Who would have ever thought of it? Chinese Drywall? What is that? Well it is drywall that was imported from China during the drywall shortage that contains sulfuric acid that will corrode the copper wiring in your entire home, and possibly be a health hazzard by continuiously breathing this in.
Based upon estimates approximately 61,000 homes have imported this Chinese Drywall. Over 36,000 homes have been estimated to have it in Florida. The 4 communities I personally know that has this Chinese Drywall are:
- Cobblestone Creek in Boynton Beach,
- Canyon Isles in Boynton Beach,
- Parkland Golf & Country Club in Parkland, and
- Banyan Isles section of Heron Bay
This is so very unfortunate for these homeowners. Many of these homeowners have no idea that they can have Chinese Drywall in their homes. Plus to overcome the perception that every house has this type of drywall in their communities will not be easy.
To do a surface test look at your copper pipes coming from the A/C and hot water heater tanks then check the attic to see if you can find the exposed drywall with a label of where it was made. An inspection would be a little more comprehensive as they would send out lab samples of air quality and the drywall.
David Serle
Vice President/Managing Broker
RE/MAX Services
561-912-3500 Office
561-912-3502 Direct
561-756-3104 Mobile
Is this covered by homeowners insurance?
That is a great question. I do not know. I am going to ask my insurance person and get back to you. I really did not think about it, but I am not sure that defected walls would be covered.
It seems like we should really watch Chinese products (lead paint in toys, etc.) But really, who would have thought our builders would use Chinese drywall??
Is our Federal Government doing anything to watch for this? They are asleep at the wheel. They cannot do anything right. They'll have an investigation and some Congressional hearings and a photo op after a few 100 people die of asthma.
Dave, I have never heard of this. Do you know if it has been used in other parts of the country?
Dave...I have seen this on the news..how horrible..thanks for the info
Helpfulhannah your friend in Philadelphia
Dave,
Malamine in milk, lead in toys; why does this not surprise me.
Dave: Is anything from China safe? Certainly not the party rhetoric and apparently not much else either. Boycott!
thank you for your comments Jim and Linda: The reason why they imported drywall from China is because they had a shortage in the US and in Canada. It is pretty scary that we import these materials from China with very little oversight.
Jim you are absolutely right. Our government is so reactive to problems instead of proactive. Why not have someone testing materials that are imported. This could have been prevented now many people are getting sick, and are forced out of their homes. You never know this could have been China's intention.
Barb, it is mostly in the East:
Hannah thank you for your comment.
Terry thank you for your comment. It sure does not surprise us, but eventually there has to be a stop to this.
Matt I agree lets boycott, but then I will have to throw away my kids toys, my furniture, my car, parts of my home, and more. Crazy
David: Today's AP story quote "Companies that produced some of the wallboard said they are looking into the complaints, but downplayed the possibility of health risks."What we're trying to do is get to the bottom of what is precisely going on," said Ken Haldin, a spokesman for Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, a Chinese company named in many of the lawsuits."
1st the toxic product, 2nd toxic propaganda.
Matt, you are absolutely right. How could it not be toxic if it corrodes all the copper wiring in the house. Hmmmm. DO you want to breathe in sulfuric acid. Isnot that what people sometimes use to poison people
How do you know for sure that Canyon Ilses has these dry walls?
I have heard that there is Chinese Drywall in the Oaks at Boca Raton. Anyone have any additional information on this front. I am looking to buy a house in the next few weeks and this was one of the main communities that I was looking at and now I have taken it off of my list.
Hmmmmm...... :(
Mark, I have not heard that The Oaks was one of the communities. If you do find out I would also like to know.
Vic, I know several friends that have been displaced becuase of the Chinese Drywall in Canyon Isles. GL homes is putting them up for a few months while they fix it.
Just got word today!! Now 7 homes in the Oaks with Chinese Drywall. All are on Monte Vista Dr. Stay away from Oaks!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also heard all the chinese dry wall homes in The Oaks were built by Albenese Popkin and builder is refusing to do anything to remedy problem. Albenese is no GL homes! Typical Budget builder!!!!
Your are wrong about the Oaks at Boca Raton...... There are now 23 homes with Chinese Drywall and counting... All homes were built by Albanese Popkin
Sara, I found that out as well. I cannot believe homeowners purchased 1.5 million dollar homes and up in Boca and now they are displaced. It is absolutely horrible. Hopefully Albanese does the right thing. I believe that is the only builder in the Oaks that we know of that used Chinese Drywall.
My name is Simon Hahessy, I am Scientific Director of AirMD, an environmental testing company that offers green evaluation services, including Chinese drywall, solutions and chemical-free products at affordable prices.
It's reported that 100,000 homes contain Chinese drywall, and no one knows the long-term affects of this defective drywall. Having an AirMD evaluation is necessary because Chinese drywall can be present in your home although you may not yet know it. Symptoms associated with Chinese drywall are similar to allergies. The number of individuals suffering from these symptoms is increasing, and the number of Chinese drywall cases has skyrocketed.
If your home or workplace is affected with Chinese drywall, there are many challenges that you face including potential health risks as well as economic concerns. Having a home that has not been evaluated, especially in a community that is affected with Chinese drywall, can influence a buyer's decision to purchase and may also negatively influence the return on investment. Getting your home evaluated with AirMD is an easy, affordable way to protect your family.
Based in Boca Raton, Fla., AirMD has conducted many evaluations in Highland Beach and throughout Florida. To schedule an on-site consultation with a scientist and for more information on AirMD, visit www.airmd.com.
Albanese Popkin built our 1.5 million dollar house in the Oaks. It was built with Chinese drywall and is now worthless. We have to move out as the health risks are unknown. We have 3 destroyed airconditioning units, two destroyed televisions and a destroyed computer. Our greatest asset is worthless and we are basically ruined financially. Alabanese Popkin does not even have the decency to respond to our phone calls. How they are permitted to continue building in the Oaks or anywhere else for that matter is beyond me.
Regarding The Oaks, not all the homes have the chinese drywall problem. There were different builders that built in the neighborhood and not all of them used it. If you're interested in buying there (I believe one of the posters on this blog a few months ago mentioned they had been considering it), you should check on that and not lose hope that you can find something beautiful and SAFE in that development.
Gretchen, you are absolutely correct. Regarding, The Oaks, what I have seen is that Albanese built homes in The Oaks are the ones that have Chinese Drywall. I do not know if all of the Albanese built homes have Chinese Drywall, but I do know that there are 23 homeowners that have made complaints. Several are also suing Leonard Albanese Construction.
The Oaks is really a wonderful place to live, and as long as you do your due diligence in finding out prior to closing that there is not Chinese Drywall present in the house you are purchasing it would be a great place to raise a family. The Oaks of Boca Raton is still on of the most desirable places to live in West Boca.
BocaMD, I am truly sorry. It really has crippled many people financially and the builders like to lay blame on the distributors or the sub-contractors, but my thoughts are that the homeowners did not purchase nor have a relationship from either the sub-contractors or the manufacturers. The homeowners only have a relationship with the builder. The builder should take responsibility as they choose who they buy from.
The problem with China is that they make a lot of defective products, and ship them to the U.S., but the United States does not have any recourse as even if you get an international judgement against China and dtheir maufacturers, China ignores them because they can. The United States is so reliant on Chinese products that China has almost free reign, and an unspoken immunity to consequences or litigation.
I really hope Albanese steps up at some point and helps people like yourself BocaMD because that is the right thing to do. I wish you lots of luck, and if I can help or a answer any questions I would be happy to.
Alfred Miller has blogged an advertisement to his services on your post -- FYI. Plus, when you click on his link, it takes your readers off your blog. Again, just thought I would bring this to your attention.
Carla, thank you very much. I appreciate it. I reported the spam comment.
Just read a blog on Chinese Drywall which brought me to this blog. Thanks for sharing this. Great post.
Thank you for your comment. Chinese Drywall has been a huge problem and some builders are doing the "right thing" and those that do not do the "right" thing need to be called out.