Drywall made in China was imported in large quantities during the housing boom and after Gulf Coast hurricanes.
(J Pat Carter/Associated Press/File 2009)
Gut Chinese drywall homes, agency says
Drywall made in China was imported in large quantities during the housing boom and after Gulf Coast hurricanes.
(J Pat Carter/Associated Press/File 2009)
NEW ORLEANS — Thousands of US homes tainted by Chinese drywall should be gutted, according to new guidelines released yesterday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The guidelines say electrical wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide alarms, fire sprinklers, gas pipes, and drywall need to be removed.
“We want families to tear it all out and rebuild the interior of their homes, and they need to start this to get their lives started all over again,’’ said Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the commission, the federal agency charged with making sure consumer products are safe.
About 3,000 homeowners, mostly in Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, have reported problems with the drywall, imported from China in large quantities during the housing boom and after a string of Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The drywall has been linked to corrosion of wiring, air conditioning units, computers, door knobs, and jewelry, along with possible health effects.
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