Chinese Drywall DANGER?

 on Jan. 10 2009 edit · delete
I have a home containing the contaminated drywall. I live in Venice and found out about six months ago. We have lived in the house for about two and a half years. In that time we have had four evaporator coils replaced in our A/C system.

The drywall was made from a bi-product of coal-fired plants. It is the leftover white powder that would not burn. They found that it could made into a compound similar to gypsum. The carbonyl sulfide in the drywall reacts with moisture and corrodes all common metals, copper being the softest and most easily affected. Light fixtures, picture frames, silverware (real silver) can become black and pitted or spotty. You can also look at your copper wiring by removing a light switch cover.

The odor is the biggest giveaway, but your sense of smell becomes accustomed to it over time. If you have guests over, ask them if they smell it. Our homebuilder is taking measures to rectify the problem and replace all of our drywall, but it has been a long, frustrating experience. We don't feel that we should have to be put through all of this because we bought a new home expecting it to be hassle free for the most part but they will not buy the house back. Wells-Fargo, our mortgage company, told us in a very kind way that it really didn't affect them and that even though it is technically their house, we are obligated by our loan to continue paying through all of this.

Udut, Kenneth on Mar. 2 2009 edit · delete
Originally posted on: Monday, March 02, 2009 by The Associated Press Last updated on: 3/2/2009 4:16:16 PM

Chinese drywall focus of class action lawsuit

CORAL GABLES: A class action lawsuit in Miami federal court alleges imported Chinese drywall is causing health problems, making new homes smell like rotten eggs and ruining appliances.

The lawsuit filed Monday names several homebuilders, an importer and a company that manufactured drywall in China. The product was used from about 2005 to 2007, when the building boom combined with hurricanes and other disasters made materials scarce.

The allegedly contaminated drywall is said to emit sulfur. Worst, plaintiffs say, is that it corrodes wires and pipes, causing environmental and respiratory problems.

The plaintiffs allege 30,000 Florida homes are affected by the problem, as well as another 30,000 total in the Southeast and California.

Udut, Kenneth on Jul. 11 2009 edit · delete
Florida homeowners who suffered property damage from drywall imported from China are eligible to receive thousands of dollars on their tax return, according to an announcement by the Internal Revenue Service.

Faulty drywall, reportedly imported from a German-owned manufacturing company in China, was found in homes throughout Florida and in 20 other states.

Officials stated that homes built in 2004 were more likely to contain the drywall because a depletion of supplies during the construction boom forced many contractors to use the Chinese-imported material.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began investigating cases in February after Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., requested the commission look into the reputed Chinese drywall contagion. His office reported in May that 36,000 Florida homes contained the drywall.

Homeowners have noticed unusual chemical fumes and damage to their homes, specifically the corrosion of electric wiring, air conditioning pipes and other household appliances. Although there has been no conclusive report on the health effects of the tainted drywall, homeowners claim it causes respiratory problems and irritation.

“This is coming as some relief to these families,” said Nelson in a prepared statement. “Considering the terrible circumstances they have had to endure, it’s only right that they are given special consideration.”

According to the IRS, the eligible deduction is the difference between the value of the house before and after the damage caused by the drywall.

Three families in north Cape Coral stated in March that their homes contained the drywall. Sonny and Joyce Dowdy, residents of Coral Lakes, said they had to replace their air conditioning coils after they turned from copper to black, and Sonny Dowdy said he’s been suffering from headaches and insomnia after the house emitted a foul odor.

Coral Gables-based law firm Roberts & Durkee filed a class action suit against Engle Homes on behalf of the local homeowners who say they have been affected by the drywall.

Not unlike hundreds of other families whose homes contain the imported drywall, the Dowdy family is trapped economically in a house they say is rotting from the inside. Even though it continues to emit an odor similar to burning chemicals or sulfur, they continue living in the home without any viable options.

“At this point it isn’t sellable, we can’t rent it or do anything with it,” she said. “We are still having the issues but it’s not like all of us can afford to have two or three homes to live in. This is where we live, this is our house.”

Tearing out and replacing the faulty drywall is an option, but the family has received conflicting opinions from local contractors whether removing the faulty drywall would solve the problem, she said.

Ultimately they would be thankful for any financial assistance they could receive on their tax return.

“I will have to look into it a little further, but of course I would try to get the deductions, we have lost a great deal of value on our home,” said Joyce Dowdy.

Nelson’s office received the first test results on Chinese drywall in May. The tests indicated it contains sulfur not present in U.S. manufactured drywall, strontium at levels ten times higher than other pieces of drywall and organic compounds found in acrylic paint.

Cynthia on Aug. 9 2009 edit · delete
The defective Chinese drywall debacle has been making news for months now, with homeowners plagued by sulfur fumes that smell like “rotten eggs” and cause air conditioning coils to corrode. Residents complain of sinus and respiratory ailments, eye and skin irritation, persistent runny or bloody noses, headaches, and asthma. Some situations were so severe that residents had to vacate their homes. In some cases, victims have been harassed by builders into signing unfair, one-side remediation agreements. The issues surrounding defective Chinese drywall are confusing and worrisome. Here is a good blog that has been providing emerging and valuable information on the problems: www.chinese-drywall-answers.com

Mhy on Sep. 8 2009 edit · delete
Chinese Drywall Town Hall Meeting Sunday - Open to everyone

When: Sunday, September 13, 2009 Time: 3PM Where: Crown Plaza Hotel in the Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive Fort Myers, FL 33907 RSVP: 239 217-4421

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Cynthia on Nov. 25 2009 edit · delete
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission released a report linking Chinese drywall to high levels of hydrogen sulfide and metal corrosion in homes. Hundreds of homeowners have filed suit over defective Chinese drywall, and all pending federal cases have been consolidated in a multidistrict litigation underway in New Orleans. An agreement has been reached and victims whose homes were built with wallboard manufactured by Knauf must sign on to the omnibus class action against Knauf by December 2, 2009. This is a hard deadline that will not be amended to add additional claimants. Eligibility involves proof that the home in question was constructed with wallboard made by Knauf Plasterboard. Parker Waichman Alonso LLP is the first law firm to file a federal Chinese drywall lawsuit and is offering assistance to any homeowner interested in joining the Knauf Plasterbaoard lawsuit. Free consultations are available at www.yourlawer.com or by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

Cynthia on Dec. 1 2009 edit · delete
An important Chinese drywall lawsuit deadline is approaching. By Wednesday, December 2, Chinese drywall claimants whose homes were built with wallboard made by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. must sign on to an omnibus class action lawsuit if they want to take advantage of an agreement that will greatly streamline the litigation process. This is a good place to get information on filing a suit: http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/17221 and includes a toll-free number