Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Insurers dropping Chinese drywall policies
Associated Press ^ | Thursday, October 15, 2009 | BRIAN SKOLOFF

Posted on 10/16/2009 6:57:14 PM PDT by stevie_d_64

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James and Maria Ivory's dreams of a relaxing retirement on Florida's Gulf Coast were put on hold when they discovered their new home had been built with Chinese drywall that emits sulfuric fumes and corrodes pipes. It got worse when they asked their insurer for help — and not only was their claim denied, but they've been told their entire policy won't be renewed.

Thousands of homeowners nationwide who bought new houses constructed from the defective building materials are finding their hopes dashed, their lives in limbo. And experts warn that cases like the Ivorys', in which insurers drop policies or send notices of non-renewal based on the presence of the Chinese drywall, will become rampant as insurance companies process the hundreds of claims currently in the pipeline.

At least three insurers have already canceled or refused to renew policies after homeowners sought their help replacing the bad wallboard. Because mortgage companies require homeowners to insure their properties, they are then at risk of foreclosure, yet no law prevents the cancellations.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cheap; china; chinese; dangerous; drywall; imports; madeinchina
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 last
To: investigateworld; Toddsterpatriot
What about it? Anyone who buys Chinese get what he deserves. Besides, wallboard manufacturing is not "real" manufacturing, anyway.

I could explain to you exactly what was happening in the building products industry at the time this Chinese drywall was imported, but you don't really care.

81 posted on 10/17/2009 4:05:27 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Attention Surplus Disorder
I think that the assumption that these builders/distributors/importers imported this Chinese drywall simply to cut costs might be premature. From my understanding of the situation in 2004 (when I think this issue first came up?), there was no drywall available from U.S./Canadian/Mexican sources. The entire "domestic" industry was on "allocation."

"Allocation" means that, "I don't care how much you want, this is how much you are going to get."

82 posted on 10/17/2009 4:16:30 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

Agreed, that’s a good point. I’d have to bet that very few builders ever imagined they’d run shy of drywall. It’s just such a no-think item.


83 posted on 10/17/2009 4:21:31 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (It's better to give a Ford to the Kidney Foundation than a kidney to the Ford Foundation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Attention Surplus Disorder

Well, again (if it was 2004 and my memory serves correctly), we had the regular end-of-summer allocation thing going on (that’s just the short-term building cycle), we were at the apogee of the long-term building boom (or close nearby), and we were recovering from two rather destructive hurricanes (down South—don’t remember their names). Every wallboard plant was running pedal-to-the-metal, and there still wasn’t enough.


84 posted on 10/17/2009 4:30:20 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
I agree with the first part of your sentence, but the second ... oh well, humor helps. And please fill me in on how Chicom drywall was imported. TIA
85 posted on 10/17/2009 6:10:11 PM PDT by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: investigateworld

Trust me, if we had to defer to protectionists with regard to what constitutes “real” manufacturing, we’d still be manufacturing those 3-wheel ATC’s that were fun, but dangerous as hell. As for the rest, read the rest of my replies . . . I have some expertise in this area.


86 posted on 10/17/2009 6:19:15 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

Oh, and what does “TIA” mean?


87 posted on 10/17/2009 6:20:00 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
TIA = Thanks In Advance.

As for the three wheelers? Lawyers gotta eat too! (j/k)

88 posted on 10/17/2009 10:14:48 PM PDT by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: Reverend Wright

Most homeowners have no clue what goes into building their homes. The contractor (the guy with the money and no liability) is the one pinching pennies.


89 posted on 10/20/2009 11:10:11 AM PDT by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson