Nearly a year and a half after the first reports of problems with Chinese-made drywall that was linked to corrosion of home appliance and electrical components and to illnesses caused by high levels of sulfur, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have issued an interim remediation guide to help homeowners struggling to rid their properties of the problem.

The remediation guide recommends the replacement of all possible problem drywall, all fire safety alarm devices (including smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms), all electrical components and wiring (including outlets, switches, and circuit breakers), and all gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems. In a nutshell, homeowners are being asked to gut their homes. “Taking these steps should help eliminate both the source of the problem drywall and corrosion-damaged components that might cause a safety problem in the home,” according to a CPSC statement. 

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