Jan 27, 2009 8:47 pm US/Eastern
Chinese Drywall Causes Health Concerns In Florida
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Chinese drywall can emit a sulfur-based gas inside a home, which can be corrosive to electrical equipment such as copper air-conditioning coils.
CBS
Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp. said it has identified about 80 homes in Southwest Florida that are believed to have been built using Chinese drywall, which emits chemicals that purportedly cause health concerns.
A number of homeowners complained of something foul-smelling in their homes as some of this Chinese-made drywall can emit a sulfur compound.
Lennar discovered the drywall issue through routine monitoring of home repair requests, structures building in 2005 and 2006. The building material has been linked to corrosion of mechanical and electrical systems as for when it interacts with the copper in the air conditioning coil.
"When we noticed that a number of our homes in Southwest Florida were experiencing problems with air-conditioning systems, we began taking a closer look," the company said in a news release in December.
The company said independent subcontractors installed the drywall in some homes and that Lennar did not know it was being used.
Lennar is one of several builders who may have used the Chinese drywall. Back in 2005, drywall was hard to come by after several hurricanes. Many builders bought the Chinese drywall.
South Kendall Construction is also looking into the problem. CBS4 spoke to Jerry Joseph, the company's owner. He said he will begin testing about 10 homes this week. If he discovers the problem exists, he'll try to make good on it.
Barbara Choy and her husband are anxiously awaiting those tests. They own one of those homes built by South Kendall Construction in the Keys Gate subdivision in Homestead. Choy says she noticed a foul order when they moved in nearly a year ago and the problem is still there.
"It's a real strong unpleasant smell and you know," said Choy "My husband kinda coughs a lot, which he hadn't been doing that kinda thing before moving in."
Choy showed CBS4 her silver jewelry, now black and tarnished. She says before moving in, she never had to polish it. She also said she had to replace the coil in her air-conditioning unit after it turned black. Both are signs that experts say could show that sulfur might be present in the home's walls.
"It's really mind boggling. I don't know what we're gonna do," said Choy. "It's really just gotten us really upset really depressed because you don't know whether if you want to get out of here where can you go and who can buy the house?"
Lennar said it has already moved a number of homeowners, and so far is assuming the cost of the relocation and repair for 12 homes.
Some homeowners have been concerned about possible respiratory problems, but the Florida Department of Health said tests showed that the levels of emissions from the drywall pose no "immediate health threat."
Questions about Chinese made drywall or other construction defects in a new U.S. built home can call the
Homeowners Consumer Center at
866-714-6466.
Click here to read Lennar Drywall's statement.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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