What is chinese drywall

Drywall is a building material made of a gypsum-based sheet of plaster covered with heavy paper on both sides. Drywall is also referred to as plasterboard or sheetrock. Testing of Chinese drywall has found unusually high instances of pyrite. There is speculation that the pyrite oxidation results in sulfur compounds being released by the drywall during periods of high heat and humidity. The combination of high temperatures and humidity is ripe for bringing out problems associated with Chinese drywall.

That is why most cases associated with Chinese drywall are found in the Southeastern United States. Reports show that homeowners typically complain of corroding copper in their homes, and a rotten egg odor emanating from copper surfaces that, in turn, turn black and exhibit a powdery ash type substance.

Experts opine that this is a result of a reaction of the copper with hydrogen sulfide. Much of wiring or piping found in homes is made of copper. Exposure to Chinese drywall can result in nose bleeds, headaches, coughs, upper respiratory or sinus problems, rashes, and difficulty breathing.

There have also been cases reported of pets dying due to exposure to Chinese drywall. In , the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act required that the Department of Housing and Urban Development study the negative implications of Chinese drywall on health and property insurance, especially related to homes that were subject to foreclosure during the Great Recession.

Consumers have reported blackened and corroded metal in their homes. Particularly, consumers have reported failures of certain components such as 1 premature failures of central air conditioning evaporator coils located indoors as part of the central air conditioning unit air handler; and 2 intermittent operation or failure of appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, and electronic devices such as televisions and video game systems.

What should I do if I suspect the corrosion has affected my gas service? If you suspect corrosion has affected your gas service, please consult your gas supplier immediately.

However, if you suspect a gas leak in or outside your home:. Consumers largely report that their homes were built in to , when an unprecedented increase in new construction occurred in part due to the hurricanes of and The answer to this is not yet known, but the EPA is testing to determine the causes of corrosion and health hazards. The fire hazards are a result of corrosion to electrical systems within the home. To fix the problem, does all the drywall need to be removed? Can any person do that?

As of now, that seems to be the only option. Beyond that, the various components that have been corroded will also need to be replaced.

There is no easy way to tell if your home was built with Chinese drywall. Your best option is to contact your nearest EPA representative if you suspect that your home or the building you live in has the fes2 or Chinese drywall installed in it by the drywall contractor.

They will have a list of the sites that have been suspected of or have been confirmed to have the Chinese drywall installed. Although the participating agencies have committed significant resources to this problem, gathering evidence and conducting the necessary tests will take time. It could be months before we can confidently address the scientific relationships between the problem drywall and the health and safety concerns raised by consumers.

Information provided by U. Please upgrade your browser Visit browsehappy. Results The analysis was conducted to identify the elemental material contained in the drywall samples and is not itself intended to establish a definitive link between the drywall and the conditions being observed in houses.

Sulfur was detected at 83 parts per million ppm and ppm in the Chinese drywall samples. Sulfur was not detected in the four U. Strontium was detected at 2, ppm and 2, ppm in the Chinese drywall samples. Strontium was detected in the U. Then, with the help of a qualified inspector, realtors should look for blackened copper wiring, AC coils or plumbing.

Then, samples of the corroded copper as well as the offending drywall should be sent for laboratory testing. If a home is found to have the dangerous drywall, it might not be an immediate deal-breaker. Realtors should provide the contact information of Phoenix drywall repair providers — or anyone in the region with experience repairing the damage of Chinese drywall. Plus, realtors should be able to negotiate a much lower purchase price given the presence of such a potentially hazardous construction material.

Chinese drywall is a construction issue of equal importance as asbestos or lead, but few homebuyers are aware of the hazards. A good real estate agent should be able to explain and address any concerns calmly and competently, so homebuyers and sellers feel safer and more certain of their decisions. Loading View More. November 11, By Jamie Richardson. November 10, By Jamie Richardson. November 3, By Ben Shepardson.

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