Was chinese drywall used 1/2 or 3/8 or 5/8 inch in FLorida (houses, living)

[bluevet]

I have heard conflicting stories from different builders in SW Florida, one builder said that the chinese drywall was only 1/2 inch drywall that was contaminated. Then another builder said the contaminated chinese drywall was 5/8 inch drywall only. Does anyone know the real story? Thank you for any help you can give me.

[kbuild]

It would have to be Two different sizes. One size for the walls and One for the lids (ceilings). That is a pure guess. But that would be logical due to Code and drywall specs. I would not believe when the shortage happened that they would only bring in One size. Just my speculation.

[HomeStager]

I know for sure, just measured it, that some contaminated board from China is 1/2 inch.

I know lighter weight boards are typically used for the ceiliegs. I heard, it is not uncommon to find the heavier ones used for walls, on the ceiling of the garage.

Like the other person said, during a shortage with mad demand to get homes deleivered on time, who knows what could've ended up where, just to get a house finished.

1/2" board being contaminated? Absolutely.

I don't know about 5/8s

[kayakkings]

Hello everyone, I just found this very interesting forum. Since we are talking about residential properties - 5/8" drywall was required for use on ceilings MANY years ago. It was required by code. Then a type of drywall (gypsum) came on the market commonly referred to as CD board. The CD stands for Ceiling Density. The approval of it's use was adopted by the Florida Building Code. This CD board contained fiberglass strands which made it a stronger board for spanning the typical 24" on center spacing of the ceiling framing (roof truss). So - not to get too technical - the bottom line is this - you will find that the vast majority of homes in Florida that contain the infamous "CHI-WALL" problem, will have regular 1/2" drywall on the walls, as well as 1/2" drywall on the ceilings (yes...lids) although it will be "CD" board (if it was to code). Some used 5/8" on ceilings due to the shortage during the boom, (and that is still in accordance with the Florida Building Code) but it was not the preferred choice, it was an availability problem. I've not seen anyone address the lanais, and front entry porches - those are also most commonly 1/2" - but it is a type of drywall (gypsum) called "Exterior Soffit Board." Stucco on front lids and back lanais is far superior, but not very common due to the cost of installation. In garages, the 5/'8" board was a code change requirement for maintaining a fire rating between a garage and living space. Therefore the ceiling of the garage and the walls adjoining the living space will be 5/8" - again ONLY if it's to code, although I would be sure that somewhere, sometime, somehow, 1/2" may have been used where it should have been 5/8" and it slipped by. There are variables here and there, but that was it in a nutshell!

[kbuild]

There is a website Welcome to Chinesedrywall.com that states that the Chinese Drywall problem is not only limited to 1/2" but also 5/8"

[bocamom]

Does the copper wire always corrode in houses with the problem drywall?

[kbuild]

Yes, that is a characteristic along with the coils in the A/C

[kayakkings]

That's right, copper connections, copper plumbing supply lines to faucets at sinks, and toilets, sometimes even the brass shut off valves to the sink and toilet water supply lines corrode, as well as the coils in the air handler unit.