CDW Remediation CDW Remediation The The Cost Debate Cost Debate - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CDW Remediation CDW Remediation

The The Cost Debate Cost Debate Rages On Rages On g by Gary Rosen, Ph.D. by Gary Rosen, Ph.D.

Unnecessarily complex protocols with unsubstantiated Unnecessarily complex protocols with unsubstantiated procedures drive up costs and hurt the many home

• wners that have to pay out of pocket.

 We find that fixing CDW homes by following the

We find that fixing CDW homes by following the new Drywall Task Force Guidelines new Drywall Task Force Guidelines is similar in is similar in complexity to 2 complexity to 2-

• 3 mold jobs or one small fire.

3 mold jobs or one small fire.

 Remove the problem material.

Remove the problem material.

 Carefully clean.

Carefully clean.

 Rebuild.

Rebuild.

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 Perform post

Perform post-

• remediation clearance testing

remediation clearance testing. .

Federal Drywall Task Federal Drywall Task Force Remediation Force Remediation Recommendations: Not Expensive Recommendations: Not Expensive Recommendations: Not Expensive Recommendations: Not Expensive

 According to the impartial Federal Chinese Drywall

According to the impartial Federal Chinese Drywall Task Force, based on the latest science: Task Force, based on the latest science:

 Homes do

Homes do not not need to be gutted down to block walls need to be gutted down to block walls in o de to p o ide fe he lth li ing en i onment in o de to p o ide fe he lth li ing en i onment in order to provide safe, healthy living environments. in order to provide safe, healthy living environments.

 The Task Force found no health or safety reasons to

The Task Force found no health or safety reasons to remove non remove non-problem drywall, AC units, insulation, problem drywall, AC units, insulation, remove non remove non problem drywall, AC units, insulation, problem drywall, AC units, insulation, plumbing, or ducting. plumbing, or ducting.

Home owners find that remediation focused on Task Force recommendations cost as low as $12- $17/ sq ft* (S. Florida homes.)

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* See case study in CDW Remediation 101 at www.Chinese-Drywall.org

$ / q ( )

Builders Often Do More Builders Often Do More

 Some builders do more

Some builders do more than recommended by the than recommended by the Federal Task Force Federal Task Force. More . More th th i di t t th th i di t t than the science dictates. than the science dictates.

 These

These builder protocols builder protocols were were often

• ften developed

developed were were often

• ften developed

developed before before the the new Task new Task Force Force recommendations recommendations came out came out recommendations recommendations came out came out.

Once started along this path it now becomes

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Once started along this path, it now becomes difficult to change.

Builders Often Replace Builders Often Replace More More

 …. than

…. than needed for a needed for a multiplicity of reasons multiplicity of reasons not not necessarily dictated by the current science: necessarily dictated by the current science:

  In order to placate home owners so they do not

In order to placate home owners so they do not sue. sue. Brand protection; improved customer satisfaction; Brand protection; improved customer satisfaction;

  Brand protection; improved customer satisfaction;

Brand protection; improved customer satisfaction; satisfying builder satisfying builder warranties; etc. warranties; etc.

For homeowners paying out of pocket to remediate their own homes … they should pay more for remediation because builder protocols have to satisfy builder warranties? Clearly One Size DOES NOT NECESSARI LY Fit All

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Clearly One Size DOES NOT NECESSARI LY Fit All remediation situations.

Remove All Drywall or Not? Remove All Drywall or Not?

Is a Is a Major Major Cost Factor Cost Factor

 Removing

Removing all drywall even all drywall even when when not corrosive not corrosive − − is an is an example of a builder procedure example of a builder procedure with with j p p p p no scientific basis − an example of going no scientific basis − an example of going beyond Task Force recommendations. beyond Task Force recommendations. C t b i ifi tl d d b i C t b i ifi tl d d b i

 Costs can be significantly reduced by saving

Costs can be significantly reduced by saving good drywall when good drywall when adequately identified adequately identified. .

Good drywall, in ceilings under attics, usually can easily be distinguished from corrosive Chinese easily be distinguished from corrosive Chinese drywall by simply reading the name on the back of the drywall.

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Ceiling Drywall Ceiling Drywall

 Why make such a big deal about

Why make such a big deal about ceiling drywall? ceiling drywall? I Fl id Fl id th t j it f th t j it f

 In

In Florida, Florida, the vast majority of the vast majority of newer CDW homes have easy to newer CDW homes have easy to distinguish distinguish good drywall good drywall in in distinguish distinguish good drywall good drywall in in ceilings under ceilings under attics, attics, due to due to recent building code changes. recent building code changes. When the ceiling drywall is good When the ceiling drywall is good

 When the ceiling drywall is good,

When the ceiling drywall is good, you then do not need to replace you then do not need to replace ceiling duct work ceiling duct work or

• r insulation.

insulation. g

The savings involved in not replacing ceiling drywall and not replacing attic insulation and

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drywall and not replacing attic insulation and duct work can be considerable.

Plenty of Plenty of Agreement Agreement

Saving Ceiling Saving Ceiling Drywall, Insulation & Ducting Drywall, Insulation & Ducting

 THE

THE FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL COALITION FOR FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL COALITION FOR CHINESE (REACTIVE) DRYWALL agrees: CHINESE (REACTIVE) DRYWALL agrees: g g g g y , g y , g CHINESE (REACTIVE) DRYWALL agrees: CHINESE (REACTIVE) DRYWALL agrees:

S l d ll b d l id ifi d So long as drywall can be adequately identified, non-corrosive, ceiling drywall does not have to be replaced. As well, neither fiberglass ceiling insulation nor AC flex duct have to be replaced. A great deal of money can be saved by not A great deal of money can be saved by not discarding these building components.

