Chinese Drywall Testing
(Recommended for homes built between 2004 and 2007)
Chinese Drywall Inspections, does it apply to me?
Many Florida homes and office buildings built since 2003 contain defective drywall manufactured in China. During Florida’s construction boom between 2004 and 2007, many builders imported Chinese drywall due to a shortage of U.S.-manufactured drywall. A test commissioned by the Florida Health Department and conducted by Unified Engineering, Inc. found that the Chinese drywall contained sulfur-containing gases including strontium sulfide which turns into hydrogen sulfide when exposed to heat. Another laboratory conducted air samples of homes that were built with Chinese drywall and found traces of carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. Some Indicators of defective drywall are:
- Home may have a slight or strong, sulfur, rotten egg or even acid type smell.
- Stove top, Air conditioning coils, oven elements, and refrigerators may be failing at an unusually high rate—often within a year or less.
- Silver jewelry or flatware may be tarnishing within months or even weeks. Mirrors might turn black.
- Homeowner or family member may have experienced symptoms of severe allergies, nose bleeds, or upper respiratory problems since moving into the home.
In a Visual Chinese Drywall Inspection we will look several items to determine if the house may be have been affected d by checking:
- Was the house built or remodeled between 2003 to present
- Rotten egg or sulfur-type smell in the home
- Corrosion on air conditioning coils, or HVAC units
- Corroded or black electrical wiring
- Corroded or black copper pipes
- Corroded or tarnished plumbing fixtures
- Look for the words; “CHINA” in red ink or “KNAUF” in black ink on the back of the Drywall
If any of these symptoms are noticeable during the course of your visual inspection, then bulk samples of the drywall will need to be sent to an accredited lab for analysis on the components and determine the levels of gases and whether they are above average.
Is Chinese drywall bad for your health?
The health effects (respiratory irritation, headaches, sinusitis, eye irritation, throat irritation, malaise/weakness and others) reported by families are consistent with known health effects from sulfur gases, and with symptoms reported by others living in homes constructed with Chinese drywall.
Is drywall dust toxic?
Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems.
When did they stop using Chinese drywall?
Chinese drywall began arriving in the United States in 2001 and was imported in larger quantities after the 2004 – 2005 hurricane repairs and continued in quantity until 2007. Chinese drywall continued to be imported and used in home construction throughout the US
Did Home Depot or Lowe’s retail stores sell Chinese drywall now causing health, corrosion and insurance concerns?
Both home improvement stores have said their companies did not buy or sell drywall manufactured in China.
