Homeowners Complain of Rotten-Egg Drywall

Building booms in 2005 spurred by hurricane recovery caused shortages in US-made drywall. Some builders turned to Chinese drywall and now affected homeowners are paying the price — literally.

These homeowners are faced with huge repair bills for homes that can’t be occupied. The problem isn’t just with a rotten-egg smell coming from the walls. The drywall may also be corroding pipes and wiring, posing safety threats and making appliances stop working. The problems are blamed on high levels of sulfur in the drywall. Toxicology tests are ongoing, but many homeowners are complaining of health problems, such as headaches, caused by the smell.

The Florida Health Department has received close to 150 homeowner complaints about the Chinese-made drywall. It’s believed that more problems will arise in the future from homes in other states. Florida’s problems may be surfacing earlier because of the humidity in that state.

If you believe you have Chinese drywall in your home, experts advise you to contact your insurance company right away. Also contact America’s Watchdog at the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center.

(Sources: CNN and MSNBC. Image from stock.xchng)