 | National Residential and Environmental Inspections |
Chinese Drywall
What is it ?
Chinese drywall was first imported to the United States in 2002 through 2006 during the housing boom. Additional shipments were imported as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the resulting short supply of domestic drywall. This particular drywall is reported to contain sulfur, which is not a characteristic of domestic drywall. Reports from Florida, Georgia and Louisiana suggest that Chinese drywall emits Hydrogen Sulfide which corrodes copper. This reportedly affects electrical wiring, copper plumbing and air conditioning coils. Industry sources report that it could take up to three years for these problems to become apparent.
Where is Chinese Drywall found ?
Initially the bulk of the reports and complaints were from Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. We have subsequently learned that Chinese Drywall has been found in Virginia, Texas and Michigan. The Wall Street Journal states that 495 million pounds of Chinese Drywall has been imported in to the United States since 2002. In addition, there have been reports that this drywall has also been sold in home improvement stores. Based on that information we must assume that this drywall will appear throughout the United States.
How do you know if a home has Chinese drywall?
The only ways to positively identify this type of drywall is to look for a manufacturer stamp on the backside of the drywall and/or have invasive testing performed by a qualified professional. One particular brand has the word KNAUF stamped on the backside and others may be stamped with the word China or Chinese lettering. Chinese drywall can also emit a sulfur smell similar to rotten eggs. Exposed copper or silver will also start to tarnish or corrode.
Can this be detected during the Home inspection process?
Based on the methods of identification, a Home Inspector, generally, would not be able to identify its existence. Home inspectors performing ERC Property Assessments are prohibited from performing any invasive investigation, which would be necessary for identification.
What can be done to determine if a house has this?
As stated by legal and health experts:
“It’s really a question of tracking down who built what when and where they imported it from. Contact the builder for information and ask for something in writing that states whether or not the material in question was used and if so, what actions will be taken to remove it.”This also becomes a matter of disclosure and should be a specific question asked of all home sellers.