CHINESE DRYWALL SCREENING, LLC
Inspections, Documentation, Consultation and Remediation from Leading Experts
Call Today - 772-224-8660
Inspections, Documentation, Consultation and Remediation from Leading Experts
Call Today - 772-224-8660
If you think you have Chinese Drywall, experience matters! Chinese Drywall Screening, LLC, is a professional engineering firm with one of the most experienced team of inspectors and consultants in the country covering Florida and the Southeast. Since 2009, our team of inspectors have inspected more than 3,700 homes and commercial properties with over a 1,000 cases filed in legal proceedings dealing with the corrosive Chinese drywall. CDS, LLC has been at the forefront of this evolving issue since the very beginning and has been inspecting properties and helping owners for ten years.
Howard Ehrsam, P.E. is the Principal and founder that been involved in all aspects of design and development for over 29 years. He utilizes his extensive experience to provide the best and most valuable advice for every unique situation.
When you entrust our team to inspect your property you can expect top quality service and exceptional customer care. Our services include:
If we do find corrosive Chinese drywall, we can help develop a strategy with you to help resolve this issue. We understand how overwhelming it can be to discover your home has Chinese drywall, but we will be your advocate. Regardless of your situation, we have experienced it personally and/or professionally and will help you every step of the way.
During these years, the corrosive Chinese drywall (CDW) was used to build and renovate tens of thousands of residential and commercial properties
Corrosive Chinese drywall sometimes gives off a distinct odor. The severity of the odor can depend on which brand of corrosive Chinese drywall you may have in your property.
Copper A/C coils are one of the first areas to check if you think you have corrosive drywall. The coils can have a blackened residue. The severity of the blackening will depend on how much and what type of CDW is in the property. You may also see this type of blackening on your electrical wires.
CDW can also corrode faucets and other plumbing trim. It may also desilver the edges of mirrors or cause a halo effect.
Just like the A/C coils, copper plumbing components and water lines are also susceptible to the corrosion caused by CDW.
While other factors can also cause similiar issues, our Chinese Drywall Screening's experts can determine if the issues are being caused by corrosive CDW using our proven testing protocol.
Chinese Drywall Screening, LLC (CDS) will conduct a detailed visual inspection of the various elements that typically react to the presence of reactive drywall. Some known affects are blackening copper, tarnishing silver, corroding and spotting chrome and brass, and delaminating mirrors. The CDS inspector will complete a thorough inspection of these elements including, but are not limited to: air conditioning components; copper plumbing lines; mirrors; electrical wiring; plumbing fixtures and trim.
Some of the above elements will be photographed during the inspection and will be included in the report. Items that may be affected by reactive drywall but typically not inspected by CDS include, but are not limited to: Appliances; Smoke detectors; Fire sprinkler heads; Doorbells; Televisions; Security systems; Audio/video equipment; Control wiring; Silver jewelry; Brass instruments; Personal possessions; Thermostats.
As part of the inspection, CDS will research property records for evidence of prior remediation. Remediations require permits. Although limited, the permit and inspection history can provide information of any potential remediation. CDS looks for evidence of remediation or fraud during the inspection.
X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) is used to test Strontium levels in the drywall. XRF analyzers are handheld instruments used predominantly to evaluate the presence of metal constituents in building materials or other products. XRF works by exposing a material to high energy x-rays and measuring those x-rays and comparing them to the known and unique pattern of x-rays produced by each element. For help in identifying corrosive drywall, XRF is used to determine levels of strontium (Sr) present within the gypsum of the drywall throughout the property.
Strontium is a light metal that is a common, naturally occurring element found within the earth. Certain geographical regions have higher concentrations than others that can translate to the origin of the raw materials. Strontium levels above 1850 ppm have been associated with drywall of Chinese origin. However, high levels of strontium do exist in drywall from other origins and testing must be used in conjunction with other means to produce proper conclusions.
Sulfur Corrosion Testing of Drywall Samples
Our internally developed method of sulfur corrosion testing specific samples of drywall is to analyze copper and/or silver coupons for deposited sulfur utilizing x-ray fluorescence. The sulfur is a byproduct of the corrosion of the metals from emitted sulfide gases. Problematic or corrosive drywall emits sulfide gases that react with copper and silver to form copper sulfide and silver sulfide respectively on the surface of test coupons. This process can be accelerated by elevating the temperature.
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is utilized to quantify the sulfur deposits on the coupons in ug/cm2 (micrograms per square centimeter). Readings can then be interpreted to determine to whether the drywall tested is corrosive and at what proportionate levels. A non-detect (ND) reading upon analyzing the test coupons indicates there are no detectable sulfur deposits on the surface of the coupons. This in turn leads to the conclusion that the drywall is non-corrosive at any significant or detectable levels during the course of the testing period. Positive readings for sulfur are compared against various controls and known samples in order to make proper determinations as to the conditions of the samples being tested. Samples with low levels of off gassing may need multiple rounds of testing to verify that the gypsum is the root source of the corrosive gases and the sulfur deposition is not a result from de-absorbed environmental sources.
You will receive a DETAILED REPORT INCLUDING:
Mapping is a very detailed process where the inspector analyzes every wall of the property to determine which walls/ ceilings need to be removed and cleaned of all drywall, dust and debris. This service is critical if you are preparing to remediate the property. The walls will be marked with permanent marker alerting the contractor which walls/ceilings/areas must be removed and the areas behind thoroughly cleaned. Here is a video walkthrough of a property with domestic, corrosive Chinese and non-corrosive Chinese drywall: https://youtu.be/AXJL4jqVjnU
Preserving evidence is needed to protect your interests if you are pursing any type of legal action. The Pre-Trial Order No. 1(I) through the United States District Court Eastern District of Louisiana must be strictly followed. Having an independent third party professional properly preserving your evidence is critical. If this is not performed or done correctly, you could jeopardize the evidence. The manufacturers and suppliers may claim the evidence was damaged and avoid compensating your for your losses.
