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an expert, Certified inspector with
qualifications beyond Standard!
661-317-5770 to Schedule
Hours:
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Appointments
Monday-Saturday
We schedule appointments
fast.
an expert, Certified inspector with
qualifications beyond Standard!
661-317-5770 to Schedule
Hours:
Phone Calls 8:00am to 9:00pm
Appointments
Monday-Saturday
We schedule appointments
fast.
Professional Home Inspections
Most Recent Topic - Chinese Drywall
From Time to Time I will include articles currently affecting our communities and the Real Estate, Inspection and Construction Industry as Well. It's important to me to inform my clients and keep myself up to date on the latest trends in our industry as well. |
Chinese Drywall
by Nick Gromicko, Rob London 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 plants in their manufacturing process. Fly ash contains
strontium sulfide, a toxic substance commonly found in fireworks. In hot and wet
environments, this substance can offgas into hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, and
carbonyl sulfide and contaminate a home’s air supply.
The bulk of these incidents have been reported in Florida and other southern states, likely
due to the high levels of heat and humidity in that region. Most of the affected homes were
built during the housing boom between 2004 and 2007, especially in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina when domestic building materials were in short supply. 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.
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.
Due to this problem’s recent nature, there are currently no government or industry
standards for inspecting contaminated drywall in homes. Professionals who have handled
contaminated drywall in the past may know how to inspect for sulfur compounds but there
are no agencies that offer certification in this form of inspection. Homeowners should
beware of con artists attempting to make quick money off of this widespread scare by
claiming to be licensed or certified drywall inspectors. An inspector can use the following
tips to identify if a home’s drywall is contaminated:
The house has a strong sulfur smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.
Exposed copper wiring appears dark and corroded. Silver jewelry and silverware can
become similarly corroded and discolored after several months of exposure.
A manufacturer’s label on the back of the drywall can be used to link it with manufacturers
that are known to have used contaminated materials. One way to look for this is to enter the
attic and remove some of the insulation.
Drywall samples can be sent to a lab to be tested for dangerous levels of sulfur. 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. This
contamination further reduces home values in a real estate environment already plagued
by crisis. Some insurance companies are refusing to pay for drywall replacement and many
of their clients are facing financial ruin. Class-action lawsuits have been filed against
homebuilders, suppliers, and importers of contaminated Chinese drywall. Some large
manufacturers named in these lawsuits are Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and
Taishan Gypsum.
The Florida Department of Health recently tested drywall from three Chinese manufacturers
and a domestic sample and published their findings. They found “a distinct difference in
drywall that was manufactured in the United States and those that were manufactured in
China.” The Chinese samples contained traces of strontium sulfide and emitted a sulfur
odor when exposed to moisture and intense heat, while the American sample did not. The U.
S. Consumer Safety Commission is currently performing similar tests. Other tests performed
by Lennar, a builder that used Chinese drywall in 80 Florida homes, and Knauf
Plasterboard, a manufacturer of the drywall, came to different conclusions than the Florida
Department of Health. Both found safe levels of sulfur compounds in the samples that they
tested. There is currently no scientific proof that Chinese drywall is responsible for the
allegations against it.
Regardless of its source, contamination of some sort is damaging property and health in
the southern U.S. The media, who have publicized the issue, almost unanimously report
that the blame lies with imported Chinese drywall that contains corrosive sulfur compounds
originating from ash produced by Chinese coal-fired power plants. Homes affected by this
contamination can suffer serious damage to the metal parts of appliances and piping and
lead, potentially leading to considerable health issues. While no governing body has issued
regulations regarding contaminated drywall, it is advisable that home inspectors be aware
of the danger it poses and learn how to identify it.
by Nick Gromicko, Rob London 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 plants in their manufacturing process. Fly ash contains
strontium sulfide, a toxic substance commonly found in fireworks. In hot and wet
environments, this substance can offgas into hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, and
carbonyl sulfide and contaminate a home’s air supply.
The bulk of these incidents have been reported in Florida and other southern states, likely
due to the high levels of heat and humidity in that region. Most of the affected homes were
built during the housing boom between 2004 and 2007, especially in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina when domestic building materials were in short supply. 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.
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.
Due to this problem’s recent nature, there are currently no government or industry
standards for inspecting contaminated drywall in homes. Professionals who have handled
contaminated drywall in the past may know how to inspect for sulfur compounds but there
are no agencies that offer certification in this form of inspection. Homeowners should
beware of con artists attempting to make quick money off of this widespread scare by
claiming to be licensed or certified drywall inspectors. An inspector can use the following
tips to identify if a home’s drywall is contaminated:
The house has a strong sulfur smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.
Exposed copper wiring appears dark and corroded. Silver jewelry and silverware can
become similarly corroded and discolored after several months of exposure.
A manufacturer’s label on the back of the drywall can be used to link it with manufacturers
that are known to have used contaminated materials. One way to look for this is to enter the
attic and remove some of the insulation.
Drywall samples can be sent to a lab to be tested for dangerous levels of sulfur. 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. This
contamination further reduces home values in a real estate environment already plagued
by crisis. Some insurance companies are refusing to pay for drywall replacement and many
of their clients are facing financial ruin. Class-action lawsuits have been filed against
homebuilders, suppliers, and importers of contaminated Chinese drywall. Some large
manufacturers named in these lawsuits are Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and
Taishan Gypsum.
The Florida Department of Health recently tested drywall from three Chinese manufacturers
and a domestic sample and published their findings. They found “a distinct difference in
drywall that was manufactured in the United States and those that were manufactured in
China.” The Chinese samples contained traces of strontium sulfide and emitted a sulfur
odor when exposed to moisture and intense heat, while the American sample did not. The U.
S. Consumer Safety Commission is currently performing similar tests. Other tests performed
by Lennar, a builder that used Chinese drywall in 80 Florida homes, and Knauf
Plasterboard, a manufacturer of the drywall, came to different conclusions than the Florida
Department of Health. Both found safe levels of sulfur compounds in the samples that they
tested. There is currently no scientific proof that Chinese drywall is responsible for the
allegations against it.
Regardless of its source, contamination of some sort is damaging property and health in
the southern U.S. The media, who have publicized the issue, almost unanimously report
that the blame lies with imported Chinese drywall that contains corrosive sulfur compounds
originating from ash produced by Chinese coal-fired power plants. Homes affected by this
contamination can suffer serious damage to the metal parts of appliances and piping and
lead, potentially leading to considerable health issues. While no governing body has issued
regulations regarding contaminated drywall, it is advisable that home inspectors be aware
of the danger it poses and learn how to identify it.
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