Chinese Drywall

The value of the land would not be included in the deduction.  Homeowners can call the office at (813) 272-6100 to inquire about the deduction.

There are several theories regarding the cause of defective drywall.
Many believe that the tainted drywall was manufactured at the gypsum mine in Tianjin, China which used fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from the power plants using coal..  Fly ash can leak into the air and emit sulfur compounds.

Testing by the Florida Department of Health, however, has revealed significant amounts of organic material present in the Chinese drywall ranging from 5 to up to 15 percent. Strontium sulfide, a material that can emit corrosive gases in moist air, was found at trace levels in the testing of Chinese-made drywall, the Florida Department of Health said.

Gas emitted from defective drywall corrodes copper wiring,  turning it black, some Florida homeowners say.  The drywall samples gave off a sulfurous odor when heated, and in at
least one case, sulfide gases corroded copper coils in an air conditioner of a Florida home containing Chinese drywall, said the department, which commissioned the study.

But more testing is needed to determine whether strontium sulfide was causing the odor and contributing to the corrosion, the department said. And more tests are required to determine whether the drywall poses a threat to human health.

Concerns about Chinese-made drywall, which is suspected by some homeowners of ruining appliances and causing health problems, emerged in Florida last year but have transcended state lines, with class-action lawsuits alleging it has caused problems in at least three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama. The Florida Department of Health has received about 150 complaints, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is investigating the Florida allegations.

Homeowners’ lawsuits against certain manufacturers and suppliers contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats and left them facing huge repair expenses. The drywall is alleged to emit sulfur-based gases that smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail in homes built between 2004 and 2007, around the time a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage and spurred builders to use imports.

One of the emitted gases was carbon disulfide, Unified’s report said. Breathing it at low levels for long periods “may result in headaches, tiredness, trouble sleeping and slight changes in the nerves,” according to the Web site of ATSDR, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.   CLICK HERE to view a video from ABC News.

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