Amajor concern has developed with drywall manufactured in and imported from China, which was installed in residential properties in the United States. Several reputable reports have surfaced regarding this construction material also known as gypsum board, wallboard or plasterboard, leading Primacy Relocation to inform our clients of the potential problems and hazards surrounding "Chinese drywall". Information on the background, issues and initial recommendations will be explored as Primacy continues to investigate solutions to present to our clients.
History
The housing boom and reconstruction activity which followed several natural disasters, especially Hurricane Katrina, put a severe strain on construction materials and, specifically, the supply of U.S. manufactured drywall. To meet the demand, builders ordered from international suppliers to fill the shortage.
Detection
Homeowners in certain areas of the U.S. have started complaining about a foul odor, similar to rotten eggs, permeating their homes. In some extreme cases, homeowners vacated their homes due to of the putrid odor. Homeowners are finding that, in addition to this horrible smell, their air conditioning systems, copper pipes and wiring are being damaged by corrosive elements contained in the material. In some cases systems are failing, having to be repaired or completely replaced.
Cause
This imported drywall is constructed from waste materials from coal fired power plants containing iron sulfur, hydrogen sulfide and several additional sulfur by-products not found in domestically manufactured drywall. It is believed that the sulfur is emitted in humid weather, producing the odor. In addition to the odor, the sulfur emission corrodes copper causing extreme damage to electrical wiring, copper plumbing and air conditioning coils in some instances. It may also affect other metals found in homes such as brass and silver, along with tarnished faucets. Homes showing signs of the most damage have been found in areas of high humidity such as Florida, Louisiana and other Gulf states.
Extent of the Issue
Initially, it was thought the drywall was imported between 2004-2006, but further investigation shows that importing of this product may have begun as early as 2000. The Wall Street Journal estimates that 495 million pounds of Chinese Drywall has been imported to the U.S. since 2002. To meet the booming demand, many building supply companies imported drywall from a German-based company, Knauf -Tiajin, with subsidiaries in China. It was shipped through eastern seaboard ports, along with ports in California, Texas and New Orleans. Suppliers imported this product and, in some instances, may have re-branded the drywall, so the full extent of the distribution is extremely difficult to track. It is further suspected that some of the drywall may have been imported through Mexico under additional brand names. The products have been sold to major construction companies, and distributed to home improvement stores throughout the United States and possibly Canada. As a result, the problems associated with this material impacts not only new construction but also homeowners who completed major remodeling or renovations on their homes. This drywall has been confirmed in homes in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, Texas and Michigan. However, it is suspected that homes throughout the U.S. and Canada may be impacted as investigations of the distribution patterns are unfolding.
Determination of Chinese Drywall
Absent a sulfur odor in the property, the standard home inspection would not be able to detect the presence of Chinese drywall. Determining if a property contains Chinese drywall can be difficult, may be invasive and may be quite expensive. One possible method to determine if a home was built using Chinese drywall is an inspection of the attic in an attempt to view the edges of the drywall used to construct the interior walls. The drywall may be stamped with the word KNAUF or China, or with Chinese lettering. However, because of re-branding of the drywall or limitations with respect to visibility, these names or hallmarks may not be present or observable, so additional invasive sampling and testing must
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