Bird, Inc., is a historic American building materials manufacturer. With roots dating back to 1795, the company produced numerous asbestos-containing roofing and construction products that affected both the company’s workforce and countless roofing and construction professionals and consumers who used the company’s products. Many of these victims have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Bird, Inc. Company History
Bird, Inc.’s history can be traced back to the late 18th century when General George Bird moved from Maine to Massachusetts and established a paper mill along the Charles River near Boston. Though the operation produced just four to five reams of handmade printing paper a day, it was widely recognized for its quality.[1]
In 1803, George Bird relocated the business to Dedham, Massachusetts. By 1810, the company had secured a contract to manufacture the paper used for United States currency. When the Dedham facility was destroyed during the War of 1812, George rebuilt operations in what would become the company’s longtime operational headquarters in East Walpole.
George’s son, Francis Bird, joined the business in 1833 after completing his education at Brown University. Known for his progressive views and anti-slavery activism, Francis formed a partnership with his father in 1838, renaming the company George Bird & Son. That same year, they purchased the Neponset Paper Company, which expanded their manufacturing capacity. When George died in 1854, Francis took over both paper mills. His son, Charles Sumner Bird, joined after graduating from Harvard in 1877, and father and son established a partnership in 1882, renaming the company F.W. Bird & Son. Charles led the company for the next fifty years, dividing his time between working in the mill and running business operations. He spent his evenings creating new products in his kitchen.
In the 1880s, fire destroyed the company’s primary mill, and that disaster was followed by Massachusetts’ worst flood in state history. With the equipment that had established Bird’s reputation destroyed, Charles was forced to come up with a way for his company to survive. In what is now viewed as one of America’s earliest recycling projects, he gathered wood resins and discarded ropes from ships visiting Boston Harbor to create three revolutionary products: Neponset Black Waterproofing Paper, Neponset Red Rope Roofing Paper, and Neponset Paroid Roofing Paper. The last of these was the first felt-based asphalt roofing product sold in the United States and remained an industry standard for over six decades.[1]
The company grew throughout the 20th century, building new facilities across North America and adding to its product offerings. In 1918, the company was formally incorporated as Bird & Son, Inc. The company survived the Great Depression by diversifying its product line and creating new items for the market, including the introduction of ArtBri Siding. During World War II, the company modified its equipment so it could produce shell casings and weatherproof shipping containers for military supplies. After the war, the housing boom boosted Bird’s success.[1]
In 1964, the company introduced vinyl siding at the New York World’s Fair. This product was extremely popular, leading Bird & Co. to build a specialized plant in Bardstown, Kentucky, dedicated exclusively to manufacturing solid vinyl building products.
By 1974, the oil embargo brought the company’s thirty years of success to a halt. With asphalt prices getting higher and the housing market collapsing, Bird & Son found itself in its most severe economic position since its founding. For the first time in its 186-year history, in 1980, the company experienced its first year without making a profit. At the same time, it found itself named as a defendant in 550 asbestos-related liability cases.[1]
At that point, Bird & Co. began experimenting with a new focus. The company changed its name to Bird, Inc. in 1983, dropping “& Son” in hopes that it would create a more contemporary image. In 1985, it sold most of its roofing operations to Genstar Roofing Products Company, and in 1998, the company was ultimately acquired by CertainTeed for $40 million, ending its long history as an independent American manufacturer.[2]
How Did Bird, Inc. Use Asbestos?
Bird, Inc. included asbestos in the fabrication of their asphalt roofing materials to enhance their strength, durability, and resistance to heat and fire. Their popular roofing felt, which was applied to roofs to protect against water infiltration and weather damage, was a thick, paperboard-like material covered with asphalt and infused with asbestos, then covered with a mineral grit coating. The roofing felt was available in several weights for various construction applications.[1]
Bird, Inc.’s most popular product was the company’s 15-pound roofing felt, which represented the minimum weight permitted under most building codes of the era.[3] Company documents showed it contained significant amounts of asbestos. The company continued using asbestos in its manufacturing processes until the 1970s, well after concerns about the mineral’s health effects began to be communicated to the industry.
The company’s manufacturing process created serious hazards: Factory workers were exposed to raw asbestos fibers from the time it was delivered to the loading zone through the final production and packaging process, while contractors, homeowners, and maintenance personnel faced exposure when installing or repairing these materials, or removing them years or decades later. As Bird’s asbestos-containing products aged or were disturbed during renovation or demolition, they released microscopic fibers that could be inhaled or ingested, potentially leading to serious respiratory diseases.
Even the company’s office workers faced exposure risks from asbestos used throughout manufacturing facilities. Factory buildings often contained asbestos insulation in walls, ceilings, and equipment, creating an environment where fibers became airborne during routine operations or maintenance.
