FL State Officials Checking Chinese Drywall As Complaints Of Metal Corrosion, Stench Continue

[hatrack]

As first reported to you here yesterday, state officials are looking at drywall from China as the likely cause of a putrid odor and failed metal devices, following complaints by homeowners in several Florida counties. The original coverage of the problem focused on South Florida, but, as the Bradenton Herald reports, the state has received about 30 complaints from homeowners in Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Collier counties, said Tim Wallace, Florida environmental health program consultant.

How widespread is the problem? That's not clear but officials with a large building supply company say more than 10-million square feet of the Chinese drywall was imported to southwest Florida in 2006 -- a period during the housing boom when there were severe drywall shortages. Some of the drywall may have been kept on barges at sea for months awaiting permission for importation to the United States. Could this be a factor by allowing the drywall to soak up all that extra humidity?

Homeowners complained evaporator coils of air-conditioning equipment prematurely failed, were replaced, and failed again, Wallace told the Bradenton newspaper. Sulfur odor has been associated with erosion on copper in electrical outlets, behind the refrigerator and any other places where metal is in the home. The odor causes people to experience mild and moderate respiratory irritation that clears up when they leave the homes, state toxicologist David Krause told the paper.

Stories in both the Bradenton paper and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune cite a specific case of Kristin Culliton. She hasn’t lived in her $331,000 Greenbrook Terrace home in Lakewood Ranch for a year because of a putrid odor she says is caused by drywall from China. She was advised by her doctor to move out when she was pregnant and has now filed a lawsuit in Sarasota County against Taylor Morrison Homes for damages.

EDIT

http://blogs.tampabay.com/venture/2009/01/the-state-has-r.html

[phantom power]

1. That's a lot of sulfur. WTF?

[aquart]

2. China, home of the truly free market.

Free of any regulation or standards whatsoever.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I am waiting to hear about the rotting particle board sheathing in Ca.

They built several apt. buidlings next to us in Ca. in 05.
The particle board sheathing was put on as walls of the roofless buildings, then 3 daysof rain came, heavy daily rain, and on the 4th day,when rain stopped, long before anything could be dried out, the roofs were built, over all the wet wall boards.
The stucco finish on the outside of the particle board, drywall on the inside.

Makes ya go hmmmmmmmm

[kristopher]

6. I don't think so...

"particle board" isn't used to sheath homes. It is a very specific product used for countertops and cheap cabinets. What you're almosst certainly referring to is OSB (oriented strand board) which is formed of much larger chips of wood pressed together. It is routine for it to be exposed to rain during construction and unless there is something else wrong with the design or construction, such exposure isn't a problem.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Ohhh...that is helpful info. Thanks.

One of our neighbors bought an apt...well,they were condos..there and I had concerns.

ty for the education.

[hunter]

4. The problem is synthetic gypsum made from coal power plant flue gas scrubber waste.

Synthetic gypsum is made in the U.S. from this waste too, but apparently a Chinese manufacturer got sloppy, didn't know what they were doing, or deliberately cut corners.

I think it's hard to say how big the problem really is because of the market crash. Too many people are searching for reasons to walk away from upside down mortgages or to sue someone. A certain number of the houses people are complaining about will turn up not to have Chinese drywall, and some houses with Chinese drywall may be fine.

What a mess.

[kristopher]

7. They don't know if it is the drywall and if it is they don't know if it is Chinese drywall.

The rest of you post is spot on.

[kristopher]

5. Here we go again...

No evidence has yet been presented that "Chinese" drywall is the problem. None. Just press story after press story spreading the rumor.

"...A handful of builders and environmental consultants are investigating whether the drywall, a wide flat board used to create interior walls, is emitting sulfur-based gases that may be corroding air-conditioner coils, computer wiring and metal picture frames.
Florida health officials say they still are investigating whether the Chinese drywall is causing the odors and other problems."


Here is the WSJ article. Note the last sentence:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171862994672097.html

[hunter]

10. Well, Ohio has problems too...

They are partly to blame for the corrosive stench of George W. Bush contaminating our White House.

[kristopher]

11. Can't argue with that... nt

[kristopher]

8. US quality control...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x182573