Do you smell rotten eggs in your nearly new home? Is your metal turning black? Is the copper in your plumbing or heating and air conditioning unit corroded? If so, you may be one of the thousands of homeowners whose homes were constructed with substandard Chinese drywall. Homeowners across the country but particular in Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have been affected. What’s worse, some of the homeowners have reported health problems associated with breathing in the toxic fumes. The affected dry wall is thought to have been used in homes as early as 2001, but experts believe that most of it was installed between 2004 until 2006. If you think that you may have Chinese drywall in your home, the first thing you should do is look for the following signs:
- Jewelry and household metal with greater than normal tarnishing;
- Sulfur or rotten egg smell upon entering the house;
- Corrosion on copper pipes;
- Corrosion on copper electrical wiring;
- Drywall board with the name Knauf or “made in China” stamped on it.
The effects of this drywall can be catastrophic in terms of damage to your home. In severe cases all wiring, drywall and plumbing will need to be replaced. Your home may also need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove the contaminants left behind even after the drywall has been removed. If you believe that your home may have been constructed with Chinese drywall, it is important that you get in touch with a competent attorney in your area as soon as possible. The Fonteneau Firm is investigating Chinese drywall cases. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance.