Overview
Roofers faced significant asbestos exposure from the many roofing products that contained asbestos for fire resistance and durability. Asbestos shingles, felt paper, coatings, and adhesives were standard materials in roofing work from the 1920s through the 1980s.
Asbestos in Roofing Products
| Product | Asbestos Content | Exposure Level |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos shingles | 20-40% | High |
| Roofing felt/tar paper | 10-15% | High |
| Roof coatings | 5-20% | Moderate |
| Roof cement/adhesive | 10-25% | Moderate |
| Flashing cement | 10-25% | Moderate |
| Built-up roofing | Variable | Moderate |
How Roofers Were Exposed
New Installation
Installing new asbestos roofing products created exposure:
- Cutting shingles to fit around vents and edges
- Nailing through asbestos-cement materials
- Applying asbestos coatings and adhesives
- Laying asbestos-containing felt underlayment
Tear-Off Work
Removing old roofing created the highest exposure:
- Breaking apart deteriorated asbestos shingles
- Scraping old coatings and adhesives
- Handling crumbling asbestos felt
- Creating dust during demolition
Removing old asbestos roofing is one of the most hazardous tasks in the trade. Weathered, brittle asbestos shingles easily crumble, releasing concentrated fibers.
Types of Roofing Work
Roofers worked on single-family homes with asbestos shingles, built-up commercial roofing systems, industrial factory and warehouse roofs, and institutional schools, hospitals, and government buildings across states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The heaviest exposures ran from 1940 to 1980 on commercial and industrial built-up roofs, where multiple layers of felt and GAF asphalt coatings were mopped hot over asbestos-impregnated base sheets.
Related Occupations
Roofers worked alongside:
- Carpenters, Structural work
- Sheet metal workers, Flashing installation
- Laborers, Cleanup and material handling
- Demolition workers, Building teardown
Related Industry
Current Risk
Roofers today still face asbestos exposure when replacing roofs on older buildings. Any building with roofing installed before 1980 may have asbestos-containing materials.
Health Consequences
Roofers with asbestos exposure face elevated risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest or abdominal lining; asbestosis, a progressive scarring of the lungs; lung cancer from inhaled fibers; and pleural disease that thickens the lining around the lungs.
Legal Options
Roofers diagnosed with mesothelioma typically pursue several tracks in parallel. Manufacturers of roofing products containing asbestos, including the GAF Corporation Trust and other shingle and coating manufacturers, established asbestos trust funds through bankruptcy reorganization. Trust claims often run alongside product-liability suits against solvent manufacturers, premises-liability claims against building owners, VA benefits for military service exposure, and workers’ compensation through a former employer. A trial lawyer can help identify compensation sources based on specific work history and product exposure.