Chinese drywall was all over the news years ago, and even though most of it has been removed from homes, there is still some out there. In fact, a local drywall company has recently gutted an entire home that had Chinese drywall.

It was a First Home, and this particular model was very popular at the time so you can literally drive through north Cape Coral and find them in every neighborhood. How many of these First Homes had Chinese drywall?

That is hard to answer. But, if you plan on buying a home in SWFL you should have it properly inspected for Chinese drywall to be on the safe side.

If you recently purchased a home not knowing it had Chinese drywall and now need it repaired, then contact a professional to gut the house down and re-install new drywall. It’s expensive, but it must be done if you want to live in the house.

When Did Chinese Drywall Arrive in the United States and SWFL?

Chinese drywall started showing up as early as 2001, but after 2004 it became more popular as it was imported in much larger quantities until 2007. When purchasing a home that was built in 2001-2007 you need to have it inspected for Chinese drywall, because it’s very likely what was used during the construction of the home.

Signs of Chinese Drywall

The most noticeable sign of Chinese drywall is the notorious rotten egg smell within the home, and corrosion or blackening of metal items within the walls, such as the metal studs. Chinese drywall has also been known to cause problems with air conditioning units and other appliances.

The Negative Health Effects of Chinese Drywall

persistent cough

difficulty breathing

runny and/or bloody nose

irritated/itchy eyes and skin

frequent headaches

sinus infections

asthma attacks

sore throats