Chinese drywall found in Tampa homes

TAMPA - Toxic Chinese drywall has been discovered in several new homes in the Hampton Lakes subdivision in Tampa.

Builder Beazer Homes says 18 homes in the neighborhood appear to have the dangerous drywall.

Resident Robert Morris bought his three-story town home in the subdivision two years ago. At the time, it felt like the perfect buy. But he says it doesn't feel that way anymore.

The coils on his air conditioner are black with corrosion. Morris says he knew little about toxic Chinese drywall until the letters started coming from Beazer Homes last month. The mounting air conditioner repair bills suddenly made sense.

Toxic drywall emits Sulfide gas, causing A-C coils and other metals to corrode. The smell of sulfur is a dead giveaway too.

"There is a distinct odor in here," Morris told FOX 13. "When I initially moved in, I thought the odor was new car scent. It just smelled new to me."

After inspectors confirmed the presence of the drywall, Morris organized a meeting for his neighbors with county health and environmental officials and the property appraiser. Residents told stories of respiratory problems, silver jewelry turning black, and fear of what it all means.

"I have two children and we're more afraid for them than anything else," resident Danielle Kapalin said.

Resident Karen Wilcox and her family decided they will not return to their home after Beazer removes the drywall.

"We have to find a new place to live," Wilcox said. "The concern is that it's difficult to find a place to rent for just five months."

County officials offered possible property tax relief to affected homeowners. Many are concerned about property values, even if the drywall is removed.

"This rush to try to rip out all the sheet rock from the homes that some of the builders are doing and just replace it immediately is a little bit premature because we don't know if that's sufficient," said Morris' Attorney Ben Gordon of Levin Papantonio in Pensacola.

In a statement, Beazer Homes said it will "move forward with repairs to homes, where defective Chinese drywall has been found... Beazer stands behind its homes and its homeowners in Hampton Lakes."

Meantime, Morris is unsuccessfully looking for a new home and wondering just how he'll sell his own.

"When we do move out, our homes are definitely going to have the stigma of Chinese dry wall or something negative," he said.

At the meeting Wednesday night, county officials encouraged residents to reach out to them for help and guidance.