Here are the basics: there was a shortgage of drywall due to the building boom. Hurricaine Charley added to the problem. Drywall started getting imported from overseas. Most of it came in through China either dorectly or through South America. It seems to be the drywall in the walls of homes built late 2003-2007. It is estimated that 30% of those homes have anywhere from a piece to a whole house full.
"The appearance of Chinese dry wall lawsuits dates back to 2004. That was when the building boom created a shortage of gypsum wallboard, so companies in China began shipping their product to the U.S. The need grew following the hurricanes of 2005, when rebuilding put additional pressure on wallboard supplies. Signs of possible Chinese drywall lawsuit cases first arose when construction crews noted the unpleasant odor and upper respiratory problems. As the homes were completed and people moved in, the corrosion of metals—believed due to the off-gassing of sulfur dioxide, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide—began to occur." Read more at http://www.luckeyandmullins.com/chinese-drywall-lawsuit/
So a big chunk of the problem lies in, well, the lies. Some homeowners claim they don't know if they have it when in fact the do know. So look for things like a home built in 2006 that already had the A/C or plumbing replaced. Since AC and plumbing have more than a 6 yr life span, that is a 'inspection alarm'. Or maybe the home smells like sulfur (firecrackers). I encourage all of my buyers to get a home inspector who is licensed and INSURED and does drywall inspections. Do not take any ones word for it! (Listing brokers get their info from sellers.). I had an out of town friend who's broker told her the home was clear because a contractor 're-did it all'. I told her to get an inspection anyway. It had defective drywall. Seems the homeowner/contractor lied. It's interesting. I see a 'suspect home' my client is interested in. I search MLS for prior sales, read the old listings. you'd be suprised how many disclosed defective drywall and still sold the house. I'll sell you one too, after you sign a release!
Everything goes- you have to gut these gems down to the studs. you can not reuse anything- not the cabinets, appliances, or any fixtures.
Since we do not know the long term effects, it's best to stand on the side of caution. There is tons of reading on the web. Just google search 'defective drywall or Chinese drywall'.
http://www.leepa.org/ChineseDrywall/DrywallInformation.aspx Lee County is addressing this issue. click this link to find out more.
CLAUDIA DEBRUYN
Maxim Realtors
5235 Ramsey Way #14
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cell/text (781)799-7570
text 941-518-3347
www.maximrealtors.com/claudia
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Specializing in SW Florida waterfront property
