Chinese Drywall is a hot topic in the real estate business right now. Concerns about this product have been in the news and several government agencies are conducting investigations, including the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
Although a majority of the affected homes seem to be in Florida, the presense of drywall imported from China has been reported (but not yet confirmed) in 41 states. Many of the affected homes were built in 2006 to 2007, when an unprecedented increase in new construction occurred in part due to the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. However, any home built or remodeled from 2001 to the present could have Chinese drywall. It is estimated to have been installed in over 100,000 homes in the United States.
Here is a list of common problems associated with Chinese Drywall and some clues for Real Estate Agents to look for:
- Discoloration or corrosion of metals
- Repeated air-conditioning failures
- Corrosion of exposed wiring
- Corrosion of plumbing components
- Blackening of jewelry, ornaments, mirrors, and other metal items
- Failure of electronic devices including smoke alarms, fire sprinklers and appliances
- Sulfur-like or vinegar-odor which resembles the smell of rotten eggs
- Health issues that may include irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and asthma attacks
- Visual identification by checking the drywall labeling which may include: China" in red or black ink, "KNAUF" in black ink, or "C36" in red or black ink.
According to a local home inspector's email I recently received, "various options are being offered by testing labs to determine the drywall makeup and potential for outgassing. These tests run from about $500 to 600 per sample, for the analysis only. Some labs are requesting at least a 4-inch by 4-inch sample of drywall, wrapped in aluminum foil, be provided for analysis." Government agencies haven't yet made recommendations for testing or remediation of Chinese drywall.
Government agencies are still investigating potential long term health effects. For more information you may wish to read articles that can be found on the following page of the Consumer Product Safety Commissions's website: http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html?col=pubweb&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=chinese+drywall&x=6&y=11
Lawsuits have also started popping up everywhere!
What do you think about this issue? Please share any information that you may have concerning Chinese drywall.
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