The outbreak of defective Chinese Drywall throughout the US has been the cause of strife with homeowners and builders alike. During 2005-2007 the effects of the housing boom combined with the multitude of hurricanes that struck the east coast created a lack of building materials, drywall being one of them. The purchase of drywall overseas has resulted in the installation of defective drywall in many of the homes across the nation.

The levels of strontium in the defective drywall are far higher than the required levels in local drywall. The result has been a sulfur-like smell that permeates throughout the home as well as corrosion of metals including wiring in the home and unexplained headaches in homeowners.

To rid the homes of the defective drywall would require a complete stripping of all drywall in the home, a very costly repair. Builders have been taking much of the brunt of the expenses, as insurance companies refuse to help as they consider the repair a "pre-existing condition".

However, Judge Glenn Kelly, a Florida judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County, has recently relieved builders of some of the liability regarding Chinese drywall. Claiming that builders did not manufacture the drywall they could not be held "strictly liable" for the defects.