Developer cleans home of Chinese drywall

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A year after a 7 News Investigation uncovered dangerous drywall in countless South Florida homes, a construction firm is cleaning house.

From the outside it's a beautiful home, but it's the dangers that lurk inside, and the smell of rotten eggs that's causing Frank Mackle to completely rip it apart. "See how black it is?" said Mackle, the homeowner and a developer. "This is the corrosion that occurs on the outside of the pipe."

7's Carmel Cafeiro first broke the story about Chinese manufactured drywall last year. She found that it corrodes pipes and damages wiring, air conditioning units and appliances, but Mackle's biggest concern is what long term effects the defective product may have on his family. "I'm very concerned because I lived here with my wife and three daughters for a year and a half," Mackle said. "We don't know what they are going to tell us."

But ridding a home of Chinese made drywall is a very labor intensive and expensive process. It's going take about three months to remove all the drywall from this home and cost about $80,000.

With an estimated 35,000 homes in Florida effected, as well as homes in at least 21 other states, Senator Bill Nelson has written a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to provide financial assistance and relocation assistance to those effected. He also wants to see him create a Drywall Assistance Center to be a one-stop shop for those affected.

In the meantime, Mackle has decided he cannot wait. He's taking matters into his own hands.

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