Just found out another reason not to trust anything made in China. First toys, then toothpaste--now drywall.
Officials are looking into claims that Chinese-made drywall installed in some Florida homes is emitting smelly, corrosive gases and ruining household systems such as air conditioners, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
This Chinese drywall contains very high levels of sulfur, and the gases are eating through wiring and piping, ruining brand-new appliances. In addition, they cause the houses to smell of rotten eggs--a smell which is especially noticeable on humid days.
One attorney filing a class-action suit against some drywall manufacturers says it will cost roughly one-third of a home's value to get it fixed--on top of finding a temporary place to live and keep paying the mortgage. In other words--making the house practically unsellable.
Many of the homes in question were built in 2005 and 2006, when a building boom combined with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused a drywall shortage that led builders to turn to imports.
Most of the drywall firms named in the suit are subsidiaries of a German company called Knauf Group.
While most of the suits are being filed by homeowners, at least one builder is suing because it will be on the hook for repairing the defective homes.
Update: Wow, the rec list ... haven't been there in awhile. Hopefully this will shine more light on the holes in our product safety chain.