Dealing With The Hazards of Chinese Drywall

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RECOGNITION, REMOVAL AND REMEDIATION

Most homeowners have no clue what Chinese drywall is – in fact, if you looked at it, you can’t even tell that it is different than regular drywall.  The key, however, is knowing what the telltale signs are so that if they do show up, you can be prepared to immediately take steps to resolve the problem. If you’re considering a home with signs of Chinese drywall – run for the hills!  Here are some signs for the cheap but ineffective material as well as next steps.

What You See Is Not What You Get

You can’t recognize Chinese drywall just from looking at it – rather you would have to know what the smell is.  The material emits a very strong sulfur smell that is not only potent but also as much as a hundred times stronger than the regular concentration of any sulfur in building materials.  As the name implies, the material is imported from China and the primary reason it is installed is to save money.

Looking Closely To Confirm – A Quick and Informal Test

You can spend at least a thousand dollars to professionally verify the presence of this toxic material in the property but with a few simple steps you can quite easily determine whether it exists, at no cost at all.

- First, turn your power off through the circuit breaker.
- Second, examine your electrical outlets beneath any plates or covers.  If you see green metallic corrosion, you are seeing signs of Chinese drywall.
- Next, review all air conditioner ducts for the same corrosion, which is from the sulfur.
- Take a look at the copper tubing that is installed with plumbing.  Blackened tubing or black plumbing fixtures is another confirmation.

Dealing With Chinese Drywall Once It’s Been Confirmed

CONFIRMATION IN AN EXISTING HOME

If you live in a home that is showing signs of sulfur corrosion, you suspect you have Chinese drywall and are able to confirm it – then you should contact an attorney. Since this is not something covered by homeowners’ insurance, any financial reparations would likely come through legal channels. There may very well be a lawsuit waiting to happen, through which you may be able to recover funds to manage the problem or recover any punitive damages you may have incurred.

Any repairs or renovations you have had completed may be used in your quest to gain legal ground against this violation of safe living conditions, therefore save all receipts that show you attempted to correct some or all of the problem.

Submit an application with your property appraiser’s office to have it reappraised so the assessment can be changed on it.  If the County decides to reassess the value of the home, it can result in lower taxes.

Unless you decide to move out of the property due to the serious health hazards at stake such as bloody noses and respiratory problems, you will need to completely replace any and all systems that are affected by the defective material.  While this will likely be an expensive endeavor – keep in mind that the value of a property can dip as much as 50% when the presence of Chinese drywall is confirmed.  You will need to replace all electrical fixtures, safety devices such as smoke detectors and get to the heart of any corrosion or surfaces where there may have been exposure to sulfur.  Since nearly every material absorbs sulfur, true remediation lies in the complete systemic replacements.  This means new cabinets, appliances, flooring, plumbing and even wiring.

POSSIBILITY IN A POTENTIAL HOME OR PROPERTY

If you are considering the purchase of a home or property that has Chinese drywall, you can safely do one of two things:  first, walk away from the property, as it is completely inhabitable.  Second, you can opt to purchase the property from an investment standpoint, assuming you will resolve the problem and then resell or live in the home afterward.
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The bottom line is that you can never be too safe.  Now that you know what to look for it is always a good idea to keep your eyes open for signs of this hazard so you can be in control if it happens to be present.