Chinese Drywall inspection?

Qusetions:We are Possibly purchasing a house in Florida. the House was built in 2007,
Is there still a possibility of Chinese drywall.
Does anyone know how to do a thorough self check for chinese drywall. I have called a few inspection places. I thought that some sort of meter was used to determine if there is chinese drywall. I keep hearing that it is just a visual check. Does anyone know of any more accurate detection. Is there some sort of meter out there that can be purchased? If nothing else, can someone please explain how to do the visual check. Thanks!

Answers:In Florida, the state attorney general is handling Chinese drywall cases, and would be a good starting point about inspecting, checking.

As background, if your house was built in 2007, you should be safe, as Chinese drywall came in the solution to housing repairs from the hurricanes of 2004.

For casual checking, check faucets, pipes, and air condition unit piping. Usually, these have turned some combination of green and/or black.

Also, you should have written in your contract for purchasing the house protection against Chinese Drywall installation, and specifying who does what (purchaser or seller) if it is discovered.

Answers:According to the CPSC, "consumers largely report that their homes were built in 2006 to 2007, when an unprecedented increase in new construction occurred in part due to the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005". The Florida Realtors and the Florida Bar have approved a "Comprehensive Rider to the Residential Contract for Sale & Purchase" form that you will most likely see in your paperwork to purchase the home.

The CPSC also offers a basic guideline for inspection of a home. However, if you would like a certified professional to perform the inspection that would be able to offer a national warranty (not an insurance policy) if the inspection indicates that there is no defective drywall. The warranty may cover from 100,00 to 500,000 dollars.

The Building Envelope Science Institute (BESI) has a national directory for Defective Drywall inspectors and remediators that have been through an intensive training program and required to take an extensive written exam to become certified. This program is recognized by National Construction Warranty Corporation which offers the warranty on homes without Defective Drywall and those that have been remediated by a recognized protocol.

More information and help can be found at the Building Envelope Science Institute's website.

Answers:Your best bet is to hire a Home Inspector. It is money well spent. But here are some tips from the largest Home Inspector Association.

InterNACHI has assembled the following tips that inspectors can use to identify if a home’s drywall is contaminated:
•The house has a strong sulfur smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.
•Exposed copper wiring appears dark and corroded. Silver jewelry and silverware can become similarly corroded and discolored after several months of exposure.
•A manufacturer’s label on the back of the drywall can be used to link it with manufacturers that are known to have used contaminated materials. One way to look for this is to enter the attic and remove some of the insulation.
•Drywall samples can be sent to a lab to be tested for dangerous levels of sulfur. This is the best testing method but also the most expensive.



You can find a qualified inspector at nachi.org