Dear brothers and sisters, October 29, 2009;
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Bharakhathuhu.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125547778854983741.html
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The Chinese drywall, also known as gypsum or wallboard, is under investigation by federal and state agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, for emitting sulfide fumes suspected of causing corrosion of electrical wires and plumbing.
Many affected families also have reported health symptoms, including skin irritation and respiratory difficulties, to the CPSC and state health agencies. As many as 100,000 houses across the country, most built in 2006 and 2007, may be affected based on estimates of the amount of drywall imported into the U.S. during the period.
...Replacing drywall and corroded components in a house of average size costs $80,000 to $100,000, according to builders' estimates.
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As per the above, some 100,000 American families are liable to incur expenses of about $8 billion or more to retain their homes if they are to live in their homes. Replacing the Chinese drywalls with new good drywalls would help the homeowners stay in their homes. However it would not solve the environmental pollution caused by the sulfide fume emitting Chinese drywalls, as they would continue to emit sulfide fumes from their dump sites inside America . Accordingly we do not attempt to eliminate the sulfide fumes from the American environment. We believe that once the sulfide fumes are thrown outside the homes, they would be diluted enough not to be of concern.
Some regions in America have Radon gas emitted from the ground. In homes built on these grounds the problem is solved by sucking the Radon gas from below the surface of the building and throwing the same to the atmosphere using a pump that runs continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week forever. We suggest similar removal of the sulfide fume tainted air inside the walls of the building using Chinese drywall. As the sulfide fumes are thrown out to the open atmosphere they would not corrode the plumbing.
Let us consider the emission of sulfide fumes into the living space in these homes. A drywall is manufactured using porous paper as cover for the gypsum inside. Since the paper is porous, the sulfide fumes leak on both sides: into the living spaces causing corrosion of electrical fittings and illness of the inhabitants, and into the hollow spaces of the walls corroding the plumbing. The solution to avoid the sulfide fumes in the living spaces would be to block the pores in the paper enclosing the gypsum. This is easily achieved by pasting non-porous paper throughout the inside surfaces of all the walls of the home.
Once the inside of all walls are covered with non-porous paper, we suggest pasting normal wallpaper on the non-porous paper to give pleasing appearance for the inhabitants to look at. The cost would be for the non-porous paper, the wallpaper and two pasting labor. We hope to evaluate the cost of pasting non-porous paper and removing the sulfide fumes from the space inside the walls now. We do not consider the cost of adding a wall paper for aesthetics, as its cost depends on the taste of the inhabitants.
First we need to calculate the internal surface for a home. Here we take the measurements from http://www.emaarmgf.com/esplanade/images/plan/typea1.html This is a 3 bedroom 3 bath apartment coming up near Chennai , India . [Incidentally those planning to buy an apartment in Chennai might visit http://www.emaarmgf.com/esplanade/esplanade.asp# and benefit.This apartment built in India would not use Chinese Drywall! In India concrete/brick walls are built.]
We assume a wall height of 9 feet. The interior length is approximately 415 feet, giving the interior surface to be 3,735 square feet. We require 42 rolls of 3M CP9 costing $459.06 at $10.93 per roll as found in:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1QDYI
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Non-porous, (0.4 mil) high-density polyethylene film rolls for draping and covering large areas, and dust containment. Rolls are dispensed and applied using either the 3M Hand-Masker M3000 or M2000 dispenser systems. Rolls unfold to 6, 9 or 12 feet. Easie r and faster to apply than bulk rolls of poly and masking paper. Lets light in so work can proceed when there is minimal or no artificial lighting. Used when preparing for Drywall Ceiling or Wall Texturing, Floor Sanding, Exterior Wall Finishing and Paint ing. Not flake resistant and should not be used for multi-coat applications.
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The above 3M roll is used day-in day-out for a number of years and we have not encountered any health problem associated with its use. At least we did not find any web page complaining of health issues related to this film.
The 3M Hand-Masker M3000 is priced at $86.38 from http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80809047.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google
We need about 1,200 feet of masking tape to fix the masking film on all sides. A 3M 6-pack 48 mm X 55 M giving a length of 1,080 feet costs $18.49 and we include two such packs for a total cost of $36.98. The price is quoted from http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100135133&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100135133&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D24X-_-100135133
The material cost for ensuring that no sulfide fumes enter the inside is $582.42. A radon removal pump costs $127.00 from
http://www.indoor-air-health-advisor.com/radonaway-rp-fans.html
The total material cost is $709.42. Normally labor costs for painting a single family home is about $200. We allocate $400 for the labor. Thus at a total cost of about $1,100 the sulfide fume problem caused by the Chinese Drywall is eliminated. Alhamdhulillah!
We expect that the insurance companies should continue/ restore the home insurance once the above suggested corrections are done.
Kindly pass on to all your friends who might be affected by the Chinese Drywall problem so that they repair their houses and live in them.
Our solution has saved about $80,000 per affected home. We appeal to the home owners benefitted by the above to donate a fraction of their potential savings to any charity of their choice. If I need to recommend a charity, I would suggest the following charity:
Global Concern International
RZ-1047, L - Block, Geetanjali Park ,
West sagar Pur,
New Delhi -- 110046, India
With prayers to Allah Subhana Wa Taala,
Your brother,
Mohideen Ibramsha
http://www.google.com/profiles/MohideenIbramshaPhD
Was Salaam