Chinese drywall spawns treatment industry

Port St. Lucie’s Tradition community, a hub of faulty drywall imported from China during the building boom, is welcoming businesses that deal with the smell given off by the defective product. Port St. Lucie-based Chinese Drywall Screening, started in mid-January by Howard Ehrsam, is one of the first commercial enterprises to spring up in the wake of concerns about drywall. For $250, Ehrsam takes apart the air conditioning unit to check for corrosion, looks at the home’s electrical panel and makes notes about smells or corrosion on mirrors and faucets.