History of Bestwall wallboard and asbestos-containing drywall.

Above: an advertising sign for Bestwall fireproof gypsum wallboard. That asbestos was used as a significant component in and with Bestwall gypsum board is discussed in the patent disclosures cited just below.

This article series explains where asbestos is likely to be found in gypsum board or drywall systems, particularly in the taping compound and in skim coats using drywall "mud" that contained asbestos.

Bestwall Gypsum Board Asbestos History & Content

While it had a much earlier origin as a non-asbestos-containing mix of gypsum and sawdust, Bestwall Gypsum wallboard as a plasterboard product found in homes in North America often dates gypsum from the 1950s to 1977 and generally in that era contained asbestos. (Some BestWall products are found in much-older homes built before those years - Ed.)

From our patent and other research it's evident that some, but not all, Bestwall products manufactured between 1956 and 1977 contained asbestos.

Below we give a a history of Beaver - BestWall and a complete list of Bestwall® products that contained asbestos. We also illustrate some Bestwall gypsum board products for which test results did not detect asbestos.

Drywall systems that may contain asbestos - at least in finishes, taping joint compounds, skim coats, or in systems that applied plaster over gypsum board date from about 1910 through the early 1980's in North America (1982 in Canada).

Shown here: BestWall® joint compound produced by the Bestwall Gypsum Company.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Article Contents

• BESTWALL COMPANY HISTORY
• BESTWALL ASBESTOS PRODUCTS LIST
• BESTWALL IDENTIFICATION STAMPS & END TAPES found stamped Bestwall gypsum board
• BESTWALL DRYWALL PATENTS & LABELS
• BESTWALL ASBESTOS CONTENT

Bestwall History

Taping drywall joints dates from as early as the 1920's. Asbestos-use in plaster overlaps this period.

Bestwall, perhaps the earliest successful gypsum-board or "drywall" product, in its original composition, was a mixture of wood product and gypsum (Armstrong 1913, 1919) was produced by the first as Compo-Board (Armstrong 1913) and then by BeaverProducts, later by Bestwall Gypsum Company in Ardsmore, PA.

Certainteed purchased Beaver Products in 1928.

The Bestwall company founded in 1956 was, by some sources, a "spin-off" from CertainTeed Corporation, a large manufacturer of gypsum board (drywall) and joint compound.

BestWall was bought by Georgia Pacific in 1965.

Below: CertainTeed Beaver Gypsum Lath, courtesy of InspectApedia reader lulutalul, posted on this page 2022/01/10.

Note: This is a gypsum based product, not of the same composition as other wood fiber board products that also bear the "Beaver" trademark.

The "Beaver" name was used on both BEAVER GYPSUM LATH (shown below) and on BEAVEROBARD, a wood-fiber insulating wall and ceiling sheathing product described

at BEAVERBOARD IDENTIFICATION. Neither of these is a "Bestwall" product.

These gypsum lath or "rock lath" boards, found in a 1940s home in Ironwood MI, USA, are stamped: BEAVER GYPSUM LATH, FIRE PROOF, CertainTeed ?? Corp, New York NY.

[Click to enlarge any image]

In turn, Georgia Pacific purchased the BestwalL Gypsum Co. from Certainteed in 1965. Koch Industries, present owner of Bestwall, bought Georgia-Pacific in 2005.

Bestwall LLC, facing over 64,000 asbestos injury claims, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, on 2 November 2017. Case No. 17-31795.

Bestwall LLC is expected to establish a trust to handle asbestos-liability claims under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code Section 524(g). News reports note that Georgia-Pacific, owner of Bestwall LLC, and GP's subsidiaries were not included in this filing.

CertainTeed formed Bestwall Gypsum in 1961. Certainteed's Bestwall Gypsum board, contained asbestos through 1977. Depending on when the product installed in a particular building, even buildings constructed in the next year or so could have used new-old-stock gypsum board that contained asbestos.

Bestwall Bankruptcy Filing

The Bestwall Gypsum Company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017.

See this 2017 BESTWALL CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY FILING PRESS RELEASE [PDF] (2017)

In 2020 the Bestwall bankruptcy case was still pending, confounded perhaps by claims of subversion of the bankruptcy process by Georgia Pacific, in an effort to avoid paying asbestos-related injury or mesothelioma claims.

Additional hearings in the Bestwall bankruptcy protection filing claim are currently scheduled beginning in August 2022, extending through December 2022.

