Houses built in the years of the construction boom, and homes that needed repair during hurricane Charlie are prone to having Chinese Drywall used in them. Any home built 2004 and newer SHOULD be checked for Chinese Drywall. Houses built 2002 and 2003 might have the defective drywall because the drywall was allegedly in Florida in 2001.
Chinese Drywall off gasses hydrogen sulfide, which coats metals with a black residue. This gives off a very distinctive smell, which resembles burnt matches. This black residue has caused new AC units to fail within 2 years. This may also become a fire hazard. Health effects to exposure to Chinese Drywall are unknown. Below are photos of what to look for when looking for evidence of Chinese Drywall:
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This is very useful information, especially for first time buyers who may end up purchasing one of these homes you mentioned that were built during the construction boom. This is also another reason why buyers should consider a home inspection report.
Posted by: Miami Beach Homes | March 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM