Tainted drywall is a hot topic right now because many homeowners are discovering erosion from the Chinese-made drywall.
According to
Angie's List, residents living in homes that were built during the housing boom earlier this decade may be surrounded by a potentially home and health-threatening compound.
About 500 million pounds of drywall shipped from China to the United States between 2004 and 2006 contained potentially toxic sulfur compounds.
This compound is believed to be responsible for damaging hundreds of homes and creating possible health problems for homeowners.
A string of lawsuits against builders and drywall manufacturers have been filed but many homeowners may not even know their home was built with the tainted product.
The majority of known affected homes appear to be in south Florida, but homes in several other states could be at risk, according to Angie's List.
According to
NewsInferno.com here in the Valley, area home builder Lennar Homes is being named in a major class-action lawsuit over the tainted drywall.
4 ways to determine if your home has Chinese-made drywall:
1. Your home was built between 2004-06: There was a shortage of drywall during this period, so more than 500 million pounds were shipped to the U.S. from China.
2. Your home has a foul smell: Homeowners with Chinese-made drywall complain of a strong odor of sulfur, or what smells like rotten eggs.
3. You notice metal and copper corroding: Chinese drywall is reported to corrode metal and copper, notably air-conditioning coils and electrical wiring, with a black coating.
4. You identify your drywall as made in China: Some affected drywall will state it is made in China. Other Chinese drywall bears the mark of manufacturers, including Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and Taishan Gypsum Co.
Determining the risk is fairly simple; the remedy is likely more complex.
Some builders who used the imported drywall have addressed the issue by removing it from affected homes and replacing it with new drywall.
Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, said that even if they do be sure to contact an attorney. “Just replacing the drywall might not be enough to fix this problem.”
“If your builder offers to replace the drywall, ask if they’ll also replace materials like carpet and insulation, as these might also be contaminated," says Hicks. "There is also concern that corroded electrical wiring could pose a fire hazard, so that might need to be replaced as well. Once the drywall has been replaced, all the dust in your home should be removed with a HEPA air scrubber.”
Studies are still being done to determine possible health issues, but many homeowners are concerned about the potential effects of long-term exposure to the drywall.
If you suspect your home contains this drywall, call a well-qualified home inspector to check it out immediately.
Companies targeted in various lawsuits:
Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and Taishan Gypsum Co. are among the known manufacturers of the product and have been targeted in various lawsuits. Lennar Corp., Aubuchon Homes, Meritage Homes, Ryland Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Taylor Morrison and WCI Communities are all builders confirmed to have used drywall imported from China.
For more information, head to
AngiesList.com.
