🧱 Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. – Asbestos Exposure from Flooring Installation and Renovation

Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. was a regional contractor and distributor that handled and installed asbestos-containing floor tiles, linoleum, and adhesives in homes, schools, and commercial buildings—especially during the mid-20th century. The nature of flooring work, especially cutting, sanding, and tearing out old tiles, released dangerous asbestos fibers into the air, exposing installers, contractors, and renovation crews.

🏢 Company Overview

• Founded: Mid-1900s

• Headquarters: Bergen County, New Jersey

• Industry: Flooring and home remodeling

• Services: Installation of tile, linoleum, adhesives

• Trust Fund: ❌ No trust fund established

• Status: Defunct or absorbed by larger companies

Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. worked primarily on residential and commercial flooring jobs during the period when asbestos-containing vinyl tiles and mastics were industry standard.

⚠️ How Asbestos Was Used

During the 1940s–1980s, Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. regularly installed and handled products that included:

• Vinyl asbestos floor tiles (typically 9” x 9” or 12” x 12”)

• Asphalt-based adhesives (cutback adhesive/mastic)

• Linoleum sheet flooring with asbestos backing

• Tile underlayment with asbestos content

When these materials were cut, scored, removed, or ground down, asbestos fibers were released into the air—often in confined indoor spaces with minimal ventilation.

👷 Who Was Exposed?

The company’s operations put various groups at high risk of asbestos exposure:

• 👷 Flooring installers and tile contractors

• 🔧 Remodelers and renovation workers

• 🧹 Cleanup and demolition crews

• 🧰 Handymen and construction laborers

• 🏠 Homeowners during DIY projects

• 🏫 School district maintenance workers

Even decades later, removing or disturbing old tile flooring installed by Bergen crews can release legacy asbestos fibers.

⚖️ Lawsuits and Legal History

Though not a major manufacturer, Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. has been named in asbestos lawsuits filed by:

• Flooring installers with mesothelioma or asbestosis

• Contractors who worked on Bergen-installed materials

• Clients who experienced secondhand exposure during renovations

Most lawsuits target the manufacturers of the tiles and adhesives (like Armstrong, Congoleum, and Kentile), but installers and distributors like Bergen Tile have also been held liable for failure to warn or safely handle materials.

📜 Notable Legal Issues

• ⚖️ Flooring workers with exposure dating back to the 1960s–1970s have successfully filed claims

• 🧾 Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. may be named as a third-party exposure source in lawsuits involving school renovations, old commercial buildings, or home remodels

📅 Timeline of Asbestos Use

📊 Exposure Estimates

👷 Workers Exposed During Bergen Operations

➡️ Total Worker Exposure Estimate: ~4,000+

🌍 Broader Exposure via Installed Products

➡️ Total Non-Employee Exposure Estimate: ~6,500+

🏛️ Military and Government Use

Though Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. did not directly contract with the military, their installations may have reached:

• 🪖 VA hospitals and military housing

• 🏢 Government buildings during public works projects

• 🧱 Schools and municipal buildings constructed or renovated post-WWII

As a result, veterans, government employees, and military families may have experienced indirect exposure through these installations.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

⚖️ Can I still sue if I was exposed through flooring installed by Bergen?

✅ Yes. If you developed an asbestos-related illness and can show you worked with or around flooring installed by Bergen crews or similar contractors, you may be eligible for compensation.

🧾 Do I need proof of exposure?

• Work orders, building permits, or testimony

• Evidence of old asbestos flooring or adhesive

• Medical documentation of diagnosis

📅 What if I was exposed in the 1960s or 70s?

Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20–50 years, so claims are still being filed today from exposure that happened decades ago.

📉 Current Status

• 🛑 No longer active

• ❌ No asbestos trust fund

• ⚖️ Still named in some lawsuits

• 🧾 Legacy exposure remains from past installations

📌 Summary Snapshot – Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co.