27 Mar Should you check for Chinese Drywall?

Are you buying a home and wondering should you check for Chinese drywall? La Maison Home Inspections in Sarasota have trained inspectors to spot signs of Chinese drywall. This drywall can cause health problems as well as damage to appliance and copper wiring. Depending on when and where the house was built, you may want to have an inspection done for Chinese drywall.

What is Chinese drywall?

After the 2005 hurricane season, there was a shortage of housing supplies so there were numerous shipments to Florida of drywall made in China. This drywall contained several harmful materials that began to seep out into the homes. It produces a sulfur smell, corrodes copper wiring, can stain furnishings and fabrics, and cause damage to air conditioning systems, microwaves and other appliances. It can also cause health issues, especially for those who have asthma. Most of the common issues reported are respiratory.

It is estimated that as many as 100,000 homes nationwide have this drywall, with Florida being at the center of the problem.

Should you check for Chinese drywall?

If you are looking to purchase a home that was built between 2004 and 2008, you may want to consider having a Chinese drywall inspection done, or ask the seller if they have previously had one done. However, homes built both before and after those years have been found to be contaminated with this drywall.

How do we inspect for Chinese drywall?

Our home inspectors are trained to spot signs of Chinese drywall without damaging any part of your home. One of the first things we will check for is the odor that this drywall typically emits. We will also check copper coils and wiring for damage, look for blackened wires, and visually inspect other areas of the home.

If we suspect you might have Chinese drywall, an invasive method might be recommended to determine exactly where the drywall is in the home.

We strongly suggest you use a professional, licensed home inspector to check for Chinese drywall. Contact La Maison Home Inspections for more information about our Chinese drywall home inspection in Sarasota and Manatee County.