DAP, Inc.’s roots trace back to the mid-1800s, and though it started as a sealing wax company, by the early 1900s it began manufacturing the putty and caulk that it is now known for. For over 100 years, DAP has been a leading manufacturer and supplier of caulks, sealants, foam, adhesives, and patch and repair products. Its products are used by professional contractors and remodelers as well as homeowners.
As was true of many items manufactured during the 20th century, DAP’s caulks, sealants, and other products contained asbestos. Though it provided the company’s products with added fire resistance, durability, and strength, the use of the mineral also posed a risk of inhaling its microscopic fibers, leading to the development of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other serious illnesses. Hundreds of individuals who used DAP’s products have suffered this fate, leading to the company being included as a defendant in many personal injury claims.
DAP, Inc. History and Asbestos
DAP was founded in 1865 by Robert H. Dicks and Elmer Wiggim. Responding to the popularity of canning foods, the two made and sold a sealing wax product out of Robert Dick’s Dayton, Ohio garage. The product was extremely popular. Four decades later, in 1906, Dicks purchased Wiggim’s share of the business and then partnered with George Pontius. They incorporated and renamed the company Dicks-Pontius Company in 1913.[1]
When Robert Dicks died, his son John assumed his role within the company. Dicks-Pontius added putty and caulk in bulk form to its product line and in the 1940s and 1950s shifted its marketing approach, selling the products in disposable cartridges. This introduced a new level of convenience for home repair projects, making it much easier for consumers to purchase and use. The success of the product line was a catalyst for several sales and acquisitions and led to a merger with the Armstrong Company in 1957. The company was renamed Dicks-Armstrong-Pontius, which was soon shortened to the brand name DAP.[1]
Over the next several decades, DAP added hundreds of new products that met the needs of construction workers, roofers, painters, carpenters, and others to its product line. By 1987, the company had been purchased by USG Industries (previously known as United States Gypsum Corporation) and in 1987 became part of RPM International.[1]
How Did DAP Use Asbestos in its Products?
Before it was identified as a carcinogen, asbestos was included in many products. Recognized for its strength, resistance to heat and flame, and durability, the mineral was accessible, inexpensive, and extremely effective at improving the performance of items ranging from insulation to concrete. As DAP, Inc. developed new caulk and sealant products, it included asbestos in their composition because the mineral’s fibers added strength and durability as well as heat resistance and fireproofing. The use of asbestos in the company’s products continued until 1979.
Some of the most popular DAP products that contained asbestos include:
- DAP 33 Glazing Compound
- DAP Black-Tote Roof Sealant
- DAP Bowl Setting Compound
- DAP Butyl Gutter and Lap Sealer
- DAP Rely-On Roof Cement
- DAP Tharco Asbestos Boiler Putty
- DAP Weldwood Adhesive
- DAP White Caulking Compound
- DAP Crack Shot Spackling Paste
Though asbestos exposure always presents a health hazard, the greatest risk comes from asbestos-containing caulk that has aged. Aging and exposure to the sun can cause caulk to dry out and become brittle. For all its strength, asbestos can be damaged by age; actions associated with construction, demolition, and renovation; or natural disasters and fires. Any of these circumstances can cause asbestos fibers to break down and become dislodged. Asbestos in this condition is referred to as being friable. It is extremely dangerous, as friable asbestos can easily become airborne and ingested or inhaled.[2]
DAP, Inc. reportedly stopped using asbestos in its products when the mineral’s dangers were identified, but a study commissioned in 2007 by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and conducted by Scientific Analytical Institute, Inc. reported that two DAP products — DAPA Crack Shot Spackling Paste and DAP 33 Window Glazing — contained asbestos. The study analyzed samples following the same analytical procedures used by the EPA for determining whether asbestos existed in bulk building materials. Two independent laboratories confirmed the findings.[3]
Who Is at Risk of Exposure to Asbestos from DAP, Inc. Products
Though many products that have been linked to asbestos exposure have been exclusively used in occupational settings, DAP, Inc.’s sealants, adhesives, caulks, and window glazing were purchased and used by professionals and consumers alike. Homeowners and do-it-yourselfers as well as professionals including contractors, plumbers, roofers, construction workers, and pipefitters have all relied on the company’s products for building, repair, and renovation. They were put at risk for decades while using the products, and continue to be put at risk during the demolition or renovation of sites where DAP, Inc. products were used in the past.
The risk posed by asbestos fibers released from DAP’s products also extends to those who worked at DAP, Inc. in the production of its asbestos-containing materials and to the family members of those who worked with the product directly. Those spouses and children suffered what is known as secondary asbestos exposure. Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when the carcinogen is carried on another person’s clothing, hair, and skin. Other victims have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases decades after having been exposed while living in homes undergoing renovation projects.
Asbestos Lawsuits Filed Against DAP, Inc.
In the years since asbestos was identified as a carcinogen, it has been determined that many of the companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos-containing materials were aware of the risks it posed. Faced with a decision about whether to warn the public of the dangers or discontinue its use, these companies chose profits over people. This led to many preventable sicknesses and deaths. DAP, Inc. has been named in hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits by victims seeking compensation and justice for the damages they’ve suffered.
Notable asbestos lawsuits against DAP, Inc. include:
- In 2023, a Connecticut jury ordered DAP, Inc. and Vanderbilt Minerals to pay $20 million to the widow and family of John Peckham. Peckham had worked at the Stillwater Worsted Mill, where he’d scraped and removed dried DAP 33 window glazing from hundreds of window frames that he had replaced. The window glazing had contained chrysotile asbestos and asbestos-contaminated talc.[]
- The families of three different men who had all been in the building trades in New York and who had all died of malignant mesothelioma after using DAP, Inc.’s caulk products each filed wrongful death lawsuits against the company. They accused it of having been negligent in exposing their loved ones to asbestos without warning. The families of Anthony Torio, Mario Bellicose, and Thomas Learmond are all pursuing justice from the company,
What to Do if You Were Exposed to Asbestos in DAP, Inc. Products?
Pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit can provide compensation for the losses that you’ve suffered, as well as the knowledge that justice has been done. Legal action represents a challenging journey that is best pursued with the help of an experienced, knowledgeable guide. An attorney who specializes in representing victims of asbestos exposure can inform you about the resources, information, and options you need to determine your best course of action.
In many cases, people who have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases have been exposed to more than one asbestos-containing product. By carefully exploring your occupational history and other biographical data, an asbestos lawyer can pinpoint the products to which you’ve been exposed so that you can seek justice from every entity that played a role in the harm that you’ve suffered.
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