Renovations Involving Asbestos-Containing Paint, Paint, Plaster and Other Wall Materials Can Pose Serious Health Risks Many Years Later

Thousands of older homes, office buildings, churches and schools were constructed or renovated using asbestos-containing paints, plasters and other wall, ceiling and floor coverings. Improper removal or repairs involving asbestos materials can cause dangerous asbestos dusts to contaminate the air and pose serious health risks.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious asbestos disease such as mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis, please complete the form on this page for more information from our lawyers about your legal options.

While many people are aware of the dangers of asbestos in commercial industry or when working with asbestos-containing products, significant risk for exposure to the dangerous cancer-causing mineral still faces those who are renovating older homes, apartments and condominiums. Until the late 1970s, asbestos materials were commonly used in the construction of these buildings, including the products used on interior and exterior walls, floors, ceilings and roofs.

If asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are not removed properly, asbestos dusts can contaminate the air, placing all who live or work in the area where the work is being performed at a lifelong risk to develop an asbestos-related disease many decades after even limited exposure to the carcinogen.

Asbestos Wall Coverings
Asbestos was added to texture paints, cements mixed with the plaster applied to walls, vinyl wallpapers and borders, and in various exterior brick, stucco, plaster and siding materials. Asbestos-containing adhesives and grout were also often used to apply wall tiles and backsplashes in bathrooms and kitchens.

While these materials are typically safe unless they are disturbed, homeowners planning to perform renovations should have their property tested before stripping vinyl wallpaper, sanding walls or attempting to sandblast or paint bricks or siding materials.

Asbestos-Containing Ceiling and Roofing Materials
One of the most common flaws homeowners discover in older homes are ceilings with acoustic “popcorn” ceilings. The acoustic tiles were manufactured using asbestos. Before an acoustic ceiling can be removed, the materials must be tested for the presence of asbestos, and removed and disposed of by a licensed and certified asbestos contractor.

Many older homes also have roofs built with asbestos-containing shingles. Underlay and undersheet materials, as well as adhesive materials used to construct or repair roofs, can also contain asbestos. For this reason, licensed asbestos contractors should be consulted before any roofing repairs are performed.

Asbestos Materials Used in Flooring
Even in homes constructed with hardwood floors, asbestos materials can be found in aging flooring materials. Linoleum flooring typically contained asbestos, and asbestos was often added to the “peel and stick” vinyl floor materials sold until the late 1970s.

In addition, asbestos-containing adhesives were used to apply floor tiles in bathrooms, utility rooms, laundry rooms or entry hallways.

Asbestos sheeting was also typically used in homes constructed with crawl spaces instead of sublevel basements, and in subflooring materials in buildings that were intended to be covered by carpeting or tile flooring.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.