Chinese Drywall
Reports from building
investigators and environmental consultants have caused some alarm
about the potential hazards of tainted Chinese drywall .
The concern is widespread, largely because most homes and occupied
buildings in the United States are built containing large quantities
of drywall in its various forms. Depending on the location
and retailer, it is also commonly known as gypsum board, wallboard,
plasterboard, Gibraltar board, and Sheetrock (a popular brand name
throughout the U.S. market). Primarily used to create the interior
walls of homes and offices, sheets of the material are readily
available in every home improvement or construction retailer
nationwide. Popularity of the product is due in large part to its
basic construction. To create the walling
materials, a drywall manufacturer
first collects large amounts of gypsum, which is ground into powder.
This is the primary ingredient in all quality construction and
drywall repair
products. The gypsum is then combined with a variety of other
chemicals, minerals, and other extenders specifically designed to
increase the strength and quality of the final sheets. Typically, the
gypsum is mixed with: some sort of fibrous material, such as paper or
fiberglass; plasticizers and foaming agents; starch or some other
kind of retarder; a wide variety of additives designed to protect
against fire; and wax emulsions that prevent water adsorption leading
to mold and mildew. This concoction is sandwiched between either very
heavy paper or strong fiberglass mats, and dried in a kiln. Installing drywall ,
rather than using traditional plaster applications, can literally
save weeks in the construction of a house. It can be installed in as
little as a day, depending on the expertise of the installation team.
However, for the typical home, plaster takes over a week to install.
While this process has
been used for quite some time, a recent alarming problem with drywall
from China has caused high levels of concern
within the industry, and even led to a government investigation into
the production and import of goods used to make American homes and
other occupied buildings. Chinese drywall
victims claim that the sheets delivered to
Florida spread throughout the country. At the time of this writing,
the giant home improvement stores Lowe’s and Home Depot claimed
that they received none of the tainted products.
However, victims and
government scientists investigating these drywall
problems discovered that the Florida
drywall originating in China may not be the
only product causing problems. In fact, investigators found that,
while these poor Chinese-made goods gave off more harmful fumes than
their counterparts, American materials also gave off fumes. However,
they were careful to point out that sheets made in the United States
produced far fewer fumes, probably due to the better materials. The signs of toxic
drywall are fairly obvious to the people
inhabiting the buildings constructed with the materials. The most
commonly reported sign is a sulfuric or rotten egg smell. This smell
is an obvious indicator of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that can cause
lasting damage to your home and body. In fact, hydrogen sulfide is
considered to be what is called a “broad-spectrum” poison. Unlike
other poisons that affect specific parts of the body, this dangerous
chemical can actually poison many different natural systems. Symptoms
of exposure to this gas include: Sore throat and cough Nausea Fluid in the lungs Fatigue Loss of appetite Dizziness Headaches
Another problem with the
poor quality China drywall
is the damage it causes to pipes and wiring. The toxic gas emitted
can corrode copper piping. In extreme cases, it is possible that this
could cause structural damage to the pipe. It also turns silver
jewelry and fixtures black, and can even damage metal electrical
wiring, potentially causing shorts and, eventually, fires. Many
victims have reported that light switches stop working, and they have
to replace expensive electronic equipment frequently. Although Lennar
Homes Florida has received most of the media
attention for using these poor products, and not fixing the issue
once it is discovered, many others have been affected. In fact, much
of the problem stems from the popular Knauf
drywall , which can be bought freely on the
market. For this reason, it is still important to check the source of
goods before they are purchased. In this case, the information is
typically printed on the back of the sheet, and will usually indicate
that it was “Made in China” or from “Knauf Tianjin.” If you or anyone you know
lives or works in an area that smells like rotten eggs, have the
problem checked immediately. Regardless of the source, seek medical
attention. Once your problems have been documented by a qualified
medical professional, seek legal help. Qualified attorneys and
lawyers are the only ones that will be able to help you secure and
pursue your rights under the law if you have been harmed by Chinese
drywall.
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