Chinese-made drywall ruining homes, owners say

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/18/chinese.drywall/index.html

(CNN) -- Officials are looking into claims that Chinese-made drywall installed in some Florida homes is emitting smelly, corrosive gases and ruining household systems such as air conditioners, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.


Gas emitted from defective drywall corrodes copper wiring, turning it black, some Florida homeowners say.

The Florida Health Department, which is investigating whether the drywall poses any health risks, said it has received more than 140 homeowner complaints. And class-action lawsuits allege defective drywall has caused problems in at least three states -- Florida, Louisiana and Alabama -- while some attorneys involved claim such drywall may have been used in tens of thousands of U.S. homes.

Homeowners' lawsuits contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats and face huge repair expenses.

The drywall is alleged to have high levels of sulfur and, according to homeowners' complaints, the sulfur-based gases smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail.

"It's economically devastating, and it's emotionally devastating," said Florida attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, who filed one of the lawsuits. It would cost a third of an affected home's value to fix the dwelling, Gonzalez said.

"The interior has to be gutted, the homeowners have to continue paying mortgages, and they have to pay for a place to live," Gonzalez said.

The CPSC has been investigating claims in Florida for more than a month, according to commission spokesman Joe Martyak. He would not confirm whether CPSC is checking other states or reveal how many cases it is probing.

The Florida complaints generally involve homes built or renovated in 2005 and 2006, when a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage that spurred builders to turn to imports, Martyak said.

The allegations come after a number of recent safety problems with other Chinese exports, ranging from toys to pet food.


Dick and Nancy Nelson, who say the Florida retirement home they bought new in 2006 has Chinese-manufactured drywall, contend all their appliances with copper are failing, according to CNN affiliate WFTS-TV.

"The washing machine, the dryer, the microwave, a refrigerator -- these are all brand-new appliances, and they're breaking down," Nancy Nelson of Palmetto told the Tampa station. The Nelsons are among those who have complained to the state health department.

[silverojo]

1. I like Asia, but....

Why can't the freakin' Chinese do ANYTHING right? Are all their goods as bad as the ones they export, or do they save the crap to send overseas?

[izquierdista]

2. Japan, 1950

Postwar Japan had such terrible quality control problems that the whole country had to learn from W. Edwards Deming about how to make quality products. Unfortunately, today's Chinese, with their wallets full, are not the subject of worldwide ridicule and they can just pinch off a loaf of the cheapest crap they can make, wrap it in shrink wrap, and Wal-Mart will have Americans lined up to pay money for it. It's half America's fault for not wanting to pay more for quality products -- ALWAYS.

[Selatius]

4. There is no motivation on their part to enforce safety standards.

Until the Chinese economy is severely hit with product boycotts and complaints from customers about the quality of their products, the Communist Party that runs China will not do anything.

[TexasProgresive]

5. No governmental oversight

If we still had a manufacturing base here it would be the same after 8 years of deregulation.

[upi402]

3. buy union n/t

[Mnemosyne]

6. KnR. n/t

[ensho]

7. why the hell can't we make our own wall board?

it is nuts to transport wall board all the way from China.

[scarletwoman]

8. That was my first thought, too. Why aren't we making our own drywall?

This is absolutely absurd. :grr: