Problems with defective Chinese drywall may have been plaguing Florida homeowners longer than first thought. According to a report in the South Florida Business Journal, some builders in Florida have been quietly settling complaints over defective Chinese drywall for the past three years.
Over the past several months, owners of newer homes in South Florida have been complaining of drywall that smells like rotten eggs. In several cases, they have had to leave their home because the smell was so bad. In addition to the putrid smell, many South Florida homeowners have reported problems with air conditioning and other systems that are likely related to the defective Chinese drywall. Some spent hundreds – even thousands of dollars – to have air conditioning, pipes and wiring repaired.
Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage between 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004-2005. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems. Another Chinese drywall maker, Taishan Gypsum, has also been implicated.
The drywall problems have sparked several lawsuits. Late last month, the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Knauf Plasterboard, Taishan and others. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District court in Fort Myers, charges that the defendants negligently manufactured and sold the defective drywall, which was “unreasonably dangerous” in normal use because it caused corrosion to air-conditioning and electrical components, and caused coughing and irritation of sinuses, eyes and throats. It goes on to state that, “when combined with moisture in the air, these sulfur compounds create sulfuric acid.”
Lennar Homes, one of the biggest builders in Florida, has also sued Knauf and Taishan because of the drywall issue. The Lennar lawsuit also charges 12 installers with breach of contract and breach of express and implied warranty. Lennar claimed that independent subcontractors installed the defective Chinese drywall in some homes, and it was unaware it was being used.
Lennar recently released its own test results of the Chinese drywall. Those tests, conducted last year by Environ International, found three sulfide gases – carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, a particularly dangerous compound with a characteristic rotten-eggs smell, was not found in Environ’s air tests, but it was found in previous testing that the company conducted on the Chinese drywall itself. The Florida Health Department is also conducting tests, and results are expected next month.
According to an attorney interviewed by the South Florida Business Times, “a number of developers throughout South Florida have experienced problems over the last couple years.” The lawyer told the Business Times that builders probably weren’t required to notify all their customers of the potential problem.
According to the report, only Lennar has provided details about its handling of drywall complaints. The company told the Business Times that it dealt with problems as homeowners brought them to its attention. However, Lennar is not saying how other homeowners were notified of the problem.
As we reported last month, Lennar had issued a statement that said it intends to replace damaged fixtures in the homes, which could include plumbing, electrical wiring and air conditioning systems. At the time, the builder said it had 80 of its homes in Southwest Florida that appear to contain the suspect drywall and is investigating 40 more, news-press.com said. About 30 of the 80 Lennar homes confirmed to have the drywall are in Lennar’s Heritage Harbor development in east Manatee County.
According to the Business Times another builder, WCI Communities, has also acknowledge the drywall problem. The company, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said in a January 28 filing that it believes “drywall manufactured in China may have been installed in certain portions of some homes that were built and sold prior to the Chapter 11 filing.” WCI has not revealed which of its developments are affected and whether homeowners in those communities were notified, the Business Times said.
Only one other builder, South Kendall Construction, has reported drywall problems, according to the Business Times. Most of those complaints center on its Keys Gate community in Homestead.
As we reported last week, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor has also said his Fort Meyers home, built by Aubuchon Homes, was built with defective Chinese drywall.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Why on earth are we importing drywall, from China no less? Drywall is plentiful and cheap. I hope the builders who used this stuff get the pants sued off them. How many times do we have to hear of a defective product from China that may cause someone harm.
First, melamine tainted dog food, then date rape drug coated aqua dots, then melamine tainted milk products. Lead contamination in about everything.
Enough, the pennies saved cannot equal a life.
March 5th, 2009 at 7:11 am
was any of this drywall sold in CT? I have a friend who had a situation where the previous owner (2006) had a breezeway enclosed and this past fall there was an odor permeating the house that noone could identify..in time it seemed to fade, but is still there. thanks..
March 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
This is to Walter: Walter, I don’t know where you live but until you go through all of the hurricanes that Florida went through 2004-2005 (9) and add Hurricane Katrina into the mix and let tell me where we can find drywall. There was no American made drywall to be found since late 2004 due to all of the rebuilding that was going on down here. It wasn’t a matter of saving money but of getting a roof back over one’s head after the massive destruction we endured.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Copy that WPB I did emergency response during the hurricane I saw the destruction and all the families displaced for years do to no building supplies or contractors,
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 am
My husband installed new sheet rock during our 2007 remodel and developed a severe rash over his body, still has it after two years. The sheet rock was our first suspicion, but a series of doctors has been unable to find the cause. Has anyone else experienced this? We have a very dry climate and have not noticed any strange odors. Sheetrock was purchased at Home Depot. Thanks for sharing any information you have.
April 7th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Aside from the rotten egg smell and corrosion to copper objects, I imagine that the Chinese drywall is subject to rapid deterioration of the paper skins due to sulfuric acid. It’s the same stuff that causes acid-process paper in books to get yellow and brittle, and eventually crumble.
April 8th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Response to Colorado Resident: As a Contractor, we have been studying this hot new issue. First, Some home-owners have reported suffering severe allergies, nose bleeds, upper-respiratory problems. Often symptoms will disappear when they leave their homes for an extended time. Second, the official word from Home depot is that they have not ever sold any drywall from China. They only sell US made drywall. This is a big issue in South Florida and the FL Dept of Health has recently posted the results from Unified Engineering Labs on the first test performed on this potentially toxic drywall.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Every account states that the imported drywall was sold in Florida and/or Georgia between the years of 2002 up to 2006. Drywall inventories turn over rapidly so I doubt even much of it was left in 2006 at local home centers.
To Walter: No. The dog food incident was not first by a long shot. Neither was the lead poisoning in toys. The above article, like most others, adequately explains why distributers imported drywall. It had nothing to do with saving money. In fact, drywall prices skyrocketed during that period due to demand and shipping costs.
Unfortunately, there will be even less manufacturing done in the U.S. now due to an oppressive corporate tax structure (second highest in the world) and the greenies driving them off. So we all get to pay more for products with less quality.
I drive a Ford and I own a John Deere. Not a Toyota and a Komatsu. What do you drive Walter?
June 27th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I am purchasing a house near port charlotte florida. The house was built in 2007. Is there a possibility that chinese drywall was used?
Any help is appreciated.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Around the time mentioned in the above article, I remember my husband stating that drywall and other building materials had gone up in price. The news was saying that it was due to building materials going overseas….and China was the number one nation buying the materials…funny how that works.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
How do you find out if chinse drywall is in a house you are about to buy?
October 16th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
The so called “chinese drywall” was manufactured by a German company Knauf, in Knauf’s factory that they setup in China. Why no one accuse this f**king German company, and only blame China? If you think it’s bad to have drywall in your home, think about the Chinese workers that this German company hires and exploits, who cares about them? Chinese government should kick foreign companies like this out of the country.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Have you seen this article, what counties do this lie in?What cities do these problems cover??
October 20th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Was any of this drywall sold in CA, specifically Riverside, CA. as Lennar was building a lot of homes here
November 14th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Walter you are truly what is wrong with humanity. The article explains why the prodcut was used, that it;s deficiencies were unbeknowst to the builders using it, and that the builders now aware of its deficiency are standing by their home and remedying it. Yet your solution is to “sue the pants of the builders”, how humane of you. Now doing the right thing is no longer the expectation, one must pay dearly and be exploited for a circumstance that in all liklehood they knew nothing about. Why would any reputable builder install a faulty product and expose themselves to the bad publicity and moronic thinking of people such as yourself? Wake up people! Some day you too may find yourself sued for some ridiculous claim some moron feels they are entitiled to and some vulture lawyer agreed to represent.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Living in FL, I know the shortages of material we experienced during a time of unrealistic growth. However taking this out of the equation, what will it take for America to look after America? We need to fire (vote out) these crooks in congress that are putting the burden on American companies and forcing the import of total crap from over-seas.
I hope people will decide to unite as Americans and restore our country.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
My mother and father had nearly the entire inside of their house refurbished, lots of new drywall. They have been complaining of a bad odor for over a year, but they thought it was coming from their hot water heater, which by the way was put in at same time as drywall. Most of the materials purchased were from Lowe’s. Is there a list of retailers who sold this? Maybe it is not the hotwater heater after all!!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:34 am
If your looking to buy a home in south Florida, what is the best way to protect yourself? Is there a law protecting the buyer if the home has drywall from China?
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
I have been traveling around to distressed areas of the country attending foreclosure auctions. Most of these newer houses are in Florida, Arizona, and Las Vegas. How can I determine whether these houses have Chinese drywall before I bid. Is it as simple as looking for wire discoloration behind a switch plate?
Thank you for any timely advise you can offer.
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
[...] Lucinda… As stated at the following website: Florida’s Chinese Drywall Problems Go Back at Least 3 Years Florida Chinese drywall is in itself a known problem that is suggested to cause corrosion to [...]
February 21st, 2010 at 5:03 am
I think the manufacturer and/or wholesaler of the defective product should be held responsible. American companies expect to purchase quality products. There should be no reason for them to anticipate a disaster such as this. Our US trade agreements need to address this problem, and seek compensation for the victims, including the contractors, from the countries who fail to insure they are not producing and selling harmful products. ATTENDION OBAMA!? Isn’t this the kind of think you should get involved in
? STOP ALL TRADE WITH COUNTRIES THAT DON’T GUARANTY THEIR PRODUCTS. – Could solve some of the unemployment problems here in the US too.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:25 pm
[...] country. You sure about that? Anyone remember the hazardous amounts of lead in toys? Or the chinese drywall that sent many people to the hospital? [...]
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I have noticed my copper pipes have turned black. I also notice there was a foul odor, so I replaced the drywall. My light fixtures also turned black on the copper. My breathing has become faint.