CDS, LLC will obtain, document and store (if needed) the evidence per the pre-trial order on your behalf.
This is probably one of the smartest steps you can take if you are planning to remediate a property with corrosive Chinese drywall. CDS works for the owner, providing an independent, 3rd party inspection by a licensed engineer that includes detailed documentation verifying that properties are free and clear from reactive or corrosive drywall.
Our company does a complete inspection BEFORE the new drywall is replaced to ensure the all the corrosive drywall, dust, and debris were properly removed. If the drywall was not removed properly, CDS will instruct the contractor on what is deficient and make sure corrections are made. Once everything is completed you will receive an Environmental Certificate signed and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer. This documentation is critical if you ever plan to sell or refinance the property.
Another option is Environmental Corrosion Testing (ECT). With this sevice several ECT devices are set inside the main areas of the property and fan(s) are utilized to circulate the air to ensure there were no stagnant pockets of air. The property must remain vacant and can not be entered during the entire testing process. The testing is seven (7) days. Various measures were taken to prevent other potential sources of sulfide gases interfering with the testing. Other potential sources include sewer gases, gas burning appliances, kerosene heaters, wood or coal stoves, tobacco smoke, malfunctioning chimney’s and outside air entering inside the property.
After the testing period is completed the coupons are then analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to quantify the sulfur deposits on the coupons in ug/cm2 (micrograms per square centimeter). Readings can then be interpreted to determine the presence of sulfide gases that may be present within the subject property. A non-detect (ND) reading upon analyzing the test coupons indicates there are no detectable sulfur deposits on the surface of the coupons. This helps lead to the conclusion there are no sulfide gases present at any significant or detectable levels during the course of the exposure period. Positive readings for sulfur are compared against various controls and environmental conditions to draw comparisons and interpret results.
See our video section for a walk through of this process.
When you are ready to remediate your Chinese drywall property, CDS, LLC's unique level of experience with this issue, makes us an excellent choice to repair your home.
One of the biggest areas of concern is how many properties we have inspected that were remediated incorrectly. We have found remaining CDW drywall that was missed along with dust and debris in the cavities. There is a very detailed cleaning protocol as well to ensure the property is free of CDW. This is one of the reasons we’ve decide to expand our business to include this important service.
We are specializing in selective remediations that could result in a huge cost savings for anyone planning to remediate. For those that this is possible, we will only remove the corrosive drywall and leave the non-corrosive, domestic drywall. We have a detailed protocol for determining and verifying which drywall can be saved and all remaining drywall is verified as non-corrosive during demo. The work is tricky, but utilizing our extensive experience with Chinese drywall, along with our construction and engineering experience, there are many innovative ways to trim scope and save money. Once the demolition and cleaning protocol is completed and the property inspected, we will provide you with an Environmental Certificate sealed and stamped by our Professional Engineer verifying the corrosive drywall has been removed.
If you are interested in remediating contact: lisa@chinesedrywallscreening.com. As every home is different, the first step will be to perform a detailed scope and estimate for your property customized to maximize cost savings. The fee for the estimates will vary due to the size of the property. The estimate and scope provide a detailed cost and task breakdown for the entire process from demolition to reconstruction of the property. It breaks downs the components of the job including labor to materials needed to complete the remediation. If you use CDS, LLC for the remediation, this amount will be deducted from the overall fee. If you decide to use a different contractor this scope and estimate will be in excel format and can be easily shared with a contractor of your choosing. If you do decide to use a different contractor, make sure the company is well versed in the remediation and cleaning protocols required with Chinese drywall properties.
Howard Ehrsam is the sole founder of Chinese Drywall Screening, LLC. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in Civil Engineering. Howard has managed major jobs including theme parks, medical buildings, multi-family homes and numerous other projects for Tradition Development, as a master planned community developer. Howard's certifications and licenses include Professional Engineer (PE), Certified General Contractor (CGC), LEED AP along with numerous specialty and private certifications.
In 2007, it was discovered that one of his properties was having characteristics understood to be caused by tainted drywall from China and he experienced the process of having it removed. By way of his personal experience and being the president of a condo association with 80 tainted units, Howard quickly became the "go-to" resource for helping others. The combination of his professional experience, dealing with the issue first hand, helping others and continual research has put Howard in a position to be an excellent resource for others in dealing with the Chinese Drywall phenomenon.
Howard Ehrsam and his team of inspectors have done over 3,700 inspections and the number grows daily in single family and multifamily residences, commercial and medical offices, warehouses and retail establishments. In addition, he sat on the ASTM and AIHA drywall committees and has spoken at many conferences, symposiums and luncheons on Chinese drywall. Howard has also been featured on many news articles and TV programs.
For more information or to schedule an inspection, call 772-224-8660.
Daily: 9am - 6pm
Walk through video of problem areas where builder left Chinese drywall behind tile and other areas along with debris that caused continued corrosion and problems for owner.
Inspection and testing of a condo reveals low strontium domestic drywall, mid range Taishan/corrosive drywall and high stronium non-corrosive Chinese drywall.
Selective of CDW in a property with a mix of Chinese drywall and domestic drywall.
Blackening can cause alarm and many think this is caused by CDW, however in this case the cause of the corrosion was issues with the well water system at the property.
Overview of how debris from poor Chinese drywall remediation can re-corrode copper plumbing and wiring.
Property walk-through reviewing various issues with remaining cdw and debris.