Effects of Chinese Drywall On Boca Raton Real Estate

Here in Boca Raton and the South Florida area, Chinese Drywall is of great concern to homeowners.  Between the years 2004-2008, many builders used the material to build new homes in the Southeast, including Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Some area residents have discovered that their homes have Chinese Drywall and fear that they may be at risk of developing health problems. 

Although the federal government’s study released October 30, 2009 has found no link between Chinese Drywall and health problems or corrosion of pipes and wires reported by homeowners this past year, the government report does acknowledge that people are getting sick. However,  they don’t know exactly how or from what compound if any contained in the Chinese Drywall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is leading the multi-agency investigation, is conducting ongoing further investigations before they will consider a ban, recall or other measures.  More information is expected to be released next month.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, has received approximately 1,900 complaints from homeowners and spent $3.5 million on their studies. Today, they has not come up with any conclusive answers to help the thousands of homeowners that have had to leave their homes as a result of Chinese Drywall found in their homes.

Homeowners who purchased new homes with defective materials have filed lawsuits against builders, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers seeking relief from the courts. During the years 2004-2008 when building materials were in shortage, American construction companies  imported Chinese-made drywall because it was inexpensive and easy to obtain. According to an Associated Press review of shipping records, they found that more than 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board had been imported during those years. This was more than enough to build tens of thousands of homes, most of which were constructed in the Southeast States of Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

  
State and federal agencies have found that these defective materials emit volatile sulfur compounds. They also have found traces of strontium sulfide, which produce a rotten egg smell, not found in American drywall. Complaints from homeowners range from corroded copper pipes, destruction of TV’s and air conditioners, jewelry and silverware turning black and health problems.

Many of these homeowners have reported that their insurance companies are refusing to cover the claims and are dropping their coverage. The homes cannot be sold or lived in, and the homeowners are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure as a result.

Buyers who are purchasing homes, condos or townhomes built from 2004-2008 in the Boca Raton and surrounding areas should be aware of Chinese Drywall and test for it as part of their home inspection, if they suspect the home may contain it.