The term Chinese drywall refers to drywall imported from China and installed in homes in the United States starting in 2001. Some of this drywall was defective and found to contain volatile chemicals that can cause health problems and corrosion in copper wiring and pipes. The only remedy is complete removal and replacement of the drywall and any wiring or plumbing parts that show damage.

Chinese drywall was installed in homes throughout the country, but the majority of the complaints about damage and health problems have come from the southeastern United States. This is due to the fact that emissions from the plasterboard are made worse by hot, humid conditions and because many homes that were built or remodeled after the major hurricanes of 2004/2005 were fitted with the defective drywall. It is estimated that up to 100,000 homes in the United States could contain the defective product.

If any drywall was installed between 2001 and 2009, has a sulfur odor coming from the drywall that gets worse in high humidity and has a black, ashy appearance near copper wiring, tubing or pipes, it is probably defective. More information on this defective drywall is available here.