The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last week that homes built with Chinese drywall are not safe and need to be completely gutted.
The problem for homeowners like Brenda Brincku is that no one knows who is going to pay for it.
Brincku, whose home was built using tainted American-made drywall, said it will cost more than $223,000 to completely remediate her home. Thus far federal agencies, lenders and government officials have not been able to agree on a source to help cover the costs to homeowners.
“Everybody is pointing the finger somewhere else,” Brincku said. “No one is ready to take responsibility for this.”
Thousands of homeowners between Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi have reported problems with the Chinese-made drywall, requiring billions of dollars to fix their houses.
The CPSC’s announcement is a move in the right direction, Brincku said, but doesn’t go far enough.
Like Brincku, Cape Coral homeowner Richard Kampf said the CPSC’s decision to issue guidance when it comes to the tainted drywall is positive but incomplete.
He said it’s an “interim” protocol, one that will do for now.
The CPSC’s recommendation include removing all the drywall, all fire alarm devices, electrical components and wiring, gas piping and fire suppression sprinklers.
Kampf said the protocol also needs to include electrical wiring, appliances and air conditioning units.
“It’s pretty good news for those of us who have drywall … but it’s only an interim. Its not good enough for what needs to be done,” Kampf said.
A decision in a class action lawsuit associated with Chinese drywall is due in a Louisiana courtroom as early as this week.
Kampf said a decision in that case might create protocol needed to address everything that needs to be removed in a home built with the drywall.
The CPSC is also expected to release a recommendations on the health effects associated with Chinese drywall.
While people like the Kampfs await these decisions and announcements, for now they have what they feel could be the first salvo in the war on the tainted drywall.
“It gives congress the information it needs to find the fund to fix this,” Kampf said.
To view the CPSC’s press release on Chinese drywall visit:
http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/hud10068.html