Asbestos Sheets
Table Of Contents
For much of the 20th century, asbestos cement sheets provided builders with a rugged solution for simple roofing and siding projects. While these products were cheap to manufacture and buy, their true cost emerged years later in the form of deadly asbestos-related illnesses.
Written by Travis Rodgers | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update:
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Years Produced:1907 – Today -
Places Used:Commercial and residential roofing and siding -
Toxicity:Medium -
Asbestos Use Banned:No -
Friable:No
What Types of Cement Sheets Contain Asbestos?
Asbestos sheets were manufactured in the U.S. from the early 1900s until the late 1970s. These products combined processed asbestos fibers with water and cement to produce easy-to-mold sheets. After drying and hardening, the asbestos sheets were used as panels for roofing, siding and interior walls.
Asbestos cement is less porous than conventional cement, making it more resistant to intense heat, freezing temperatures and water. Modern cement sheets use plant-based cellulose instead of cancer-causing asbestos fibers.
Even though U.S. manufacturers stopped using asbestos in cement sheets in 1980, companies could still import foreign-made asbestos products until 1994. Chrysotile asbestos sheets were finally banned by the EPA in 2024.
Other Asbestos Products Used With Asbestos Sheets
In the 1960s, asbestos manufacturers often promoted the idea that no good alternatives to asbestos fibers existed. This meant that construction contractors frequently used other asbestos-containing building materials during the installation of asbestos sheets.
Toxic Products Used Alongside Asbestos Sheets
- Asphalt-asbestos shingles
- Asbestos felt and paper
- Asbestos-containing adhesives and caulks
- Protective coatings and waterproofing layers containing asbestos
- Asbestos sealing materials
- Asbestos-fiber insulation
- Joint compounds and drywall tape with asbestos fibers
- Textured wall paint and ceiling plaster (e.g., popcorn ceilings)
Some asbestos products required spray application, releasing dangerous asbestos fibers directly into the air. Other asbestos construction materials created toxic work dust when contractors cut or drilled them.
Companies That Made Asbestos Sheets
From the 1980s onward, manufacturers of asbestos sheets have faced hundreds of thousands of legal claims from people exposed to the dangerous fibers. By the late 1990s, just Celotex was responsible for nearly 400,000 asbestos claims and liabilities of about $200 billion.
Manufacturers of Asbestos-Cement Sheets
- Celotex
- CertainTeed Corporation
- GAF Corporation
- Johns-Manville
- Keasby & Mattison Company (Armstrong World Industries)
- National Gypsum Company
- Philip Carey Manufacturing (Rapid-American Corp.)
Aside from these major manufacturers, many other companies made, distributed and sold asbestos cement products in the 1960s and 1970s. Companies known for asbestos sheets include Asbestone, Durabla Manufacturing Co., Eagle-Picher, Flintkote Company, Smith and Kanzler, and U.S. Gypsum.
Brands of Asbestos Sheets
The wide range of asbestos sheet and wallboard products resulted in dozens of brands. Some manufacturers produced several types of asbestos cement products under different brand names or regional divisions.
Widely Used Asbestos Cement Brands
- Ambler: Corrugated asbestos lumber, roofing and siding produced by K&M
- Careystone: Flat and corrugated asbestos sheet roofing materials from Celotex
- Careycel: Celotex’s insulated sheathing product
- Gold Bond: One of the best-known brands of asbestos cement products, manufactured by National Gypsum
- Panelstone: Asbestos-cement sheets from GAF Corp.
- Stonehenge: Heavy-duty asbestos sheets made by Johns-Manville
- Transite: Johns-Manville corrugated asbestos siding and roofing
Internally, Johns-Manville referred to its Colorceran, Colorlith, Colorsil, Corspan and Facespan specialty asbestos sheets with the name ACE. This confusion around brand names, trade packaging and internal documents is one reason why working with an experienced asbestos lawyer is important for proving your exposure. Mesothelioma law firms can get records for many asbestos sheet manufacturers.
Health Risks of Asbestos Sheets
Any exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to chronic respiratory illnesses like asbestosis, though symptoms often take decades to appear. Mesothelioma is directly tied to asbestos, usually from working with asbestos products or from family members who carried the toxic dust home on clothing. Asbestos fibers can also cause or increase lung cancer risks.
Manufacturing asbestos cement sheets exposed countless factory workers to danger. To make sure the concrete adhered properly, workers had to heat up the asbestos fibers until they expanded. Newly dried cement sheets also needed to be cut and machined, producing even more dust.
Asbestos cement is still dangerous if it appears during renovation projects. Old material easily crumbles, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Experienced contractors must follow careful procedures and wear protective gear to safely remove asbestos millboard, wallboard, roof tiles or sheets.
Who’s At Risk?
Asbestos sheets were primarily used in the construction industry, including new home construction, remodeling, roofing, siding and fireplace projects. Installation usually required contractors to drill holes in the asbestos cement for bolts or brackets, exposing workers to the invisible fibers. Homeowners were also at risk from any asbestos dust or scrap left behind.
Because of the outstanding fire-resistance of asbestos cement, these sheets were common in the boiler rooms of office buildings, high-rise apartments, hospitals, schools and government buildings. Machine shops, automotive repair shops, factories and oil rigs/petrochemical installations also used asbestos sheets wherever sparks or extreme heat were risks.
People at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
- Construction workers
- Factory laborers and maintenance workers
- HVAC technicians
- Roofing contractors
- Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
- Remodelers and demolition contractors
- Shipyard workers
- U.S. veterans, especially naval personnel
Asbestos wallboard and roofing materials are still a hidden danger in some older homes and buildings. If the material is damaged during renovations or furnace replacement, anyone working or living in the area can inhale the airborne asbestos.
Compensation for Exposure to Asbestos Sheets
Patients who have an asbestos-related illness can pursue compensation for medical costs, lost wages and other expenses. In some states, asbestos compensation can also cover pain and suffering — or even punish manufacturers for their negligence.
One legal option is to file a product liability lawsuit against the asbestos sheet manufacturer. Some construction workers, homeowners and residents have had success with this approach.
Notable Settlements and Verdicts Related to Asbestos Cement Products
- $20,000,000: A jury verdict held asbestos cement manufacturer J-M A/C Pipe responsible for negligence in this mesothelioma case. Former employee Bill Hardcastle developed mesothelioma after working for nearly 20 years making asbestos-containing pipes at a California factory.
- $11,500,000: A California jury awarded construction worker Don Henderson $500,000 in economic compensation and $6 million for pain and suffering, along with $5 million to Mrs. Henderson for non-economic damages. The jury held asbestos sheet manufacturer Eternit responsible for failing to inform contractors about asbestos in its Flexweld and Glasweld sheets.
- $10,000,000: In 2019, a California appeals court sided with Michael and Cindy Burch against asbestos cement maker CertainTeed. A jury had awarded $725,000 in economic damages and $9.25 million in non-economic damages. The case held CertainTeed accountable for not warning contractors like Mr. Burch about asbestos dangers in its products.
- $2,300,000: In 2001, a jury in San Francisco awarded $2.3 million to Guadalupe Laguna, a former employee of Johns-Manville who developed chronic asbestosis.
Some factory workers and construction employees have filed workers’ compensation claims for asbestos exposure on the job. If the asbestos product manufacturer filed for bankruptcy, it may be possible to apply for a trust fund payout instead.
Surviving family members may get compensation for the loss of their loved one by filing a wrongful death claim. It’s important to speak with a qualified mesothelioma attorney to understand your available options and the type of evidence you need to present.
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