Chinese Drywall - The Saga Continues

In a recent posting, we promised to keep you apprised about the Chinese drywall situation. Some probably thought (and hoped!) that this would be yesterday’s news. However, concern seems to be growing. And now the situation is being reported in the national news media.

During 2004 to 2007, enough drywall to build 30,000 homes was imported from China. According to reports, the drywall contained corrosive gases that emit a "rotten egg like" smell. The vapors are responsible for earaches, sore throats, nose bleeds and general respiratory distress for those living in the homes where the drywall was installed. It has also been determined that those gases corrode metal surfaces, electrical wiring and even jewelry! According to CNN.com (www.cnn.com), The U.S. Product Safety Commission says that complaints have also been filed in Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, California, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Tennessee and Washing D.C. It is still unknown how many homes have been affected just in South Florida.

For many of the homeowners there is a second issue – financial difficulty. Because some of the builders and suppliers have shirked their responsibility, homeowners are being forced to find another place to live while still being responsible for the mortgage on the residence that is uninhabitable.

Currently, one builder seems to be the exception. G. L. Homes has taken decisive action to repair the homes that they built using the contaminated dry wall. Recently, they begin repair on all of their homes that were affected. Before work commences on each home, the air quality is measured and recorded. Another air quality reading is done after the repairs are completed so as to ensure that no residual vapor is remaining. According to a spokesman, repairs for each home are taking approximately eight weeks to complete. During that time each family is given a $3,000 per month housing allowance by the company. We applaud G. L. Homes for taking responsibility and making the necessary repairs in such a timely fashion.

So what should the homeowners do if their contractor is refusing to make good? Our suggestion is to try first to settle out of court. Stand strong and tell them it's their responsibility to make the situation right. If they do not take action on their own, it's time to seek legal counsel. Sometimes a letter from an attorney may be all that’s needed to get them to take action. We're sure the situation is far from over. Stay tuned to the Weston Lawyers blog for further updates.