How do I know if I have Chinese Drywall?

There are various methods of determining if the drywall installed in your home is from the problematic Chinese sources.

The much-publicized "rotten egg" smell is the result of reduced sulfur gases from Chinese Drywall being emitted into the air. The gases are trapped inside a structure - your home - and the odor becomes persistent. The smell of "rotten eggs" varies greatly from affected home to home, however. People also have varying sensitivities to the odor. The strength of the sulphurous odor is determined by how much drywall is used in the home.

Significantly, some homeowners report no odor, but have been found to have significant quantities of Chinese Drywall.

The gases emitted by Chinese Drywall corrode copper: electrical wiring, HVAC systems, plumbing and other metallic surfaces. A visual inspection will reveal the destructive effects of Chinese Drywall.

Chinese Drywall can also be identified with a visual inspection by a qualified building inspector. Chinese Drywall has labels, markings, color and physical characteristics - like thickness - that clearly and conclusively indicate its source. Sometimes Chinese Drywall is used sporadically throughout a home: one or two sheets in a ceiling, a section of closet walls or intermingled liberally with non-problematic drywall. In South Florida, many homes were built with mixed lots of Chinese Drywall and safe, non-sulphur gas producing American drywall.

There are two levels of inspection for drywall, a non-destructive visual inspection, and a destructive inspection that requires making holes and taking samples.

In most cases, a visual inspection and minor destructive-inspection is all that is required to confirm or dispel the presence of Chinese Drywall. Air quality tests and other expensive laboratory investigations are seldom truly necessary, and they are expensive.

The first step: a thorough assessment of your home's risk for Chinese Drywall, is a modest investment in peace of mind and financial security.