Drywall of Voodoo Economics
- April 5th, 2010 (by Woodrow)
- In: Dislike, Electrical, Other Improvements, The Bad
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...-
Let’s take time out from the funny stuff to discuss the health and home damage effects that people in 37 states have reported as a result of contractors installing Chinese-made drywall during the last decade. According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission, Chinese drywall products may off-gas “hazardous levels of hydrogen sulfide” which, in turn, can affect respiratory health, in addition to corroding copper pipes, fire alarms, circuit breakers, plumbing fixtures, or un-insulated electrical wires, and air conditioning coils.
For many homeowners—some known 3,000 in Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana—the only answer is to have their homes gutted, pipes and electrical systems re-wired, and new drywall installed. Lawsuits have been filed in several states, and many residents have to abandon homes that they can’t afford to fix. Others have reported asthma, cardiovascular, and central nervous system damage.
The drywall was chosen during a shortage of American-made products between 2001 and 2007. The Associated Press reports that the Chinese product of-gasses “100 times as much hydrogen sulfide” than drywall made elsewhere.
Here’s what some of the corrosion damage looks like:
Air Conditioning Coils
Corroded AC Units
Heating and Cooling Pipes
Pitted Metal
Copper Pipe
Homeowners report that the off-gassing produces a rotten-egg smell in the house. If you’ve had corroded water-heater elements, you know the smell all too well. The high amount of sulfur in the Chinese drywall reportedly emits carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and sulfur dioxide.
The Center for Disease Control advises homeowners to investigate any smells resembling fireworks, burning matches, or rotten eggs. Not all the 250,000 tons of tainted drywall products used in the homes in question are marked with “Made in China” labels.
For examples of home remodeling disasters, check out Kit’s post. As far as I know, this is a perfect example of a non-corrosive, long-lasting Chinese-made wall product:
2 Responses to “Drywall of Voodoo Economics”
This is no joke. My mother’s house in Florida had this drywall in it and it has caused major problems. The smell was awful, although there was little corrosion with it. They had there house gutted.
Luckily, the USA only gets its food, clothing, building supplies, and children’s toys from China!
the copper pipe corrosion looks like it came from improper solder of joint using way too much solder and flux. the flux is probably what caused the corrosion known as type 1 pitting. besides, those copper pipes were in the attic and i don’t see any drywall nearby.