Chinese Drywall

Historically, the relocation industry has been challenged by such environmental issues as UFFI, asbestos, radon gas, synthetic stucco, and black mold… Some three hundred million board feet of Chinese drywall has been imported into the United States in the past eight years and its use could be a nationwide problem having a profound effect on transferees, relocation companies, and corporations.

What Is Chinese Drywall?

Thomas Martin, president of America’s Watchdog, a private national consumer advocacy group based in Washington, DC, believes the suspect imported Chinese drywall is made from material taken from vats under a conveyor belt filled with coal. Gypsum is dripped into the coal to clean it. Martin’s sources say the liquefied vats are being shipped to drywall manufacturers without cleaning them, and turned into drywall…

Warning Signals

How can a problem be detected?

1. The drywall releases sulfur dioxide gas creating sulfuric acid. There is a smell like rotten eggs. Unfortunately, not all affected homes contain this odor.

2. Look for pitting faucets, appliances, and chrome, or blackening of silver jewelry.

3. Look inside your electrical outlets and fuse box. If you have a soot-like blackening on the copper wires, they are being eaten away and could short circuit and create a fire.

4. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, cable boxes, televisions, and computers begin to fail, and light switches stop working.

5. Copper air conditioning coils pit, creating holes and releasing freon gas into the homes. Open the back of your air conditioner and inspect the coils and pipe leading out. If they are soot black rather than normal tarnished copper, you may have a problem. Call an air conditioning repairman to confirm.

6. Brass and other metal fittings in natural gas furnaces corrode. Look for possible leakage.

7. Inspect drywall for a “Made in China” label.

If any of the above are discovered, you should follow up with your builder, county or state health department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and your insurance company…

Alvin L. Wagner, Jr., SCRP, SRA, Ft. Myers, Florida… a consultant to A.L. Wagner Appraisal Group.