Bradenton Herald Logo

Fallout continues from tainted drywall | Bradenton Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Crime
    • Local
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Lakewood Ranch Herald
    • Lottery
    • Nation & World
    • Politics
    • Special Projects
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Weather
    • Weird News
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Breaking News Blog
    • I Am Woman Hear Me Write
    • All Sports
    • Rays
    • Spring Training
    • Bucs
    • High Schools
    • FSU
    • UF
    • USF
    • Outdoors
    • Tennis
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • David Wilson
    • Alan Dell
    • Jason Dill
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • All Business
    • Real Estate News
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Port Manatee
    • All Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cooking With Local Chefs
    • Gulf Coast Cooking
    • Cravings by Janelle O'Dea
    • All Entertainment
    • Arts & Culture
    • Fairs & Festivals
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Restaurants
    • Local Events
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Marty Clear
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters
    • Opinion Columns
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

  • About Us

Business

Fallout continues from tainted drywall

By JESSICA KLIPA - jklipa@bradenton.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 29, 2009 12:00 AM

MANATEE — Workers removed tainted drywall from homes in Heritage Harbour on Wednesday, but the problem is no longer limited to East Manatee.

Grant Reid moved his family out of their home in the Crystal Lakes subdivision in Palmetto after learning that drywall manufactured by Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. was installed there.

Ever since the Reid family moved into the Taylor Morrison-built home in 2006, they smelled a strange odor that they attributed to new construction.

But when they discovered that copper wiring had blackened and air conditioning coils needed to be replaced, they suspected defective drywall.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Bradenton Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Although he doesn’t know if the drywall has caused his 2-year-old son Nickolas to suffer respiratory problems since birth, he decided to leave the home on the advice of a pediatrician.

What he does know is that photos taken during the construction show that Knauf drywall is installed there.

“It’s just extremely upsetting that this product made its way not only into my country but into my home,” Reid said.

Knauf Tianjin was among several brands of drywall imported into the United States from China in 2006 during a drywall shortage caused by the housing boom and reconstruction after hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Of the Chinese imported drywall, only about 20 percent was manufactured by Knauf Tianjin, according to a statement released by the company.

In late 2006, complaints surfaced about an odor in the drywall. After discovering that rock from a certain mine, which had been supplied to many manufacturers, caused the odor, the company stopped using that material, the release said.

Knauf Tianjin also has been looking into whether counterfeit drywall made its way into the United States after receiving reports of Knauf drywall showing a Mexico address on it.

But the company, which said it is focused on investigating the health and safety issues associated with the drywall, maintains that the substances in the drywall are no greater than the amounts in the air, soil, marshes or the ocean.

Knauf Tianjin hired the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health to investigate any health risks.

The levels of substances tested in the air were well below what is allowed for lifetime standards of air quality for several agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, said Phillip Goad, senior toxicologist.

“None of the levels are high enough to be considered a public health concern,” Goad said.

Although Goad has not been able to see testing methods used by another company, Environ International, he said the results are consistent with his company’s testing. Environ International was hired by Lennar Homes to test air samples of homes in Heritage Harbour.

Lennar said it has discovered that at least 23 homes in the neighborhood were built using the drywall imported from China. On Wednesday, at least two homes were gutted to remove drywall on Montauk Point in Heritage Harbour.

Taylor Morrison and Knauf Tianjin have been named the defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed in Sarasota on Monday. The lawsuit was filed by Darren Inverso, an attorney with Sarasota firm Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, on behalf of Kristin Culliton, a Lakewood Ranch resident.

Culliton, who was formerly employed by Taylor Morrison, has been unable to live in her Greenbrook Terrace home for about a year. Taylor Morrison, which has declined to comment on pending litigation, released a statement pledging high-quality customer service and building materials.

“Although Taylor Morrison does not comment on the details of pending litigation, we are confident that we are thoroughly addressing the particular issue at hand by implementing an investigation in the matter and taking steps to achieve customer satisfaction. This included air quality testing, the results of which met health and safety standards,” the statement said.

Jessica Klipa, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7906.

Related stories from Bradenton Herald

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall6

January 29, 2009 11:07 AM

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall5

January 29, 2009 11:07 AM

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall4

January 29, 2009 11:06 AM

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall3

January 29, 2009 11:06 AM

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall2

January 29, 2009 11:05 AM

HOMEPAGE

Previous Coverage: Drywall

January 29, 2009 11:04 AM

  Comments  

Videos

What’s coming to the Florida theme parks in 2019?

Facebook turns 15: A friendship no one asked for

View More Video

Trending Stories

Sarasota teen was missing for almost 18 months. His remains were found along a Palmetto road

February 20, 2019 11:52 AM

Remains of Sarasota teenager Jabez Spann found almost 18 months after he went missing

February 19, 2019 09:28 PM

Remains of missing Sarasota teen Jabez Spann found in Manatee County

February 19, 2019 08:16 PM

‘#MeToo’ sprayed on Unconditional Surrender statue. Police are looking for vandal

February 19, 2019 09:41 AM

Mom arrested after son shot himself. She and boy’s father were dealing drugs, cops say

February 19, 2019 11:26 AM

Read Next

Business

Shares in world’s top shipping firm sink on US tariffs risk

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 05:28 AM

Shares in the world's biggest shipping company, Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk, have plunged after it warned of commercial damage from a U.S. escalation in the trade war with China.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Bradenton Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE BUSINESS

Business

Louisiana governor gathers business leaders for summit

February 21, 2019 05:11 AM
Catalan secessionists block highways, train tracks in strike

Business

Catalan secessionists block highways, train tracks in strike

February 21, 2019 05:10 AM

Business

Barclays sets aside millions to deal with Brexit uncertainty

February 21, 2019 05:03 AM
Swedish teen leads Belgian students on 7th climate march

Business

Swedish teen leads Belgian students on 7th climate march

February 21, 2019 05:02 AM
Global stocks mixed ahead of US-China tariff war talks

Business

Global stocks mixed ahead of US-China tariff war talks

February 21, 2019 04:46 AM

Business

Ex-school district worker gets 5 years for embezzling $1.2M

February 21, 2019 04:38 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Bradenton Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Advertise with Us
  • Special Sections
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story