CPSC: Solution to Drywall Problem

When I first saw the “A Solution to Problem Drywall” article posted on CPSC’s on safety website I was hopeful that a new cutting solution had been found to rid thousands of homes of allegedly toxic Chinese-made drywall. However, as I read on I realized that the CPSC’s recommended solution to the problem is exactly what Chinese drywall lawyers have been suggesting for over a year now, strip the home down to bare bones and start over.

While it is not what I expected to read, it appears that the removal of all potentially toxic drywall material and any items that may have been damaged is the only logical solution to the Chinese drywall debacle.

Here is what the CPSC had to say:

The current solution is to remove all possible problem drywall. This includes drywall dust and debris. Replace electrical components and wiring, gas service piping and fire sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. These remediation steps eliminate both the source of the corrosion and the corrosion-damaged components that might cause a safety problem in your home.

On Friday the agency released scientific finding that confirms that corrosion in some home has been caused by Chinese drywall, while also concluding that not all Chinese drywall is toxic.

According to the CPSC the first step is to determine if your home may contain problem drywall by using the identification protocol description.

This summer we should get results of studies that look closer at the safety implications of toxic drywall, but for now it appears that CPSC has made their recommendation of how to cure Chinese drywall woes, start from scratch.