Riverview, Florida -- Home inspectors say: buyers beware. Dangerous imported Chinese drywall remains a problem that's still popping up in the Bay area.
It's been more than a decade since the defective drywall surfaced which can cause serious health issues for homeowners. It's been used in thousands of homes after Hurricane Katrina and during the housing boom.
Residents in the The Rivercrest subdivision in Riverview got hit hard by Chinese drywall.
"I was told that the house previously had Chinese drywall in it," says Pedro Soto who owns one of dozens of homes in Rivercrest that had the defective drywall.
"Some neighbors were not told they had Chinese drywall," Soto says.
When Soto bought in 2012, the home had been stripped down and remodeled, ridding it of the drywall that can give off dangerous chemicals that corrodes copper pipes, wiring, and appliances. Residents have complained it causes nosebleeds, headaches, and difficulty breathing.
"New drywall was put in, new fixtures, new washer and dryer, everything was put in. I wasn't supposed to experience any problems. So far, I've had no problems," Soto says.
Just a few houses down, the listing agent tells 10 News it'll be up to the new buyer to renovate. The Chinese drywall has already been removed.
Down the street, 10 News found a contractor remodeling a home with Chinese drywall for an investor.
Realtor Miriam Gates lives next door in a home that's been cleaned up, too.
"It is still a factor, and with more of the houses being foreclosed on, the bank is finally getting their foreclosures done and we're finding it more again," says Miriam Gates with Century 21 Beggins Enterprises.
By law, a homeowner must disclose knowledge of the drywall, the banks do not.
"They kind of skirt around it, so it's up to the realtor to help their client to make sure they know what's going on," says Gates.
"We're probably running into it 2-3 times per month," says Inspector Chris Miller with Suncoast Inspections.
Miller says especially if a home is built between 2003 and 2008, it's important for a homeowner to get a specific drywall inspection done.
"A lot of times the bank just signs the release that we know nothing about the house. You're at your own peril," Miller says.
For more information about the signs of Chinese drywall: http://www.suncoastinspections.com/chinesedrywall.htm
State of Florida:
To File a complaint with the Division of Consumer Services: http://www.800helpfla.com/complnt.html
To File a Complaint with The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation:
The states stance on disposal of Chinese Drywall:
The Florida Senates statement: Florida Senate
Florida's Attorney General:
The state is also referring to the federal level. Below is a link to the Technical Symposium on Corrosive Imported Drywall (Chinese Drywall).