The Claims & Noticing Agent for this case is

• Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc. Re: Bestwall LLC P.O. Box 199043 Blythebourne Station Brooklyn, NY 11219 Toll Free Tel: (877) 864-5058 International Toll: (212) 771-1128 Fax: (212) 481-1416 Email: bestwallinfo@donlinrecano.com Website: https://www.donlinrecano.com/Clients/bw/Index

From ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS we have this

Complete List of Bestwall Gypsum drywall & plaster boards & finishing products

• Acoustical plaster containing asbestos
• Bedding compound
• Bestwall drywall compounds including: Bestwall™ All Purpose joint compound, Bestwall™ bedding compound, Bestwall™ topping compound, Bestwall™ Lite Acoustic coating, Bestwall™ textured coatings, Bestwall™ triple-duty drywall-joint compound, Bestwall™ Ready-Mix joint compound, Bestwall™ Speed-Set joint compound,
• Bestwall™ Denswall™ Texture coating
• Bestwall™ Kalite acoustical texture coating
• Bestwall™ patching plaster
• Bestwall™ Drywall adhesive
• Drywall joint compound including Georgia Pacific Triple-Duty™ Joint Compound, Bestwall Speed-Set™ Joint Compound, All purpose joint compound, Ready-Mix joint compound
• Bestwall™ Drywall laminating compound
• Bestwall™ Patching plaster
• Bestwall™ Roof coatings & sealants, asphalt based, including asbestos fibers
• Bestwall™ Spackling compound
• Bestwall™ Textured coatings, paints
• Bestwall™ Topping compound
• Also see CERTAINTEED DRYWALL ASBESTOS
• Also see Georgia Pacific in ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS

Bestwall Gypsum Board Stamps & Identification End Tape Data

Above: Bestwall Fire-rated drywall stamp noting that the product uses fiberglass.

This product cites U.S. Patent NO. 2,681,863 included in more-detail below. That patent refers to some uses of asbestos in plaster but is focused on the use of fiberglass as you can read in this excerpt from the patent disclosure:

The drawn textile glass fibers are on the other hand, produced as continuous filaments, each of which is discharged in a molten state through an orifice and is attenuated by winding on a high speed winding drum.

In the production, winding and handling of drawn glass fibers or filaments it is essential that a great many such extremely fine filaments be grouped into strands each containing from one hundred to several hundred individual filaments so that the forces that are necessarily involved in the high speed handling will not cause breakage of the filaments.

Watch out: Croce's 1950 patent US2526066A, also given below, confirms that some gypsum board or "plaster board" products may have been manufactured with reinforcement that may have included both fiberglass and asbestos.

Below: Bestwall drywall identification is easy when the drywall end-tape is intact and visible. This end tape was on the same drywall product that included the Reinforced with Fiberglass stamp shown above.

From DRYWALL TYPE IDENTIFICATION STAMPS we have:

Thanks to reader Nick for these photos giving some hints at identifying Bestwall gypsum board (2020/01) with these stamps found on the back of the gypsum board in a 1939 home.

There is text reading "“Certain-Teed Beaver Gypsum Fireproof” making this a CertainTeed product, gypsum board, produced after the company's purchase of BestWall.

Bestwall Drywall Production Patents & Identification Labels

Below, US Patent Numbers give an age range and identify the probable manufacturer for this particular sample of gypsum board: U.S. Gypsum Co. with Bestwall and National Gypsum and others as antecedents.

• Roos, Carlisle K. "Cementitious material." U.S. Patent 2,017,022, issued October 8, 1935.
• Kauffmann, Hans O. "Method of producing porous gypsum products." U.S. Patent 1,946,077, issued February 6, 1934.
• Gough, Fred J., and Bernard T. Ballard. "Foam cell." U.S. Patent 1,955,123, issued April 17, 1934.
• Gough, Fred J., William M. Mcneil, and Frederic D. Pfeffer. "Mixer for stucco compositions." U.S. Patent 1,767,791, issued June 24, 1930. 11-01
  
• Utzman, Clarence W. "Machine for making plaster-board or the like." U.S. Patent 1,330,413, issued February 10, 1920.

The word "asbestos" does not appear in any of the patents listed just above

Additional BestWall patents

listed on the stamps on Bestwall drywall, thanks to reader Nick Oswana21

• Armstrong, Morgan K. "Plaster board." U.S. Patent 1,701,291, issued February 5, 1929. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co
• Haggerty, Joseph F. "Wall board." U.S. Patent 1,702,966, issued February 19, 1929. Application filed by National Gypsum Co
• Haggerty, Joseph F. "Plaster wall board." U.S. Patent 1,500,452, issued July 8, 1924. Application filed by UNIVERSAL GYPSUM Co
• Roos, Carlisle K. "Cementitious material." U.S. Patent 2,017,022, issued October 8, 1935. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co. 1924-08-20.

Illustration above: Beaver BESTWALL label (Form 1789) found on a North Florida home built in 1925. (Thanks to Laurel Greene, in reader Q&A below).

Illustration below: Beaver Fireproof Gypsum Sheathing label from a home built in 1960, tested for asbestos by the homeowner (Bradford Allen) who reports:

It tested negative for asbestos, 87% Gypsum, 8% cellulose, 5% fiberglass.

[Click to enlarge any image]

• Armstrong, Morgan K. "Plaster-board." U.S. Patent 1,278,821, issued September 17, 1918. Application filed by BESTWALL Manufacturing Co
• Ballard, Bernard T., and Fred J. Gough. "Liquid measuring apparatus." U.S. Patent 1,813,834, issued July 7, 1931. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co.
• De Forest, Crandell Dean, and Neher Roy. "Mixing machine." U.S. Patent 1,967,291, issued July 24, 1934. Application filed by National Gypsum Co
• De Forest, Crandell Dean. "Method of making wall board." U.S. Patent 1,932,956, issued October 31, 1933. Application filed by National Gypsum Co.
• Gough, Fred J., and Bernard T. Ballard. "Foam cell." U.S. Patent 1,955,123, issued April 17, 1934. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co
• Gough, Fred J., William M. Mcneil, and Frederic D. Pfeffer. "Mixer for stucco compositions." U.S. Patent 1,767,791, issued June 24, 1930. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co
• Adolph, New Gustave. "Cellular gypsum product." U.S. Patent 1,770,797, issued July 15, 1930. Filed by American Gypsum Company
• Hite, Charles E. "Heat-insulating material and method of making same." U.S. Patent 1,230,297, issued June 19, 1917. Application filed by Charles E Hite
• Kauffmann, Hans O. "Method of producing porous gypsum products." U.S. Patent 1,946,077, issued February 6, 1934. Application filed by Buffalo Electro-Chemical Co Inc. 1932-09-15
• Turner, John J., and Absmeier Carl. "Mixing device." U.S. Patent 1,813,828, issued July 7, 1931. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co
• Utzman, Clarence W. "Machine for making plaster-board or the like." U.S. Patent 1,330,413, issued February 10, 1920. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co

Beaver BestWall Patent Information

llustrated here: Beaver brand "BestWall" plaster wallboard label, thanks to reader Dave.

• "HEAT-INSULATING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME." U.S. Patent Application 1,230,297, filed August 18, 1916.
• Hite, Charles E. HEAT-INSULATING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,230,297, issued June 19, 1917.
  Excerpts:
  
  My invention relates to an improved heat insulating material and the method of making same. The object is to provide an improved insulating material, suitable for covering steam and hot and
  cold water pipes, refrigerating machinery, boilers and furnaces, and for numerous other uses requiring insulation of high efiiciency, which is non-combustible, durable and light in weight.
  ...
  Among the best insulating mediums or materials now in use, may be mentioned hair felt, cork, carbonate of magnesia and asbestos. These materials are expensive, and each has certain disadvantages.
  ...
  This mass of carbo-hydrate, water and sulfate, is at first quite fluid, but soon sets and becomes firm.
  
  The action of the carbohydrate paste is to hold the particles of sulfate in suspension, preventing settling until the sulfate hardens, then on the evaporation of the water, a substance is produced full of air cells, which has proved of greater insulating efficiency, as above stated, than insulating substances composed of 85% carbonate of magnesia and 15% asbestos.
• Utzman, Clarence W. MACHINE for MAKING PLASTER BOARD or the like [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,330,413, issued February 10, 1920. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co.
  This patent disclosure does not include the word "asbestos"
  
  Excerpt:
  My invention belongs to that class of machines employed 'in vthe 'manufacture of specication of Letters Patent. Application ined september 3,1918. i serial No. 252,403. i' .plaster board or a board made up of a suitablebody provided with covering sheets` for containing the same.
• Utzman, Clarence W. PLASTER-BOARD [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,383,249, issued June 28, 1921. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co
  
  This patent does include the word "asbestos" in the general product-type description only, not in the patent text body.
  
  E04C2/043 - Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material; of asbestos cement; of cement and other mineral fibres of plaster
  (no details available)
  
• Haggerty, Joseph F. PLASTER WALL BOARD [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,500,452, issued July 8, 1924. Application filed by UNIVERSAL GYPSUM Co.
  Excerpt:
  
  The strength of the board as above made, may be materially increased, and the tendenc to breakage reduced by the addition of fiber, as for instance, asbestos fiber, wood fiber, sulfite fiber, jute and the like. The asbestos fiber is preferably in some respects, being fire-proof and of a mineral nature.
  
  When fiber, as for instance, asbestos fiber, is added to the paste and thoroughly distributed so that the fiber is completely separated, each individual fiber becomes covered with the paste, which being adhesive, causes the gypsum to adhere more tenaciously to the fiber when the board is dried.
• Armstrong, Morgan K. PLASTER BOARD [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,701,291, issued February 5, 1929. Application filed by United States Gypsum Co.
  
  This patent does include the word "asbestos" in the general product-type description only, not in the patent text body.
  
  E04C2/043 Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material; of asbestos cement; of cement and other mineral fibres of plaster

Research on Bestwall Asbestos Content

• Armstrong, Morgan K. Compo-board [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,076,261, issued October 21, 1913. Application filed by BESTWALL Manufacturing Co. of Chicago IL.
  Excerpts:
  
  My invention relates to that class of buildmaterial generally known to the trade as compo-board, the said term being used in a sense broad enough to include so-called plaster-board, and has for its object to provide a material of this kind which, while of low cost, is highly efiicient for the purposes had in view.
  
  To such ends, the invention consists of the construction hereinafter'described and defined in the claims.
  
  The ingredients used in making the improved board are calcined'gypsum, silicate of soda, borax and saw dust.
  
  The proportion of the ingredients may be considerably varied, but I have obtained highly satisfactory results by the use of the materials as follows: calcined gypsum 75 per cent., silicate of soda 2% per cent., borax 2 per cent, saw dust 20 per cent.
  
  The term saw dust is used in a liberal sense to include any and all finely divided wood particles usually treated as refuse at saw mills, and which are, consequently, of very small cost.
  
  The proportions above, give aboard that is espe-' Application filed June 28, 1911. Serial No. 685,782. cially adapted for use as a plaster board, and when the board is to-be used for other ...
• Armstrong, Morgan K. "Plaster-board." U.S. Patent 1,278,821, issued September 17, 1918.
• Armstrong, Morgan K. Plaster-board composition. [PDF] (1919) U.S. Patent 1,301,893, issued April 29, 1919.
  Excerpts:
  
  My improved composition consists of a mixture of dry, ground tan bark, of gypsum or stucco, plaster of Paris or like plastic material. In preparing the composition, I prefer to use the ingredients in approximately the following proportions :
  
  - fifteen pounds of ground tan bark and
  - eighty -five pounds of stucco, or other suitable calcined gypsum,
  
  The tan bark and gypsum plastic material. are thoroughly mixed, and to each one hunthis dry mixture is added dred pounds of about thirty pounds of water.
  
  The water, if slightly warmed, will more-readily mix with the dry ingredients.
  
  I prefer to mix the dry, and gypsum in'a hopper or other vice'and then vdischarge this dry ground tan bark mixingdemixture in a thin, flat, even layer upon a movable belt.
• Berney, Bernard C., and Henry A. Goebel. "Prefabricated building panel wall." U.S. Patent 3,336,709, issued August 22, 1967. Application filed by Mosaic Building Products Inc
  
  Excerpts:
  Claims: CEMENT ASBESTOS BOARD CO-EXTENSIVE WITH AND ADHERED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE FIRST OF SAID SHEETS OF GYPSUM BOARD, MECHANICAL FASTENERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CEMENT ASBESTOS BOARD,
  Details:
  
  Component B: One-eighth inch cement asbestos board (Johns-Manville Corporation)
  Component C: One-half inch fire resistant gypsum wall board (Bestwall Type X, Bestwall Gypsum Company, Ardmore, Pa.) ... a suitable material has been found to be a lime/silica composition reinforced by a high percentage of asbestos fibers. ...
• BESTWALL ASBESTOS TEST REPORT [PDF] Western Analytical Laboratory, Inc., 6 August 2020, courtesy of reader Anon.
• CERTAINTEED DRYWALL ASBESTOS
• Michele, Croce. PLASTIC COMPOSITION MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS MADE THEREFROM [PDF] (1950) U.S. Patent 2,526,066, issued October 17, 1950. - Assignor to CertainTeed Products Co., continuation of Croce's application No, 510,365 November 15, 1943 and No. 688,843, filed August 7, 1946 and in Canada Septemb er 8, 1944.
  
  Excerpt:
  I have also had very satisfactory results by the use of 2% of fibre, either 2% of asbestos fibre or 1% of asbestos fibre and 1% of glass wool fibre. I have found the asbestos fibre more satisfactory with respect to controlling and feeding the fibre into the mixture.
• Croce, Michele, and Clarence G. Shuttleworth. PLASTER COMPOSITIONS and PRODUCTS [PDF] U.S. Patent 2,681,863, issued June 22, 1954. Filed by Certain Teed Products Corp.
  Excerpt:
  It should be observed also that in some instances asbestos has been used in plaster. In one such use the asbestos fiber has been added to plaster primarily to improve the plaster workability or trowelling characteristics while in another instance, in the Croce
  
