Forget Chinese water torture - look out for the drywall
Unless you’re a builder, it’s likely you have little to no interest in drywall per se. Our first home, built in the 1950s, had plaster walls. Our present home, built in 1929, also has walls of plaster. I guess we’re plaster wall people. I tell you this because I have little experience with drywall; however, the topic recently caught my attention when I read a couple of online headlines about hazardous Chinese drywall.
The drywall itself was manufactured in China by Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. Primarily affected are Florida homes built between 2004-06. Due to the tremendous need for rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina, domestic drywall was in short supply. The Knauf product was readily available and was offered at a lower price.
There are a handful of problems associated with this drywall. Homeowners have complained about an offensive odor emanating from the walls, which inspectors have discovered are sulfur-based gases. (Think high school chemistry class and rotten eggs.) Not only is there the stink, these gases also may be corroding air-conditioner coils, computer wiring and metal picture frames.
Frequent visits by heating and cooling repair workers have left them baffled as to the cause of the units’ repeated failures. Homeowners have also expressed concern about possible respiratory problems. To date, the Florida Department of Health has found that such gas emissions pose no “immediate health threat.”
In the meantime, both the manufacturer and a leading builder, Lennar Corp., continue to conduct air tests and remove and replace the drywall. Many homeowners are concerned about the problem affecting the value of their homes. In a market of depressed home values, owners feel they cannot afford issues that may threaten their ability to sell their home now or in the future.
Since its inception, drywall has been manufactured using mined gypsum, which is then heated. This process produces “20 billion pounds of greenhouse gases a year.” There are two national drywall manufacturers that have recently made the news due to their environmentally friendly production processes. EcoRock, produced by Serious Materials, is a drywall made from recycled materials and doesn’t require heating. CleanBoard, out of San Francisco, is developing a gypsum drywall made from 100 percent recycled materials and whose production plant will be powered by solar energy. The plant site will be in the Mojave Desert.
Whether you’re building in Florida or anywhere else in the U.S., it wouldn’t hurt to check with your builder regarding the drywall being used in your new home. Being proactive about any potential building issues can save you both time and money, plus increase your chances of a better night’s sleep during construction.
If you live in a home built between 2004-06 and are experiencing any of the above problems, America’s Watchdog’s Homeowners Consumer Center would like to hear from you. The center is “all about homeowner protection and corporate responsibility.”
Posted by Sharon Walker
I purchased a home built during this time frame and we have been experiencing problems very similar to what you describe here. What is the next step to getting this problem solved?
January 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Thank you for your inquiry. I would suggest calling your local Health Department. Also Home Owners Consumer Center can be contacted by phone at 866-714-6466 or on line at
http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.
January 30th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Our home also has Chinese Drywall. We settled in 2006 and our punch sheet which we found has smell written on it.
Also during our punch sheet the mirrors had turned black, and drains were also black. The builder Taylor Morrison took care of this under the warranty, however they did not think there was a smell.
We only use this home in the winter, but that does not make it any less important to us. We try and come as often as possible, and it was our “happy” place. Two days ago after confirmation of Chinese Drywall, we vacated our home.
The smell is not so much like rotten eggs to me. It was more like a wood burning or maybe a varnish smell.
I kept thinking something was dead in the walls.
When we returned this Oct. the smell was as strong as ever, and our mirrors had all turned black again, our drains all pitted again, and our new TV and computer had gone bad.
We left to return in Dec. and when company came over, she said, you had better check for Chinese Drywall.
Because I had never heard of it, I decided to call the builder. After three calls none of which were returned, I went home for a few days, and returned in January, and called the corporate office. We had all been noticing scratchy throats, burning of the eyes, and also nasal drip and headaches.
Taylor Morrison sent out three men on the morning of the 2nd of February. They said it was their first complaint, however this is not true. There is a girl who complained some time ago, only to be told they would put in a air purification system.
These three men said they had never heard of it, and they only use good materials. Read their web site, FALSE ADVERTISING at its best.
I told them my daughter and i needed to be relocated immediately. Taylor Morrison has many empty homes that should not be effected.
Taylor Morrison then called me and said they had no proof it was a health hazard and did not believe i had Chinese Drywall. They told me they had not used it.
I then called the Health Dept to find out that there was a simply way of testing to verify you may have it.
