USBCI Takes Stand on Remediation of Chinese Drywall
Gainesville, FL, September 12, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Spiderman S. Mulholland, a leading forensic expert on building envelope, water intrusion, toxic mold, and Chinese Drywall of U S Building Consultants, Inc., takes a stand on remediation. Mr. Mulholland and the Defective Drywall In America (DDIA) workgroup has for months tried every conceivable method for keeping the drywall in homes which could save tens of thousands of dollars. The problem we have run into is stigma and performance standards.
Metallurgical scientists have completed several tests that conclude corrosion and damage within many of the metals of these homes, especially copper. There are reports of electrical outlets that have caught fire, alarm systems malfunctioning or not working at all, fire alarms, electrical appliances, ceiling fans and various other electronic items that have failed.
"Some recently announced protocols have called for painting the drywall, pumping in Chlorine Dioxide, adding filter systems that are installed in the mechanical system, and other ideas that within themselves may be analytically correct, but in our opinion wrong under this application," said Mulholland, "You can have a great system but it can fail when used under the wrong application." Some of these suggested remediation efforts call for leaving the drywall in to save money. Really? If the owner saves money on the remediation by leaving the drywall in and their neighbor removes the drywall during remediation and obtains the proposed warranty, in Mr. Mulholland's opinion, the house that has removed the drywall will have a greater market value when you put them side-by-side.
Some of the proposed solutions that leave in the drywall mask the diffusion of sulfur compounds. The question is, what about the metals that have corroded? What happens in the event of a hurricane since the home would diffuse the chemicals again under the loss of power and cross contaminate the home all over again. It is believed that many of these systems are good and can be effectively used under the right situation. However, leaving the drywall in does not address contamination of the homeowner’s belongings, corrosion issues, life and safety issues, or even come close to removing a serious stigma from the home. "In my opinion, it’s nothing more than trying to put lipstick on a pig," said Mulholland.
If those who propose a protocol or solution do not think they have to address the stigma issue with homeowners, they are not in the real world nor do they understand the basics of restoration. "Being a remediation specialist for over twenty years I have learned that you have to ensure that your solution makes people whole again, and that includes home values," said Mulholland. The DDIA workgroup tabled leaving the drywall in homes because there were just too many obstacles to overcome and the resale problems alone would exceed any cost savings of not removing it.
It is not known in the long-term, if leaving the defective drywall in homes is even a viable solution given the complexities and unknowns in the science. It is not good business for the homeowners to find a cheap solution, only to come up short on the resale of the home or subsequent damages in the long-term with the corrosive properties associated with the diffusion of these chemicals from defective drywall.
Mr. Mulholland will present a certified protocol with a proposed warranty that is currently in negotiation. This would allow the protocol to be backed with a proposed warranty from $100,000 dollars to $500,000. It’s simple and cost effective. This is real science designed by scientist. It’s bad that the defective drywall has to come out of these homes but one thing is worse than that, having to do it twice. The science and dynamics of these issues have not been easy to understand or even diagnose, but there is a solution that will be presented at the National Training and Certification Conference on Chinese or Defective Drywall in America which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Int’l Airport October 25-27, 2009.
For more information, go to www.usbcinc.com or www.BESinstitute.com.
To learn more about Spiderman Mulholland and USBCI, go online to www.usbcinc.com, or to arrange an interview, contact annie@usbcinc.com.
###
Metallurgical scientists have completed several tests that conclude corrosion and damage within many of the metals of these homes, especially copper. There are reports of electrical outlets that have caught fire, alarm systems malfunctioning or not working at all, fire alarms, electrical appliances, ceiling fans and various other electronic items that have failed.
"Some recently announced protocols have called for painting the drywall, pumping in Chlorine Dioxide, adding filter systems that are installed in the mechanical system, and other ideas that within themselves may be analytically correct, but in our opinion wrong under this application," said Mulholland, "You can have a great system but it can fail when used under the wrong application." Some of these suggested remediation efforts call for leaving the drywall in to save money. Really? If the owner saves money on the remediation by leaving the drywall in and their neighbor removes the drywall during remediation and obtains the proposed warranty, in Mr. Mulholland's opinion, the house that has removed the drywall will have a greater market value when you put them side-by-side.
Some of the proposed solutions that leave in the drywall mask the diffusion of sulfur compounds. The question is, what about the metals that have corroded? What happens in the event of a hurricane since the home would diffuse the chemicals again under the loss of power and cross contaminate the home all over again. It is believed that many of these systems are good and can be effectively used under the right situation. However, leaving the drywall in does not address contamination of the homeowner’s belongings, corrosion issues, life and safety issues, or even come close to removing a serious stigma from the home. "In my opinion, it’s nothing more than trying to put lipstick on a pig," said Mulholland.
If those who propose a protocol or solution do not think they have to address the stigma issue with homeowners, they are not in the real world nor do they understand the basics of restoration. "Being a remediation specialist for over twenty years I have learned that you have to ensure that your solution makes people whole again, and that includes home values," said Mulholland. The DDIA workgroup tabled leaving the drywall in homes because there were just too many obstacles to overcome and the resale problems alone would exceed any cost savings of not removing it.
It is not known in the long-term, if leaving the defective drywall in homes is even a viable solution given the complexities and unknowns in the science. It is not good business for the homeowners to find a cheap solution, only to come up short on the resale of the home or subsequent damages in the long-term with the corrosive properties associated with the diffusion of these chemicals from defective drywall.
Mr. Mulholland will present a certified protocol with a proposed warranty that is currently in negotiation. This would allow the protocol to be backed with a proposed warranty from $100,000 dollars to $500,000. It’s simple and cost effective. This is real science designed by scientist. It’s bad that the defective drywall has to come out of these homes but one thing is worse than that, having to do it twice. The science and dynamics of these issues have not been easy to understand or even diagnose, but there is a solution that will be presented at the National Training and Certification Conference on Chinese or Defective Drywall in America which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Int’l Airport October 25-27, 2009.
For more information, go to www.usbcinc.com or www.BESinstitute.com.
To learn more about Spiderman Mulholland and USBCI, go online to www.usbcinc.com, or to arrange an interview, contact annie@usbcinc.com.
###
Contact
US Building Consultants, Inc.
Annie Johnson
888-44-USBCI
www.usbcinc.com
Annie Johnson
888-44-USBCI
www.usbcinc.com
Contact
Categories