  Patent No. 2,526,066, such asbestos fiber was added as a means for retaining an expansive component of the plaster composition in place in the set cast. In each case the amount of asbestos was quite high, and the Water absorptive capacity of the asbestos has increased the drying time of casts thus made.
  ...
  The drawn textile glass fibers are on the other hand, produced as continuous filaments, each of which is discharged in a molten state through an orifice and is attenuated by winding on a high speed winding drum. In the production, winding and handling of drawn glass fibers or filaments it is essential that a great many such extremely fine film ents be grouped into strands each containing from one hundred to several hundred individual filaments so that the forces that are necessarily involved in the high speed handling will not cause breakage of the filaments.
• Fisher, Daniel, "Industries Puts Bestwall Unit, A Small Player In Asbestos, In Bankruptcy", Forbes, 3 November 2017, retrieved 2020/01/17 original source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalnewsline/2017/11/03/koch-industries-puts-bestwall-unit-a-small-player-in-asbestos-in-bankruptcy/#35fa5f0fac87
  
  Excerpt: Koch Industries has put a division of its Georgia-Pacific unit in Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to stem a rising tide of lawsuits by mesothelioma victims who attribute their disease to asbestos-containing drywall compound.
  
  Georgia-Pacific’s Bestwall business manufactured the joint compound, commonly known as “mud,” with chrysotile asbestos fibers until 1977.
  
  In a court filing explaining the reasons for its Chapter 11 filing, Bestwall said joint compound in total never amounted to more than 1.5 percent of asbestos-containing products sold in the U.S., yet the company is now named in 70-80 percent of all lawsuits over mesothelioma, a cancer that can be caused by asbestos exposure.
  
  Fisher continues to report that asbestos lawsuits have involved apparently-fraudulent claims, adding in referring to a related lawsuit both reports of questionable claims and also "double dipping" in which the same plaintiff(s) were used in multiple lawsuits against multiple companies.
  
  ... U.S. Bankruptcy Judge George Hodges issued a series of groundbreaking rulings exposing the widespread practice plaintiff lawyers to manipulate the evidence of asbestos exposure against solvent companies before filing conflicting claims with bankruptcy trusts set up by the insolvent ones.
• Rizzo, Lillian, "Georgia-Pacific’s Bestwall Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Over Asbestos Litigation", The Wall Street Journal, 2017/11/02, retrieved 2020/01/17 original source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/georgia-pacifics-bestwall-seeks-bankruptcy-protection-over-asbestos-litigation-1509623160
  

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-07-30 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - asbestos not detected in this Fireproof Gypsum Sheathing from Bestwall.

@Bradford Allen,

Thank you for the helpful asbestos test report and photo.

If you're willing to contribute the report, you can use our page top or bottom contact link to send us a copy.

We would post it having redacted all of your personal information in order to respect your privacy. Thanks.

On 2022-07-30 by Bradford Allen

Home was built in 1960

We found Bestwall fireproof sheathing in our home. It tested negative for asbestos, 87% Gypsum, 8% cellulose, 5% fiberglass.

 

On 2022-07-22 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - BestWall Bankruptcy Filing includes Asbestos-related documentation

@Laurel Greene,

Thank you that's very helpful with respect to establishing the history of the use of Bestwall plasterboard.

FYI there was another "1789" in a Bestwall court docket re: Bestwall LLC, Chapter 11 (bankruptcy filing) , Case #: 17-31795, Court: United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division,Judge The Honorable Laura T. Beyer, filed November 2, 2017.

BestWall was facing more than 62,000 asbestos-related lawsuits when the company filed for bankruptcy in North Carolina in 2017.

• Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, Case #: 17-31795, Affidavit of Service (RE: related document(s)1776 Other Document filed by Debtor Bestwall LLC) filed by Garland S. Cassada on behalf of Bestwall LLC. (Cassada, Garland) (Entered: 05/05/2021)

The documentation for this case, in a collection hosted by this law firm: Donlin Recano, (Equiniti) https://www.donlinrecano.com/Clients/bw/Dockets, includes other affadavits that involve asbestos claims and Bestwall. That doesn't tell us if your particular Bestwall was an asbestos-containing gypsum board. Some, but not all, BestWall products contained asbestos as we describe above on this page. .

On 2022-07-22 y Laurel Greene

@InspectApedia-911, My home was built in 1925, this is installed in a bedroom. We are located in Northern Florida.

On 2022-07-21 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Laurel E Greene,

Thank you for the Bestwall drywall label photo.

Our most complete information about this topic and therefore your question are found in the article above.

I'm seeing just a photo of the label; I don't think we can say more about this product (than we do on this page)

But it would be helpful to know the location of the building where this Bestwall plasterboard is installed and the age of the building

Please take a look at the description of Bestwall and the asbestos question discussed above, and let me know if any of that leaves you with a question.

On 2022-07-20 by Laurel E Greene

We just removed some wall boards from a room in my house. We have lived here for 16 years, never replaced any wall boards and just found the beaver betboard logo on the back ... Bestwall Form 1789.

I cannot find a us patent number. I need help.

