, it may linger for even a few more years. The product is a type of drywall often called Chinese drywall and it has been plaguing homes, mainly across the U.S. South, for the last couple of decades.
What is the cause of drywall corrosion in Florida?
The Florida Department of Health advised homeowners worried about tainted drywall to check copper tubing coils located in air conditioning and refrigeration units for signs of corrosion caused by hydrogen sulfide, as these are usually the first signs of the issue.
What is Chinese drywall?
" Chinese drywall " refers to an environmental health issue involving defective drywall manufactured in China, imported to the United States and used in residential construction between 2001 and 2009 – affecting "an estimated 100,000 homes in more than 20 states."
Where was Knauf drywall shipped?
From January to September 2006, 52 million pounds (24,000 t) of Knauf drywall were unloaded in New Orleans, three-quarters of it from Knauf Tianjin, and at least 37 million pounds (17,000 t) of Knauf drywall was shipped directly from China to Florida ports. Drywall usually has a source printed on the back.
What bacteria are in drywall?
According to a 2010 laboratory study, one hundred percent of affected drywall samples obtained from homes located in the southeastern United States tested positive for the presence of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, an iron and sulfur reducing bacterium.
When was drywall imported?
Drywall was imported by the United States during the construction boom between 2004 and 2007, spurred by a shortage of American-made drywall due to the rebuilding demand of nine hurricanes that hit Florida from 2004 to 2005, and widespread damage caused along the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Is drywall a casualty loss?
The IRS has categorized the copper corrosion from the sulfur gasses emitted by the imported drywall as " casualty loss ", and is in a similar category to property damage after a catastrophic event, such as a hurricane.
Is Chinese drywall made in China?
Chinese drywall may be marked "Made in China", "China", "Knauf Tianjin", or have no marking at all. A home may have been built with drywall from several sources, American and imported. In April 2009, home improvement stores The Home Depot and Lowe's confirmed from their suppliers that no drywall sold in their stores was imported from China.
