The Home Air Quality Experts
Chinese Drywall Inspections,Testing in Tampa, Sarasota, Pasco
The Home Experts, Licensed General Contractor in Florida for 35 years CGC007826
Member National Association of Mold Inspectors and Remediators
Indoor Air Quality Assessments
We can test your samples in a chamber for only $50.00 for each sample. This test takes about two weeks and can identify corrosive drywall.
Or
We can test your sample for elemental Sulfur for $125.00 which is believed to be the impurity in the Chinese Drywall that starts the chemical chain reaction leading to corrosion.
Go to the Chain of Custody tab for instructions.
Gathering Samples
We can visit you home and gather samples for testing. We will cut out and gather 5 samples for $168.00 in Hillsborough County. This does not include the cost of testing. Additional samples can be gathered for $20.00 each. Gathering samples during an inspection are $20.00 each. We can gather the samples in areas that may expose a label. Patching the drywall is not included in this price. Patching can be arranged at an additional cost.
Other Tests
It has been reported that drywall imported between 2004-2006 from certain areas in
Drywall is usually made of gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate). Therefore, sulfur is one of the main components present in the sample. All drywall has sulfur in its elemental composition, therefore the odor is not by an analysis of the total sulfur content. There have not been any "exposures" reported from the drywall, so as of today, it seems to be an odor issue and a corrosion of copper-bearing materials issue. All drywall is 99 44/100% Calcium Sulfate hemihydrate. The bad stuff has CS2, COS, dimethyl disulfide, and iron disulfide in it, so far we have not found this with non-odorous drywall. We are doing controls with non-problem drywall. We will know our method detection limit soon.
The extent of the indoor air quality issues related to this is still unclear. EPA is currently investigating the severity of the problem. However, it is well known that exposure to sulfur compounds can create irritation and breathing disorders.
The approach for the analysis of drywall samples is diverse. The possible avenues are outlined below:
The limitation to this test is if total Fe in the sample is not >0.5 wt%, we cannot test for pyrite (since XRD cannot detect that low). But we offer comparative analysis of the entire elemental composition between samples and reference samples (drywall samples that are clean, no problems with them).
2. Analysis for presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and H2S using an environmental chamber. Test 2 - is looking for sulfur compounds; carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide possibly, and we can also look for sulfur dioxide at extra cost.
3. Copper corrosion test can be performed to identify and confirm the presence of substandard drywall (exposure of fresh copper coupons to subsamples of the odorous drywall in presence of humidity). Test 3 - Black sulfide copper corrosion, visual confirmed with electron microscopy.
The limitations to this test - None
4. Sulfur odors may also be produced when anaerobic bacteria utilize certain molecules for growth. Therefore, endotoxin analysis for gram negative bacterial contamination and anaerobic plate count may be recommended. Test 4 - is looking for endotoxin
some bacteria can degrade iron and sulfur compounds to produce sulfurous odors. This may be the actual cause of the problem with drywall. What we test for is:
Endotoxin (Overall bacterial load)
Sulfur reducing bacteria
Iron related bacteria
You could choose one test or combinations of these tests, depending on the level of the analysis you would like to achieve.