We will be be wearing masks from here on out but I cannot say we, as a family won't have issues in the future.

I have included a photo from the back of one of the boards.

Thank you.

On 2022-02-03 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Midremodel,

No. Asbestos testing is performed by an independent certified asbestos test lab. The experts directory found at the top of any of these Pages you'll find a leg to asbestos test labs.

We're in agreement that there are at least two generations of drywall it appeared to have been mounted on those studs

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, there's lots of ASTM C36 but the earliest I could find was 1980s does the ASTM test for asbestos?

The holes on the side are for the other piece of drywall that use to be there.

On 2022-02-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Midremodel,

I'm not sure about those holes in the side of the stud, but the ones in the face + observation that your latest drywall was installed with screws all MIGHT argue that it's not the first generation of wall covering in that home.

Drywall screws were introduced in the U.S. as early as the 1950s - but in my OPINION were not in common / widespread use until the 1970s and later.

" In the 1950s, Illinois fire-protection engineer Paul Quigg and a team of co-workers at the U.S. Gypsum Corp. perfected the drywall screw.' - JLC Online at https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/a-short-history-of-screws_o#:~:text=In%20the%201950s%2C%20Illinois%20fire,perfected%20the%20drywall%20screw. - a short history of screws.

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Midremodel, this is what they used to mend the boards together. Yellow mesh tape. I looked this up and I'm not sure how accurate the info is but mesh tape was brought to market during the 80s. Can anyone confirm this?

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Midremodel, found another piece of label part of the same board, and an undisturbed piece of gypsum board.

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Took a bunch of pictures to illustrate what I have going on.

This is the studs. And what the board looks like. Screws on bottom to top about 7' the rest of the way is nails.

On 2022-02-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Midremodel,

True but our earlier photos on this page are mostly pre the G-P purchase.

Often when remodeling a home it is patently easy to determine if drywall that you remove is the original. If you pull a section of drywall of of what is clearly an original wall of the building, look at the location of the drywall screws (or more likely nails in older homes) - and note their location on the wall studs. Then look on the studs for holes or remains of nails from an older generation of drywall.

If there is only one layer of drywall found on a surface (usually the case), and

If the only marks on the wall studs (or ceiling joists) where drywall has been removed are from the fasteners used to hang the very drywall just pulled down, then you can be reasonably confident that that drywall dates from original construction of that wall or ceiling.

Post a photo of an exposed stud or joist if you find what you suspect are marks from an earlier wall covering that was removed.

I encourage you to go ahead with testing for asbestos; be sure that your samples include both the drywall itself - sampled from a central area not skimmed with joint compound, and a second sample of the joint compound used at drywall butt joints and perhaps at a wall/ceiling juncture.

Do let me know what you find as that will be very valuable to other readers.

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, based on the wording on the label it looks more modern than previous photos submitted. I have been searching all over but there isn't much information out there.

I purchased 6 tests to be able to get different types of material for testing. If anyone has any info I would appreciate it.

On 2022-02-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Midremodel,

Thank you that identification photo will help other readers spot their Bestwall made by Georgia Pacific.

From your building date you would follow the advice we gave earlier: treat the drywall as presumed to contain asbestos - avoid making a dusty mess.

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, its in USA palm beach Florida built in 1975

On 2022-02-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Midremodel,

Thank you for the photos and question about Georgia-Pacific Bestwall drywall.

From the page above we note that Georgia Pacific purchased the BestwalL Gypsum Co. from Certainteed in 1965..

So your drywall can date from 1965 or later.

It would be helpful to know the country and city of the building you're remodeling and the age of the building itself.

Yes it would be helpful too to see sharp photos of the end tapes or other printed matter found on the edges or back of the drywall beyond the date code you include and the bit of tape indicating G-P / Bestwall.

If the intent of your question was to ask if your drywall contains asbestos, from the article above we also note

Drywall systems that may contain asbestos - at least in finishes, taping joint compounds, skim coats, or in systems that applied plaster over gypsum board date from about 1910 through the early 1980's in North America (1982 in Canada).

So you would treat this drywall AND the joint compound used in its finishing as presumed to contain asbestos, OR have representative samples tested for asbestos.

On 2022-02-02 by Midremodel

Hello,

I started a remodel about a year ago and haven't done much drywall work other than remove some panels in a bathroom. But I got more into it and started removing panels in a closet.

I finally was able to get a manufacturer and a code but nothing seams to come up for the code and not much is said about this product. Its made by georgia pacific at the end of the paper is says G-P/BESTWALL

Can someone help identify this board of when it could have been manufactured. I can send more images

On 2022-01-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@lulutalulu,

Certainteed purchased Beaver Products in 1928. So finding a Certain-Teed gypsum lath board in a 1940s Michigan home is not surprising. It's "Fireproof" label hints at a likely use of asbestos.

