Chinese Drywall Invades Homes Forces Owners to Evacuate
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Think the housing market and economy could not be any worse? Think again if you are plagued with Chinese Drywall.
Chinese Drywall, a wide flat board used to create interior walls, also knowing as plasterboard or wallboard, is believed to be emitting sulfur-based gases that may be corroding air-conditioner coils, computer and electrical wiring, and picture frames among other items.
Although builders typically use domestically produced drywall, in 2006, the housing boom, combined with a shortage of supplies due to Hurricane Katrina, forced many builders to import drywall from China. Knauf Plasterboard, Tianjin Co., a subsidiary of German Company, Knauf International GmbH, is believed to be one of the main contributors. A least one report indicates that the company hired an expert to investigate the strange odor in 2006, but that no related health concerns were found. Not so, say many other home owners.
Over 540 million pounds of Chinese drywall were imported into the United States between 2004 and 2008, enough drywall to build nearly 100,000 homes. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission recently confirmed that the number of imported Chinese drywall for 2006 was more than 5.5 million sheets with additional shipments to be validated.
The Dog days of summer are generating more Chinese Drywall claims. As the days heat up, the warm humidity exacerbates the drywall’s emissions.
The drywall has been found in thirty three states, including South Carolina.
Common signs of problems within the home:
· Smell of sulfur and/or ammonia
· Corrosion of furnace coils, electronic wiring, and other metals such as jewelry
· Chronic health problems include sinus problems, throat irritation, scratchy eyes, headache, as well as other symptoms that go away when you leave the home.
What to look for:
· A rotten egg smell, which has been found in some, but not all of the homes believed to contain toxic Chinese Drywall
· If possible, push some insulation around in your attic to expose the backside of the drywall. Look for a stamp (China or Knauf).
· Look for copper turning black;
· Appliances and equipment failing prematurely,
· Even TV's and cable boxes and personal jewelry turning black.
· Remove a switch plate cover off a light switch, get a flashlight and look at the site of the light switch to see if the copper wire is blackened.
· If you hire an inspector, check the inspector's credentials.
The experienced toxic Chinese Drywall attorneys at the Strom Law Firm LLC can help you uncover and protect your rights if you have been a victim of Toxic Chinese Drywall.
Strom Law Firm is a personal injury and criminal defense law firm centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina. Our firm proudly handles personal injury, criminal defense, defective products, class actions, pharmaceutical liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, workers compensation, social security, veteran's benefits, qui tam, predatory lending, tax investigations, business litigation, and wills and estates. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board as well as the Strom Law Blog as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in: South Carolina, New York, Georgia, Florida, and the District of Columbia.