Comments for Chinese Drywall Toxic?

Comment on I am considering a home purchase in the Florida Gulf area/Chinese drwall? by drywall_rob

drywall_rob — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:43:57 +0000

Good luck with your project, hopefully you are getting some compensation from the Chinese drywall manufacturer.

Depending on the type of finish, you are going to pay around $.70 to $.90 cents per foot.

A common demo price is $3.00 per foot (floor footage) for flooring/walls/insulation removal.

Make sure to screen your drywall contractors. A useful guide to drywall contractor selection:

http://www.portland-drywall.com/index.html

It is focused on the Portland market, but you can apply the info to ALL drywall contractors.

Some additional info on Chinese drywall:

http://www.portland-drywall.com/chinese-drywall.html

Comment on How to get out of lawsuit we have joined? by wizjp

wizjp — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:13:29 +0000

Send them a notice to petition for withdrawal from the suit.

Comment on How to get out of lawsuit we have joined? by WRG

WRG — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:32:48 +0000

Just call or write and tell them. No biggy.

Comment on We may purchase a house built in 2004. There are dark smudges on the drywall where ceiling joists are.? by Kiwi is my bird-o

Kiwi is my bird-o — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:20:30 +0000

Candle smoke, incense and a fireplace (real fireplace that burns actual wood) can all do that. The reason its at the joints, is because that’s where the smoke concentrates as it tries to disperse indoors. If it’s that worrisome, have a home inspector come check it out. The stains won’t come out, per say, but a fresh coat of paint will make them disappear

Comment on We may purchase a house built in 2004. There are dark smudges on the drywall where ceiling joists are.? by gp

gp — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:28:06 +0000

Yes it is probably from the candle use (could be mildew, but probably not) if it is the candles you have spot prime them with a stain blocking primer and repaint the areas.

Comment on We may purchase a house built in 2004. There are dark smudges on the drywall where ceiling joists are.? by Peter W

Peter W — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:49:21 +0000

That is quite common in a smoky environment – convection at even slight irregularities on the ceiling will cause additional build-up at the points of turbulence – and it is static electricity attraction, so “magnetism” is not far off as a descriptive. It really does not take much.

At the same time, if there is enough build up to see smudges, it is quite possible that you have a thin layer of paraffin (what we call the primary component of commercial candle-wax in the US) everywhere in the house which will make painting difficult in the future – unless you prime with a very good oil-based primer (Kilz comes to mind). Kerosene heaters do the same thing only much, much worse.

You can test for this using two small plant sprayers. From a distance of about 15cm (6 inches) spray the ceiling lightly. If the water beads up, there is a fine wax/oil coating. If not, you are OK. If your owner resists that diagnosis, the second plant sprayer should be filled with water but with the addition of a few drops of liquid dish detergent. That will spread normally and not bead up. Showing the difference.

Comment on We may purchase a house built in 2004. There are dark smudges on the drywall where ceiling joists are.? by HyperDog

HyperDog — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:17:39 +0000

It is possible that the joists could have made the ceiling colder right under them. If the ceiling is insulated with anything greater than R4 (the thickness of the 2×4 joists), then it would be warmer while the joists would be colder (the “R” rating is supposed to approximate the insulation quality of solid wood). These colder areas might have allowed the carbon particles to adhere better than the warmer spots.

Comment on We may purchase a house built in 2004. There are dark smudges on the drywall where ceiling joists are.? by Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:41:56 +0000

Could be from candle smoke.Also check for any leaks.

Comment on We are buying a home that PREVIOUSLY had chinese drywall. Should we worried about health risks? by ricky.l.edmonds

ricky.l.edmonds — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:08:39 +0000

I was so shocked that anyone would even consider buying a ‘Chinese Drywall’ house or remediated house; I did not answer your question – YES !!! there are health risk, I had the nose bleeds; skin rashes; headaches and just recently suffered from a stroke – and yes; I am certain it is from the “Chinese Drywall’… Don’t you find it odd that after almost three years of study and research; the CPSC has not released final remediation protocals? So even if I had the 300K that it is going to take to remediate my house; what do I do? My luck; I’ll follow the interm guidance and two months later; our government in their infinate wisdom will revamp the whole thing. Please!!! Please find another house…

Comment on We are buying a home that PREVIOUSLY had chinese drywall. Should we worried about health risks? by ricky.l.edmonds

ricky.l.edmonds — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:01:38 +0000

Danger !!! Danger !!! DO NOT BUY THAT HOUSE… If I can keep one person from living the nightmare that I have for the last 6 years I certainly hope I can do that… Back out, even if you lose your deposite… There is not enought known about this toxic, dangerous, leathal material… I am 100% sure it absorbed into the wood studs of the home… IT WILL OFFGAS back into the house just like it did thru the drywall… Get out while you can !!! Please, think of your children; those poor kids in Fort Bragg thought they were in a safe house as well – do the research… Look for a house that NEVER contained ‘Chinese Drywall’… ‘Buyer beware’ and I don’t want to even bring up the insurance problems you will face… My homeowners has been cancelled once and I was just notified of non-renewal… And God forbid you do have a claim 10 years down the road, the insurance company will tie it back to the drywall and deny the claim… Guarenteed… I certainly hope this gets to you in time… Best of luck….