Bird, Inc. Products that Contained Asbestos
Many of the products manufactured by Bird, Inc. contained asbestos, including:[3]
- Bird 15 lb. Base Sheet
- Bird 45 lb. Base Sheet
- Asbestos Felts
- Buca™ Roof Coating
- Climitite™ Roof Coating
- Pacific™ Asbestos Roofing Cap Sheets
- Neponset Paroid Roofing Paper
This list represents the most popular of Bird, Inc.’s asbestos-containing products, but it does not reflect all of them. Asbestos attorneys specializing in mesothelioma cases have access to case histories and other resources that identify additional products made by Bird, Inc.
Who Was at Risk of Exposure to Bird, Inc.’s Asbestos-Containing Products?
Bird, Inc.’s asbestos-containing products were used by both individual consumers doing home repair work and commercial contractors, creating exposure risks for a wide range of people. Anyone involved in the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, or removal of Bird’s roofing materials, whether through occupational exposure or personal use, faced dangerous asbestos exposure.
Those at risk of exposure to asbestos in Bird, Inc. products included:
- Roofers
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Demolition workers
- Factory workers
- Maintenance workers
- Homeowners who installed or repaired their own roofing
Additionally, Bird Corporation employees faced daily exposure to the carcinogen, and so too did the family members of any of those individuals, who were at risk of secondary exposure from asbestos fibers carried into their homes on their loved ones’ hair, skin, or clothing. There have been many cases of spouses developing mesothelioma from laundering asbestos-contaminated work clothes and of children exposed when hugging a parent who came home from work. Asbestos fibers also became embedded in the family’s car, home carpeting, furniture, or other surfaces, creating ongoing exposure risks for entire households.
Also of concern are the risks of asbestos exposure that still exist in older buildings, particularly those constructed or renovated between the 1920s and 1980s when Bird, Inc.’s asbestos-containing roofing materials were widely used. If you suspect you’re working with materials containing legacy asbestos, contact a certified asbestos professional to have the materials you’re working with assessed.
Lawsuits Involving Bird, Inc.
Bird, Inc. began facing asbestos-related liability cases in the 1980s, shortly after word that asbestos was a carcinogenic material became public. The company was named in 550 asbestos claims at that time, and hundreds more since. Though every case is different, most of the lawsuits accuse the company of negligence in failing to provide warnings about their products’ dangers or the need for users to take protective measures.
One notable case was filed by the estate of a former chemical operator in New Jersey who died of mesothelioma. The lawsuit claimed that his illness and death resulted directly from exposure to asbestos fibers at work, including products manufactured by Bird, Inc.[4]
CertainTeed, the company that acquired Bird Corporation in 1998, has also been named in numerous asbestos cases and has paid millions to victims of asbestos-related diseases. Both companies were significant manufacturers of asbestos products, with Bird, Inc. incorporating asbestos into their products until the 1970s. CertainTeed reportedly continued using asbestos until approximately the 1990s, about two decades longer than Bird.
Successful lawsuits filed against these companies have resulted in substantial compensation to victims through both settlements and verdicts. The legal proceedings have involved various claimants, from former employees to construction workers to homeowners, all of whom were exposed to Bird, Inc.’s asbestos-containing building materials.
Were You Exposed to Bird, Inc. Asbestos?
If you worked at Bird, Inc., installed or removed the company’s roofing materials, or lived with someone who did, you may be at risk for an asbestos-related disease. Though you may feel fine today, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the symptoms of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses and inform your medical professional of your history of exposure so that they can take appropriate steps to monitor your health. Early diagnosis significantly expands the treatments that are available to you and often leads to better outcomes.
Help for Those Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, or any other asbestos-related disease is life-changing and frightening, but there are options for both treatment and compensation. Many of the country’s most highly respected hospitals offer state-of-the-art treatment for mesothelioma and lung cancer, including immunotherapy, gene therapy, and multi-modality therapies.
For many mesothelioma victims, after consulting with medical specialists and putting a treatment plan in place, meeting with an asbestos attorney is the step that offers the most relief. Treatment for asbestos-related diseases is expensive, and victims have the additional burden of losing their ability to work and worrying about their family members’ financial security. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will listen to you carefully and advise you on whether you’re eligible to pursue legal action against the companies responsible for your illness.
Compensation from these companies can come in many ways. One option is to file a personal injury lawsuit against CertainTeed as the successor company to Bird, Inc. Another is to file claims against the asbestos trust funds established by suppliers whose products you may have been exposed to. Litigation is generally an adversarial process that can resolve in a settlement or take years to reach a jury, but often results in substantial damages being paid. By contrast, asbestos trust funds pay less money but do so very quickly.
For many victims of asbestos exposure, one of the greatest incentives for pursuing legal action is the idea of getting justice against the companies whose negligence led to their illness. Whatever your goal, it’s important to contact legal counsel as soon as possible, as there are limits on the amount of time you have to file a claim. Your asbestos attorney will do everything they can to make sure you meet all required deadlines and maximize your outcome.
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