Imagine if you are driving the screws into the drywall panel with your cordless screwdriver to cover a wall, and you notice something – on the sheet is the word: Knauf. Actually, this isn’t anything you will see today because these sheets were sold and put up in homes and businesses from 2001 to 2009, when Chinese drywall was used rather frequently in new construction and home repairs requiring replacing sheetrock. No doubt many people have heard about Chinese drywall. So what is it and why is there so much talk about it? Chinese drywall is just that, drywall from China. It’s important to know, though, that not all drywall that came from China was hazardous. Comprehensive Reviews on Drywall No doubt many people have heard about Chinese drywall. So what is it and why is there so much talk about it? Chinese drywall is just that, drywall from China. It’s important to know, though, that not all drywall that came from China was hazardous. This particular drywall, that has Knauf (a manufacturer in China) or Chinese characters marked on the sheets, contained extra metals which caused a number of problems. The metals in the sheets were sulfur, strontium, and iron. Problems of Odor And the main problem that came from this drywall was in the form of a gas – sulfurous gas, which was emitted from the drywall itself. This usually occurred in warm and humid climates more so than anywhere else – areas such as Florida, Louisiana, and other regions in the southeast. It produced a noxious odor like rotten eggs, can do damage to electrical wires, copper materials, and electronics, and can cause short term health issues such as irritation, nosebleeds, headaches, and upper respiratory issues. Health Issues The long term health effects, if any, hadn’t been determined yet since the problem is relatively new. But certainly there could be more immediate issues with electrical problems including sparking or failure of appliances such as refrigerators and televisions, damage to air conditioner evaporative coils, and damage to smoke detectors. How to Identify Better Drywall Again, the best ways to identify if there is Chinese drywall in the home is through the smell of the sulfurous odors, the evidence of corroded electrical or copper, or the noted health issues. Another way is to look at the drywall itself for the Chinese characters or the word Knauf. You may not want to use your cordless screwdriver to take down the drywall and check the situation. Instead, if the house was new construction or repaired by a contractor, call them and ask if they have had problems. Call the health department in your area; especially if you are exhibiting the signs of health issues from the drywall. And if Chinese drywall is determined or found in the home, the only way to repair it is to completely remove and replace the drywall. Besides homeowners, renters in condos, rental homes, apartments, and other properties are having issues with Chinese drywall. In Florida, for instance, there are a lot of questions about if renters can legally break their leases if they begin having the symptoms that stem from Chinese drywall. How to take Actions Against it The answers up to this point have been on the side of the landlord, because it hasn’t been determined to be a definite” deadly” health hazard or have known long term effects. If a tenant breaks the lease, the landlord can take legal action. On the tenant’s side, it is recommended that the tenant seek legal help from a lawyer and contact the health department to verify there is actually a problem before breaking the lease.
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AuthorHi ! I am Olivia. I am working as home expert of my own company for five years. This is my personal blog. Home Improvement Tips & guide which is keen to share on home improvement guide of your home. ArchivesCategories |