Insurers dropping Chinese drywall policies

Associated Press ^ | Thursday, October 15, 2009 | BRIAN SKOLOFF

[1rudeboy]

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.

[1rudeboy]

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."

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

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.

[1rudeboy]

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.

[investigateworld]

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

[1rudeboy]

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.

[1rudeboy]

Oh, and what does “TIA” mean?

[investigateworld]

TIA = Thanks In Advance.

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

[Wolfie]

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.