History of Certainteed wallboard and asbestos-containing drywall.

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.

Certainteed Gypsum Board Asbestos History & Content

The CertainTeed corporation manufactured a wide range of products that contained asbestos including other industries such automotive, but here we focus on asbestos in building products, specifically joint compund produced and sold by CertainTeed that contained asbestos, and we address the question of asbestos in CertainTeed gypsum board.

Contemporary gypsum products, drywall, joint compound made and sold by the CertainTeed do not contain asbestos.

In litigation CertainTeed successfully argued that

CertainTeed transferred all of its gypsum business to Bestwall Gypsum company in 1956, and the only gypsum product it manufactured with asbestos was drywall joint compound, acoustical plaster, and patching plaster.

Defendant claims that CertainTeed did not manufacture or supply any additional joint compound, plaster, or drywall materials after this transfer to Bestwall. Defendant also states that it sold only asbestos-free wall plaster until June 30, 1956. (Lempert v. CertainTeed Corporation, N15C-05-221 AS (Del. Super. Ct. 2017).

Watch out: 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).

[Click to enlarge any image]

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

Identify Certainteed Asbestos-Containing Drywall or Plasterboardm?

Question: does this fiberglass-reinforced drywall contain asbestos?

2018-10-04 Asbestos Wallboard? said:

I would like to know if anyone can help me determine if this Sheetrock contains asbestos.

I'm hoping the fact that it is fiberglass reinforced may mean it does not contain asbestos.

Any help is appreciated.

Reply: Fiberglass-reinforced drywall / gypsum board Rock Lath from CertainTeed Corp. - patent disclosure cites use of asbestos

AW

Your wallboard is described by the Croce patent No. 2,681,863 and is most-likely a CertainTeed Corporation product. The product was described by Croce in text that I will paste-in in capital letters below.

That patent describes other drywall compositions that included asbestos but the patent disclosure itself does not include the use of asbestos.

Watch out: however that patent No. 2,681,863 (stamped on your product) also refers to an earlier Croce Patent No. 2,526,066, where a description of the use of asbestos was significant.

The CROCE DRYWALL PATENT No. 2,681,863 [PDF] is of particular interest to anyone studying the history and composition of drywall or plasterboard as it describes various both various compositions or mixtures and constituents of drywall as well as the tests that were developed to try out the suitability of those compositions in actual use.

Above: a photo of rock lath or perforated gypsum board provided to InspectApedia.com by reader S.R. A review of the Croce patent whose number is stamped on this perforated rock lath confirms that asbestos was used in some of these products.

The 1951 Croce patent was assigned to Certain Teed Products, now expired.

[Click to enlarge any image] We don't know the production year of the rock lath shown here, we only have the patent number that you'd expect to describe the product's contents.

Text imprinted in blue ink on the reverse side of this perforated gypsum board (rock lath) includes

• Reinforced with Glass Fibers [presumably fiberglass]
• U.S. Pat. 2,681,883
• Type X
• FIREPROOF
• GYPSUM LATH

Croce Patent title: Plaster compositions and products

Excerpts

Claims (2)

1. In a method of producing gypsum plaster casts, the steps comprising introducing short sections of textile glass strands into a gypsum plaster, each strand section comprising a plurality of substantially straight, resilient, textile glass filaments, said filaments beign sufficiently weakly bonded into said strand section to be capable of ready separation therefrom during agitation with said plaster, and agitating said sections and said plaster to reduce said strand sections to their individual filaments, said agitation continuing until said individual filaments are individually and unifromly distributed throughout said gypsum plaster.

2. A compostion convertible by water addition and mixing to a moldable and settable plastic mass, said composition comprising calcined gypsum plaster as the major ingredient and short sections of glass textile strands each composed of sunstantially straight, resilient, flexible, individual textile glass filaments, bound into said strand sections by a water softenable binder, said filaments lying closely together in substantially parallel relationship in said sections, and the bonding of said filaments being sufficiently weak to enable separation of said filaments from said sections and dispersal thereof individually throughout said plaster as an incident to agitation for mixing said sections and plaster in the presence of water.

…
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.

Research on Certainteed & on Certainteed Drywall Asbestos Content

• Contact: CertainTeed Corporation P.O. Box 860, Valley Forge, PA 19482 USA, Tel: Professional: 800-233-8990 Consumer: 800-782-8777 WebsiteP http:www.certainteed.com
  
  CertainTeed purchased Bird Corporation, aU.S. roof shingle manufacturer in 1998.
  
  CertainTeed Corp. was purchased by Saint Gobain in 1988 and continues as a subsidiary of that company.
• BESTWALL DRYWALL ASBESTOS
• Croce, Michele. 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, et als, CROCE DRYWALL PATENT No. 2,681,863 [PDF] (1951) Croce Michele, Clarence G Shuttleworth, Original Assignee: Certain Teed Products Corp, Priority date 1951-07-07
  
  This patent is of particular interest to anyone studying the history and composition of drywall or plasterboard as it describes various both various compositions or mixtures and constituents of drywall as well as the tests that were developed to try out the suitability of those compositions in actual use.
  
  Details are given in the article above on this page.
• Croce, Michele, and Clarence G. Shuttleworth. PLASTER COMPOSITIONS and PRODUCTS [PDF](1954) U.S. Patent 2,681,863, issued June 22, 1954. Filed by Certain Teed Products Corp.
• Lempert v. CertainTeed Corporation, N15C-05-221 ASB (Del. Super. Ct. 2017) [PDF] Superior Court of Delaware Filed: September 12th, 2017 Precedential Status: Precedential Citations: None known Docket Number: N15C-05-221 ASB retrieved 2020/01/17 original source: https://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/Download.aspx?id=261780
  Excerpts:
  
  Plaintiff’s, Thelma Lempert (“Plaintiff”), claims cannot survive summary judgment.1 Plaintiff claims that her husband, Harold Lempert (“Mr. Lempert”) contracted asbestos related lung cancer from exposure to Defendant CertainTeed Corporation’s (“Defendant”) asbestos-containing plaster, joint compound, and drywall products.
  
  Mr. Lempert installed plaster, drywall, and joint compound from 1952 until 2000.
  ...
  Defendant presented evidence that CertainTeed transferred all of its gypsum business to Bestwall Gypsum company in 1956, and the only gypsum product it manufactured with asbestos was drywall joint compound, acoustical plaster, and patching plaster.
  
  Defendant claims that CertainTeed did not manufacture or supply any additional joint compound, plaster, or drywall materials after this transfer to Bestwall. Defendant also states that it sold only asbestos-free wall plaster until June 30, 1956.
  
  Additionally, Defendant states that it manufactured drywall, or “wall board” under the name Bestwall until June 30, 1956, and Defendant never marketed or sold any drywall under the “CertainTeed” name.
  
  Defendant asserted that only one of the two joint compounds Defendant sold until June 30, 1956 contained asbestos as an ingredient.
  ...
  Defendant CertainTeed’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.
• From ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS we have this list:

Certainteed Corportation- asbestos-containing and asbestos-cement products produced between 1930 - 1992

• roofing products, other building products
• Asbestos cement panels, sheets, boards, including transite panels
• Bestwall™ joint compound - see BESTWALL DRYWALL ASBESTOS
• CertainTeed cold process cement
• CertainTeed joint compound
• CertainTeed plastic cement
• Certainteed sealing cement
• CertainTeed transite pipe or asbestos-cement pipe
• Fluid-Tite™ Cement-Asbestos pipe (transite pipe)
• Kalite acoustical plaster (interior use)
• Roof coating mastics & sealants containing asbestos filler & fibers
• Wet Seal plastic cement
• Certainteed has faced ligitation concerning asbestos-injury claims (Bird and CertainTeed were named as co-defendants in asbestos-injury litigation in 2011) but has not (as of 8/2018) filed bankruptcy nor is there a CertainTeed asbestos trust.

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2021-02-18 by (mod) - Marzocch drywall patent: Asbestos vs fiberglass

Robert

• Alfred, Marzocchi, John A. Waugh, and Adrien E. Beaudoin. GLASS REINFORCED GYPSUM [PDF] (1960) U.S. Patent 3,062,670, issued November 6, 1962. Assigned to Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp.
  
  Excerpts:
  
  Various materials other than glass fibers have been used to reinforce plaster including Wood fibers, saw dust, sisal fibers, asbestos, paper pulp, and many other materials.
  
  The selection of the proper reinforcing material is a continuing endeavor and it has been found that the proper selection of fiber reinforcement results in improved properties and unusual results.
  
  Although good results were obtained in the past, improved results are attained in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  
  ...
  
  The objects of the invention are attained by providing the proper glass fiber reinforcement which is combined with gypsum to produce reinforced gypsum products having improved physical properties
  

On 2021-02-18 by Robert

I would like to know if patent no.2,681,863 drywall has asbestosis in it? Took some down from a ceiling?

On 2021-01-29 - by (mod) -

I can't quite say from the photo whether we're looking at poor adhesion of painted-over wallpaper to gyp-board or if there was a thin plaster skim coat; To properly repair one would remove all loose material, re-coat and skim, or just install another thin layer of drywall over everything; Before making a dusty mess you'd treat as presumed to contain asbestos or have appropriate samples tested.

On 2021-01-29 by Kathy M

I live in a 1950's era house that was remodeled in the 70's and 80's by previous owners. Many of the interior walls are showing cracking and peeling (see attached) almost as if the paper on the sheetrock is coming loose. Its very brittle. Also have some walls with bubbling areas. Would appreciate your thoughts on this.

On 2020-11-30 by (mod) - Croce Drywall Patent assigned to CertainTeed - Asbestos

Robert

That's a 1954 patent that was assigned to CertainTeed Corporation - which may be a clue to the age of your drywall and to the chances that it contains asbestos.

Produced in the U.S. before the late 1980s drywall may indeed contain asbestos. So meanwhile treat it as presumed to contain asbestos, don't stir up nor make more dust, and

and tell me the country and city and age of the home where you found this drywall,
and
please let me know what the lab test finds. Tat will help other readers.

For details you might enjoy seeing this patent detail

Michele, Croce, and Clarence G. Shuttleworth. "Plaster compositions and products." U.S. Patent 2,681,863, issued June 22, 1954.

found here as PLASTER COMPOSITIONS & PRODUCTS - CROCE [PDF] inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Croce-Patent-US2681863.pdf

Excerpts:

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.

On 2020-11-30 by Robert E

Hello - I started some reno work on a recently purchased home and I didn't think about the fact that drywall can indeed contain asbestos. I cleared an area of 6 feet wide and 10 ft tall before I realized that I should check this out.

I submitted an asbestos sample but wont hear back for another week and just a little worried. The entire drywall was stamped with

"Patent No 2,681,863 Manufactured under the above patent and pending patent applications" and at the bottom of the dry wall, the end tape that said fireproof.

On 2020-03-27 - by (mod) -

Not if its new

On 2020-03-26 by Patricia

We are putting Sheetrock on our walls. The brand is Certainteed and I was wondering if it contains asbestos.

Question: asbestos on this Certain-Teed Products Corp. Beaver™ "Fire Proof" Gypsum Lath?

(Jan 2, 2021) zheadman said:
Anyone know about the manufacture of this gypsum lath? (Whether it contains asbestos or not?) unfortunately I didn’t think about asbestos before cutting a hole in the wall (new to old houses).

Below are photos of Certain-teed Products Corporation's Beaver Gypsum Lath, "Fire-Proof", including a nice edge view of "rock lath" or gypsum board used as a plaster base, courtesy of InspectApedia.com reader Z Headman & Zach, posted originally at DRYWALL TYPE IDENTIFICATION STAMPS,

...

Moderator reply:

ZHead

Thank you for the photos and question about "rock lath" or "gypsum lath" - I'm researching further but that's a CertainTeed brand gypsum lath board.

See CERTAINTEED GYPSUM BOARD

And then see BESTWALL DRYWALL ASBESTOS

See if you can find the imprint elsewhere to show that entire BEA??ER as I suspect it's going to read "BEAVER"

Safest is simply to damp wipe and HEPA vac up any remaining dust.

 

...

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

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ASBESTOS CEMENT CEILING & WALL PANELS
• ASBESTOS in DRYWALL
• ASBESTOS in DRYWALL MUD - TEST LOCATIONS
• ASBESTOS-DRYWALL REMEDIATION / REMOVAL
• ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
• ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS
• ASBESTOS in PLASTER - what about the use of asbestos in plaster walls & ceilings?
• ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS - complete list includes all asbestos-containing drywall producing companies

Suggested citation for this web page

CERTAINTEED 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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