That is to pull off an outlet and if the cooper wire is black, chances are very good you have Chinese Drywall.
The outlet was pulled the wire black.
The fact the air conditioner had failed also pointed to a problem.
After finding a black wire, I called Taylor Morrison with my findings and told them to come look. I had company, and I will tell you they were simply appalled at the statements made by their company rep
Birch from Taylor Morrison said he smelled it but that it was again probably not Chinese Drywall. My friends told him we were being poisioned. I contacted the law offices I saw who were handling cases. Ultimately I chose Richard Serpe of Virginia.
I again contacted Taylor Morrison this time calling the CEO directly. This time i got her assistant who while having a sympathic ear, said she could only relay the messages. She said the CEO of the Southwest Division would call me.
HE did not . I told Dawn the assistant we needed to be relocated. She said she would again relay it.
I also then got a call from the CEO of the SW division who said that it was not dangerous. I hung up.
Taylor Morrison does not care, their web site is false, and they left me in harms way. Anything that shuts down TV’s, ruins mirrors, and pits metal can not be good for you.
Further, I believe the state of Florida should condemn all of these homes until proven they are SAFE! Why are we waiting to prove they are not.
Two days ago, an investigator with my attorneys office and an engineer came and spent six hours in my home. He is an expert and immediately identified the smell. However being a scientist, he pulled samples from outlets and the AC.
After gaining much of his evidence, labeling it, and taking photos and videos, the said he really needed a piece of drywall. Knauf Tianjin was making much of what was being found to be defective. After cutting into the wall, and putting his scope in, he found a big piece with the name Knauf Tianjin very big on the boards.
I cried and am still in shock. I am worried about my health and my families health. We immediately vacated the premises. We are now in Naples at friends trying to find a rental in high season. I need to be here to move our things out, and to be available . We have friends with plane tickets coming and we have no home. My business is internet out of my home and I can not work. I have lost sleep and am writing this at 2 am. I am worried about our health, and do not know what to do next.
Our homes, all of us with Chinese Drywall have a very big problem. They need to be plowed to the ground. Their value is nothing. Even if the unit is gutted out, forever we must disclose if we sell that the homes have Chinese Drywall.
The state needs to step up. Our builder Taylor Morrison has treated us as if we are a thorn in their side, and has done nothing. In fact they said it would be two weeks to be tested something I had done within in 24 hours. They would not have anyone call who did not say they did not use Chinese Drywall.
The CEO Sheryl Palmer would not return my calls. Her assistant said she knows about it, and can not help me, because they have to help anyone the same.
What I know is the engineer who is testing daily said he had never seen it that bad.
I hope we all get help, and someone helps us.
Taylor Morrison used sub standard materials and then told me to deal with it.
Now the attorneys get rich, all around the country, but at least they protect us.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:48 am
i am purchasing a condo built in 2005 in sw FL. what should we look for during the inspection?
February 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Rene,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with me. I’m hopeful that others who visit the site will be enlightened and educated by your story. Your situation is horrific and I hope you’ll be able to find quality housing soon. Feel free to update me on any progress and/or solutions that are made.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Trish,
Thanks for your response. I refer you to these 2 web site: http://www.prweb.com/printer/1919434.htm and
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/01/23/chinese-drywall-a-hazard-to-american-homeowners
May I also recommend that you hire a qualified, independent inspector to look over the property. I would suggest that you be present at the time of the inspection to be sure a thorough inspection is done.
I hope these sites are helpful. If possible I’d like to hear back from you regarding your experience. Thanks again for your inquiry.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hi all,
I stumbled upon your great website. I also found another that gives recent news about Chinese Drywall Problems. I know they do excellent work in Chinese Drywall Testing and Removal.
Email me if you need more info.
May 4th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Hello Glen,
Thank you for responding to this post. Since this original blog on Chinese drywall, I have written 5 others, dated 2/3, 2/26, 3/23,4/3 and the most recent 4/27/09. Each is a follow-up to this original post. If you can add anything to those posts I’d be most appreciative.
Sharon
May 4th, 2009 at 9:39 am
[...] nearly a year, homeowners from across the country have been reporting ill effects due to imported drywall from China. Nearly 1,900 complaints from 30 states and the District of Columbia have been filed with the [...]
November 4th, 2009 at 6:03 am