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See their protocol at: ChineseDrywallProtocol.org

Also Plenty of Also Plenty of Disagreement Disagreement

Example: Hernandez Example: Hernandez Ruling Ruling

 The

The Hernandez ruling Hernandez ruling concludes concludes that everything that everything (including not (including not p g y g y g ( g ( g

• nly good drywall but the entire
• nly good drywall but the entire

the list on the list on the right) must be the right) must be replaced even though: replaced even though: replaced even though: replaced even though:

 Their expert’s protocol

Their expert’s protocol from which this table was taken from which this table was taken from which this table was taken from which this table was taken recommends recommends otherwise

• therwise.

.

 Why

Why? ? That’s a good question. That’s a good question. The ruling is certainly The ruling is certainly not based not based

• n the available science.
• n the available science.

See their protocol at:

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ChineseDrywall Protocol.org

No Basis in Fact No Basis in Fact

For Much Found in the Hernandez For Much Found in the Hernandez Ruling Ruling

 Page 20 of the ruling discusses cleaning or

Page 20 of the ruling discusses cleaning or clipping electrical wiring clipping electrical wiring vs vs replacement: replacement: g pp g g pp g g p

“complete removal and replacement of the “complete removal and replacement of the electrical system is the electrical system is the most practical, economical most practical, economical, , and efficient approach to remediation ” and efficient approach to remediation ” and efficient approach to remediation. and efficient approach to remediation.

 On

On page 39 of the ruling the cost to replace page 39 of the ruling the cost to replace the electrical wiring is $15,192, which is 10x the electrical wiring is $15,192, which is 10x g $ , , g $ , , the cost to clip. the cost to clip.

Such facts that drive up costs hurt home owners Such facts that drive up costs hurt home owners coming out of pocket to pay for remediation. This ruling is based on many, many false assumptions that serve to drive up costs all of which need to be

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that serve to drive up costs… all of which need to be challenged.

Much Disagreement on Costs Much Disagreement on Costs

What is Best Depends on Who’s Paying! What is Best Depends on Who’s Paying!

 Our home owners

Our home owners paying to have their homes paying to have their homes remediated find that remediated find that CDW problems can be best CDW problems can be best solved (at least for them): solved (at least for them):

• Based

Based on the latest scientific impartial evidence

• n the latest scientific impartial evidence

(F d l D ll T k F ) d (F d l D ll T k F ) d (Federal Drywall Task Force) and no more. (Federal Drywall Task Force) and no more.

• With a flexible protocol that can be tailored to their

With a flexible protocol that can be tailored to their specific specific needs. needs. p

• By the

By the least expensive permanent least expensive permanent solution. solution.

I f the builder is going to pay, home owners are happy to get a new home. I f they have to pay … the home

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g y p y

• wner generally has a different set of priorities.

$12 $12-

• $17/Sq Ft For

$17/Sq Ft For All All Homes? Homes?

 No. But

• No. But it

it does does apply apply to many typical non to many typical non-

• ccupied FLA homes with non
• ccupied FLA homes with non-
• CDW ceilings.

CDW ceilings. Additional factors Additional factors that increase costs include: that increase costs include:

 CDW ceiling

CDW ceiling Hi h ili Hi h ili

 Geographic location

Geographic location

 Built ins

Built ins

 High ceilings

High ceilings

 Type of Insulation

Type of Insulation

 Faux painting & Murals

Faux painting & Murals

 Built ins

Built ins

 High

High rise or attached rise or attached

 Wine cellar

Wine cellar

 Faux painting & Murals

Faux painting & Murals

 Fancy wood work

Fancy wood work

 High end kitchens

High end kitchens

 Wine cellar

Wine cellar

 Common elements

Common elements

 Location of Class A dump

Location of Class A dump g d g d

We and others, licensed and insured contractors, are remediating S FLA homes based on Task Force

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remediating S FLA homes based on Task Force guidelines for less than $20/ sq ft.

Remediation Remediation Protocol Protocol Should Be Should Be Flexible: One Flexible: One-

• Size

Size-

• Does

Does-

• Not

Not-

• Fit

Fit-

• All

All

 Home owners need a protocol that cost

Home owners need a protocol that cost effectively effectively handles handles simple situations as well as simple situations as well as provides provides the the fl ibili h dl b f fl ibili h dl b f ddi i l f ddi i l f flexibility to handle any number of flexibility to handle any number of additional factors additional factors.

 That can be fine

That can be fine-

• tuned based on advice by their

tuned based on advice by their attorneys and consultants attorneys and consultants attorneys and consultants. attorneys and consultants.

 An example of such a protocol based on Task Force

An example of such a protocol based on Task Force recommendations is on recommendations is on Chinese Chinese-Drywall.org. Drywall.org.

 Downloadable free

Downloadable free as as a public a public service. In

• service. In Word.doc

Word.doc format, it format, it is fully is fully customizable. customizable.

I n conclusion: We believe that protocols with unsubstantiated procedures drive up costs and hurt (do not help) the many home owners that have to

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(do not help) the many home owners that have to pay out of pocket for CDW remediation.