This is a gypsum based product, not the wood fiber board products also bearing the "Beaver" name and also discussed

at BEAVERBOARD IDENTIFICATION

where we repeat your question and photos and give a detailed reply.

On 2022-01-10 by lulutalulu

I’ve been curious for sometime around the walls in my 1940’s build home since there is no lath. I’m in Ironwood, MI. I took possession of the home a little over a year ago and started renovations right away.

I finally did a search on my walls and came to this site (thank you!). I’m concerned I have asbestos walls given the fire proofing mark on the Beaver Gypsom Lath product. Also marked is “certain teed”. Appreciate your thoughts on this.

On 2021-08-24 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - what is joint compound or "drywall mud"?

@Erin,

Joint compound or "mud" as it's called in the drywall trades, is a thick white pasty mixture of gypsum and water that is used, usually along with paper or mesh tape, to conceal the joints in drywall-covered ceilings and walls.

Joint compound is troweled onto the joints, covered with paper or mesh tape, and one or two top coats of compound are added; when dry that finish treatment is sanded so that the walls and the joints of wall-to-ceiling are smooth and ready for painting.

@Erin, in th photo below, the white stripes you see on the wall are joints (and drywall mounting screws) that have been covered with joint compound or "drywall mud".

See details at

ASBESTOS-DRYWALL REMEDIATION / REMOVAL

On 2021-08-24 y Erin

@inspectapedia.com.moderator,
One more question what is joint compound?

Ok thank you so much for your input
I appreciate it

On 2021-08-24 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Erin,

Apologies, I was a bit uncertain myself in earlier replies so got a bit weasel-mouthed.

Bottom line:

Your drywall has a prominent stamp emphasizing that it is a fiberglass-reinforced product.

My best guess is that there is no asbestos in that drywall ; my thought is that when the manufacturers went to a prominent "Fiberglass" stamp it was in recognition that many consumers were worried about buying a product that might have contained asbestos - as some drywall did previously, particularly fire-rated products.

But I don't have and I suspect we'll not get an unequivocal promise from any drywall manufacturer nor anybody else that a product of unknown age is asbestos free.

That's why it's useful to take two more steps:

1. identify the age of your drywall: if it's from original construction, find out when your building was constructed, and where.

Yours is a U.S. building in Maryland built in 1961.

So in a U.S. home asbestos was occasionally found in drywall up to about 1986 but my prior advice is our best; plainly labeled as "fiberglass reinforced" your drywall is not likely to contain asbestos, but asbestos could have been in the joint compound as we mentioned earlier.

If we know that we can apply common "asbestos-last-used" date. For example in the U.S. that'd be 1986.

2. Consider that not just drywall, but drywall joint compound, used at every taped joint and often at other smaller repair spots, contained asbestos as well, up to the same cut-off date.

For example, if your home was constructed in 1980 and used a drywall product that is labelled as "fiberglass reinforced" and so is not at all likely to contain asbestos, nevertheless, the joint compound that was used in the installation might itself have contained asbestos.

Finally,

Do not panic about this question; the panic may be a worse health hazard (and financial hazard) than the drywall.

Asbestos-containing materials are safe and legal to leave in place as long as they're un-damaged.

And where large sheets of drywall are removed basically intact with minimal dust creation the remaining dust hazards should be trivial: easily cleaned up with HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping.

On 2021-08-24 by Erin - does this patent number assure me of no asbestos in Bestwall drywall?

@inspectapedia.com.moderator,

So could you tell me since my drywall has the same patent number as the anonymous reader from Philadelphia who posted 2 photos of drywall with the same patent number back in 8/2020 and he tested it and came back negative does that mean the same for the one I'm questioning since it has the same exact patent number? I just want to be sure I understand correctly.

Thanks the Patent of the drywall that was removed has the same exact patent as the reader who posted above #2681613 and it tested negative for asbestos would that also mean the same for this one?

Home was built in 1961
Maryland USA

Thanks again for your input

On 2021-08-23 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Erin,

Your drywall stamp says it contains fiberglass - so it's not so likely to also contain asbestos.

But as you'll read in the article above, this topic is confounded: some drywall, plaster, gypsum board patents such as by Croce in the 1950s refer, in the patent disclosure, to using asbestos, and at least one Croce patent specifically refers to mixing both fiberglass and asbestos.

Just removing drywall sections essentially intact with minimal dust production is not likely to produce a significant dust hazard, but in all cases it'd make sense to use appropriate careful dust control and cleanup such as HEPA vacuuming.

It would be really helpful to know the country, city, and age of the building where such products are found.

On 2021-08-23 by Erin

Thanks so much because I've been constantly cleaning the dust in the living area and kitchen is worse and seems neverending. I'm wearing a n95 mask to be safe and damp wiping everything and I have a dyson vaccume that has a hepa filter that i also have been using but I'm still very anxious.

