Drywall was introduced as a viable building material in the early 1900’s. It gained popularity in the 40’s and 50’s as an alternative to plaster walls due to its easy installation, additional fire resistance and noise deterrent. Drywall, also known as plaster board or gypsum board, is made from gypsum ore finely ground into powder, then front and back faced with paper. Mold resistant drywall is created from fiberglass rather than paper products.
Drywall manufacturing was one of the first industries to begin to use recycled paper. Today, nearly 100% of the paper used in the manufacturing of drywall comes from newsprint and post consumer paper products. With an estimated 80% of a home’s interior covered with drywall, the building industry began to look for less expensive products during the early 2000’s to combat rising materials costs. Chinese drywall entered the market place as a perceived less expensive product. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received over 4000 complaints from those who believe the new material is harmful to our health and reported corrosion to metal components within the walls of their home. When making a decision to remodel your home, ask your contractor about the materials being used.
Phil Tatro
Four Seasons Property Inspections
P.O. Box 27345
Denver, CO 80227
(303) 838-5175
phil@fspiinc.com
http://www.fourseasonspropertyinspectionsinc.com/about.html
