DAP Inc.

Highest-Risk Occupations

Anyone who manufactured or worked with DAP’s asbestos-containing products may be at risk for severe asbestos-related illnesses like lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos products shed particles when they are handled, sanded, cut, or scraped, putting anyone nearby at risk. People in the construction industry may still face risks from asbestos-containing products in older structures. 

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

Because DAP did not warn users about the potential risks associated with its products, users could not take steps to protect themselves. Many workers who regularly used DAP products did so without protective equipment, increasing risks. 

Construction Workers

When DAP products, like caulk, sealant, and window glazing, are applied or disturbed during building, renovation, and window‑replacement work, anyone nearby is at risk of inhaling asbestos particles.

People in this industry face ongoing risks from asbestos-containing DAP products that are still present in older structures. 

Plumbers

DAP made several asbestos-containing products used around pipes, drains, and other plumbing fixtures. When plumbers need to remove old, dried sealants, cutting and scraping can release asbestos dust and particles.

Many plumbers work in confined spaces, which can magnify the risks of asbestos exposure. 

Factory Workers 

Factory workers at DAP manufacturing sites were present when asbestos was mixed into products. The routine tasks of handling, mixing, and packing asbestos products in the workplace put everyone in the facility at risk, not just those who handled the asbestos.

Asbestos particles can remain airborne for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. 

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

The loved ones of asbestos workers also face risks of illness due to secondary asbestos exposure. People were exposed through contact with contaminated work clothes, in vehicles, and in many other ways.

These people may be eligible for compensation through a personal injury claim, while those who have lost a loved one may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

DAP Inc. Asbestos Products

Asbestos was a popular industrial additive during the 20th century due to its durability, nonconductive properties, and resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. It was also cheap and naturally abundant, which was enough to convince many manufacturers of its value despite its known risks to human health and the environment.

DAP was no exception, using asbestos in its products for decades before finally ceasing use in 1978, as increasing federal regulations and rising litigation made it a less attractive option. However, by the time the company discontinued use, tens of thousands of workers and customers had already been exposed to asbestos.

Worse, a 2009 report by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) on its third-party testing of consumer products found asbestos in multiple DAP products. The testing revealed that the company’s DAP 33 Window Glazing and DAP Crack Shot Spackling Paste both contained a combination of tremolite, anthophyllite, and chrysotile asbestos. 

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• DAP 33 Window Glazing
• DAP Bowl Setting Compound
• DAP Butyl Gutter and Lap Sealer
• DAP Crack Shot Spackling Paste
• DAP Rely-On Roof Cement
• DAP White Caulking Compound

Securing Compensation From DAP Inc.

DAP did not warn workers or consumers about the potential dangers of its products, causing thousands of people to develop severe asbestos-related diseases decades later.

If you or a loved one worked with DAP’s products or at its manufacturing facilities and has since developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to lawsuit compensation.

Due to the prevalence of asbestos-containing construction products, many claimants with occupational exposure are eligible for compensation from more than one asbestos manufacturer.

Some may also qualify for other forms of support, such as VA benefits or workers’ compensation. We can help you determine your eligibility for free.

Workers in the construction industry often have occupational exposure to multiple asbestos-containing products. Some claimants are eligible to file claims against 20 or more negligent manufacturers. An asbestos lawyer can help you identify and pursue all potential sources of compensation, maximizing your payout.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Although DAP’s parent company, RPM International, has other subsidiaries that have filed for bankruptcy and established trust funds, DAP has done neither. Instead, the company handles claims against it through the civil court system.

Victims of DAP’s asbestos exposure file two primary types of lawsuits when seeking compensation:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Very few asbestos claims reach trial. For the most part, asbestos manufacturers like DAP Inc. try to handle strong claims through out-of-court settlements. Settlements help companies avoid the bad press of a trial and offer victims a relatively quick and secure route to compensation, without the stress. 

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from DAP Inc. through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just 2 to 3 years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against DAP Inc.

DAP’s parent company has multiple subsidiaries with asbestos liabilities. According to its 2025 annual report and SEC filings, its current estimated asbestos liabilities exceed $447.5 million, much of which will be used to fund an asbestos trust for several non-DAP subsidiaries.   

Since asbestos litigation against the company began, claimants have named DAP in over 11,000 claims. Civil lawsuits, such as asbestos personal injury and wrongful death claims, place the burden of proof on the plaintiff, who must prove the link between their diagnosis and exposure history.

Victims don’t have to go through this process alone. Having experienced professional help can make all the difference when seeking maximum compensation.

If you or a loved one developed an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos exposure from DAP’s products, we can help you get a free case assessment to learn more about your options.

DAP Inc.’s Involvement With Asbestos

DAP was founded in 1865 and, after a 1906 reshuffle, became known as the Dicks-Pontius Company. It initially manufactured sealing wax, but soon expanded its product range to include putty, caulk, window glaze, roofing cement, silicone sealant, and more. 

The current name stems from a 1957 merger with the Armstrong Company, which changed the company’s name to Dicks-Armstrong-Pontius (DAP). During these years of growth and expansion, the company began using asbestos in many of its popular products to increase durability and heat resistance. 

Despite growing medical evidence surrounding the dangers of asbestos, DAP continued actively using it until 1978, risking the lives of thousands of workers and consumers, particularly those in the construction industry. The company has been called out for asbestos contamination as recently as 2009, when the ADAO found asbestos in two widely sold DAP products.

DAP’s current parent company, RPM International, has spent more than $200 million handling over 11,000 asbestos claims. DAP remains a popular brand sold in retailers today.  

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

Despite medical evidence, DAP continues to argue in courtrooms that its asbestos-containing products were safe. However, thousands of former users have developed severe asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer, leaving them and their families struggling with the physical, emotional, and financial toll of these diseases.

Filing an asbestos lawsuit against DAP can help victims and their loved ones pay for medical costs, recover lost income, and obtain compensation for their pain and suffering. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney helps ensure that claimants get the maximum compensation they are due, with minimal stress.

The team at our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, has decades of combined experience helping clients get the money they deserve through aggressive representation and individualized litigation strategies, all at no up-front cost. They’ve helped clients recover over $500 million in settlements and verdicts from negligent companies like DAP.

If you’re ready to start the filing process, we can help. Contact us today to determine your eligibility for compensation and learn more about your case for free.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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