When Did Everyone Find Out?

Here is what has been reported:

A few years ago, some workers began to report that Chinese drywall had a foul smell and a distinctly different physical appearance and was prone to fall apart.  They also complained of health issues after handling and storing Chinese drywall.  Memos were reportedly circulated in the construction industry, warning of potential problems with Chinese drywall.

Later, as homeowners began to contact their air conditioning companies to fix broken-down units, some air conditioning manufacturers began to refuse to honor warranties. They said that repeated failures of new cooling systems were not caused by defective air-conditioning equipment but, rather, by something within the people’s homes.

Meanwhile, some builders quietly tried to remediate homes built with Chinese drywall. Others hired companies to try to hide the problem, utilizing materials such as paint block.

By August 2008, the Florida Department of Health had already received numerous complaints about Chinese drywall, and the matter began to receive more widespread attention.