I'm glad there's no asbestos but fiberglass is not much better but I'm glad to know this information as it helps ease my anxiety. Thanks again I appreciate it.

The drywall in my photo has the same patent # as the drywall your reader had tested negative for asbestos. Since it has the same patent number does this mean this one also has no asbestos?

I read a few posts about this same patent number also stating it does not contain asbestos I'm worried though because we are renovating and tore down a wall that connects our kitchen to a carport that we are turning into another room.

The area was closed off the with tarp but the still the dust is everywhere. Just want to be sure

Could you please tell me if this is the same drywall that the reader tested negative for asbestos in the above photos as it has the same patent number.

I'm trying to find out for sure because we are making an addition out of our carport and this weekend tore down a wall to open up our kitchen to the addition and it had drywall with this same patent number.
Thanks

Reader comment: Bestwall drywall tested, asbestos not found

I had an old Bestwall drywall panel in my house tested for asbestos. I have photos of the panel and the patent number listed, as well as the test results (negative).

Thought it might be a useful addition to your site, but wasn't sure the best way to share the info. Is there a particular page to add it to as a comment, or should I email you the info? - anonymous by private email 2020/08/07

Moderator reply:

Thank you so much for the offer. If you can send me high res photos and information about the country and city where the house is located and the house age that would be a valuable addition that will help other readers. I'll find the best spot to add that info and send you the link for comment.

Our default is to keep you anonymous unless you ask otherwise.

Reader follow-up:

Thanks for following up. Glad this will help. I am not a home inspector but my company exclusively works on preservation and restoration projects and I use your site all the time.

But this is from my own house in Philadelphia. Anonymous contribution is fine.

I attached the best two photos I have from before the panels went in the trash—sorry, I didn't realize how blurry one of them is.

It reads "Bestwall Gypsum Company / General Offices Ardmore, Pennsylvania."

I looked up the patent you can see in the other photo, and it looks like this particular formulation may not have used asbestos, which is confirmed by my lab test.

These were installed in my basement with no tape or joint compound, so I only had the panel itself tested.

BESTWALL ASBESTOS TEST REPORT [PDF] Western Analytical Laboratory, Inc., 6 August 2020, courtesy of reader Anon.

 

Question: Does this Beaver™ BestWall Drywall contain Asbestos? How do I remove it?

2020/04/14 Dave said:

Doing some remodeling and wondering if this drywall has asbestos in it.

And what what is the best way to remove. Thanks keune_2007@hotmail.com

Moderator reply: maybe not

Dave,

Thank you for the BestWall photo and asbestos question. You'll find your question, photo, and my answer in detail now in the bottom of the article above.

Beaver - or BeaverBoard - as an original product, was a wood fiber, non-asbestos product that we discuss separately

at BEAVERBOARD IDENTIFICATION

But your Beaver - BestWall specifically is identified as a plaster wall-board.

So please take a closer look at the EDGES of your Beaver BestWall product.

If you see plaster or gypsum then treat the wallboard itself, as well as its plaster-coating as asbestos-suspect or asbestos-containing.

If your Beaver BestWall is pure brown fiberboard, then see details about the product at the BEAVERBOARD article I cited just above.

Asbestos in your Bestwall Drywall is a definite risk, as you'll read in the article above on this page. Here is one excerpt:

Bestwall LLC, facing over 64,000 asbestos injury claims, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, on 2 November 2017. Case No. 17-31795.

You'll want to minimize dust during removal: remove largest possible pieces of drywall, without cutting with power tools, wetting or dampening dusty or damaged areas, and using a HEPA rated vacuum cleaner for dust clean-up, followed by damp-wiping.

Use appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) including a HEPA-rated respirator; I prefer not to rely on a simple paper N-95 dust mask and during the current COVID pandemic, expected to end no-time soon, N-95 masks are in short supply.

Please see details on how to remove asbestos-containing drywall or asbestos-suspect drywall

at ASBESTOS-DRYWALL REMEDIATION / REMOVAL

Beaver BestWall Patents help give product ingredients

On your Beaver BestWall board we found the patent numbers below, giving more information about this product BestWall product.

It's often informative to review the patents for mention of use of asbestos in the Beaver board.

Indeed some of these BESTWALL DRYWALL PATENTS & LABELS do cite the use of asbestos, as we'll see below, though the patent information itself is not necessary the whole story of your particular board product.

Click that link above to see the Beaver BestWall patents we've researched, and note that most of these patents are assigned to US Gypsum Co., some of whose products contained asbestos.

...

Continue reading  at ASBESTOS-DRYWALL REMEDIATION / REMOVAL or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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Suggested citation for this web page

BESTWALL DRYWALL ASBESTOS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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