However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. Perhaps this us not the case. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. very good and helpful post thanks to author. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Methylene chloride exposure may cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, a feeling of intoxication, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. Ive spoken with many other tub resurfacing company owners and employees, and most of them do not use or even own full-face air-supplied respirators. The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. We have for years been trying to come up with a Stripper that will remove Epoxy DIY kits that do not have the Methylene Chloride but time is an issue. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! The fumes are stronger fumes so we do not allow anyone to be in the apartment for 8 hours. Bathtub. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. Simply not worth the risk. I and my two other friends went to the hospital last night to say our goodbyes. If you feel you are in danger, you should contact your local emergency services for assistance. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. Very interesting. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. i come back again this blog, any way i think Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Unless you have access to all the necessary protective clothing and equipment and are confident in your bathrooms ventilation system as well as your DIY capabilities, you should hire a professional to handle it. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. You get enough toxic chemicals in your daily life without adding additional products that harm you by breathing its toxic fumes or being absorbed into your skin. It took me a little bit to get used to, and while it doesn't look super cool, it's clean and an upgrade from the '90s pink tile for sure.. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. I think this type of finish should be banned. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. This post was helpful to me too. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. You should always wear protective clothing and use the appropriate safety-rated equipment whenever you are doing any household repair or remodeling work, and reglazing a bathtub is no exception. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. All the tips in the post are great. I regret it so much! Pros will have the correct gear, knowledge of how to ventilate the space and protect themselves, and familiarity with the various chemicals used so you dont need to worry about keeping yourself safe. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. The health issues that you can face immediately and also in the future are not worth the risk. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Unfortunately, manufacturers tend to play-down the immediate and especially long-term exposure risks from degassing (fumes) that occur perhaps over the next month or more. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. Ya, very helpful articles are posted. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. You must ventilate your workspace to minimize tub reglazing fumes. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. Extraction during the process is everything. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. Open the bathroom door and as many . The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Animal studies have shown that exposure to methylene chloride may lead to liver and lung cancer, as well as tumors in the breast and salivary glands. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. Thanks for your comment. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. Thanks for this information. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY SO NO DANGEROUS FUMES? My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. if we do we get evicted. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Ventilate Your Work Area. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to levels above OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs) of 25 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 125 ppm over any 15-minute period (short-term exposure limit or STEL) (29 CFR 1910.1052(c)). It hurt to know that such a good person you loved and cared about so much is now gone. Instead, many homeowners have the existing tub reglazed or refinished, which typically costs $300-$600, depending on the area and process. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. The home I purchased a few years ago came with cast iron bathtub and ceramic tile walls that had been covered with a 2-step epoxy finish. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. White is popular, but we can do pretty much any color you have in mind. I asked the doctors if they collect lifestyle information and report it to the government so correlations can be made about cause and effect they said no. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. I attempt to lead a very clean life and avoid many commercial products (body care products, cleaning products, sprays etc). I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. Whether your tub is refinished or reglazed depends on whether or not the old coating was removed before putting a new layer of epoxy or another coating. Thank you for the great information. It is now peeling off. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. There is an incredible amount of data Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. CDC twenty four seven. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. However, you need to keep these essential health and safety considerations in mind whether you hire a contractor to refinish your tub or do it yourself. Our blog focused on the exposures from methylene chloride to workers during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. Prolonged skin contact may cause irritation and even chemical burns. Thanks! I stripped the lead paint off the outside of an old cast iron tub using a low-VOC paint stripper suitable for lead paint, and then primed and painted the exterior. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. Their cost is at least twice as expensive as Miracle Method refinishing and can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from ordering to installation. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. Acid is then applied to deglaze the tub and/or tile, followed by a bonding agent or primer, and finally, a urethane topcoat is applied. Pacific Reglazing provides high quality, affordable kitchen and bathroom repair and refinishing services throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, the San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange County and Riverside County. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, which is cost effective for some, but certainly a chemical risk for the workers and I would think the homeowners need to be made aware of this type of chemical being used in their home. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. While NIOSH research and prevention efforts typically focus on workers, worker representatives and employers, the readers of this blog may be able to help us reach the do-it-yourself community who can face the same risks. Thanks! However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. I would really like some reassurance. OSHAs Methylene Chloride standard (29 CFR 1910.1052) requires employers to test the air to determine the concentration of methylene chloride present in the air when a product containing methylene chloride is used (29 CFR 1910.1052(d)). Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? Or should I leave? Moreover, because methylene chloride evaporates quickly (it has a high vapor pressure), vapors can collect in the bottom of a bathtub and in the workers breathing zone when working in the bathtub. MC is not flammable on its own. If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. Myown life was almost cut short stripping a bathtub and I was using the best Equipment money can buy but machinery or equipment can fail. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? Ill mention it to my readers on my real estate site. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These are classified as potential human carcinogens according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and protective gear should be worn when working with them. Thanks for your comment. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. I have tried a couple of my wifes lotions to easy the burning, which has only made it worse.. any suggestion on what to take the stinging away.. We sure take a lot things for granted. I have read many articles but this is different one. Read more about our comment policy . Never stay where resurfacing is being done. She enjoyed improving discarded furniture, then selling it it was like art to her. Wow! If proper ventilation is not possible, there needs to be a supervisor on watch in the room, or at least directly outside the door, ready to open immediately if the worker inside does not verbally respond to continuous 30 second verbal safety checks. If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. If they continue, you should consult your doctor. I think people always take safety for too lightly. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. (Airoldi'scontractor brought a fan and blew air out the bathroom window, and she was home during the job, but didn't find the smell intolerable.). So we need extra care. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. Methyl chloride has high vapor pressure, meaning that it evaporates extremely quickly and turns into gas that can easily be inhaled, especially in a small bathroom that may not be adequately ventilated. Its staff and technicians from any and . I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, which is cost effective for some, but certainly a chemical risk for the workers and I would think the homeowners need to be made aware of this type of chemical being used in their home. Please respond quickly. Keep in mind that alternative products and other stripping agents may pose additional risks. So, if the concentration were over the PEL, for example at 50 ppm, the workers would exceed the 25 ppm average limit in 4 hours. You can also use your favorite search engine and search using the following key words: Bathtub Porcelain Glaze MSDS NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Great article. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. $ 89 00. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . According to the Centers of Disease Control, more than half a million children ages 1-5 in the U.S. have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. The Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has profiled two businesses that successfully strip bathtubs without MC. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. The nearby exterior door was open for ventilation and the overhead fan was blowing and although they had a pipe going from the bathroom down the hall and out the front door this was not sufficient. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. It can and will save your life. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? So glad I read this. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. His go-to isScrubbing Bubbles. In order to assess learn more about the products that are being used for the re-glazing, assess the air quality of your apartment, prevent exposure or remediate any hazards, seek assistance from the building owner or manager. We face inspections every year where lots of tubs are refinished in this building.but no precautions are ever taken to protect the residents and their animals. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . The tub needs to go. This post was helpful to me too. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed.. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Melissa. An apartment maintenance man entered the apartment to look for the man and found him behind the closed bathroom door, unresponsive, and slumped over the tub. sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. But it's not just about looks. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. If your bathtub is on the older side, then youll need to determine whether its worthwhile to refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! My husband and I have been thinking about getting our master bathtub refinished so we will have to keep this information in mind. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or difficulty staying awake require immediate medical attention. I wish they warned me and Id have had means to stay out of house for a few days. Find them at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. I went outside after he was finished. If you are considering refinishing your bathtub or shower, click on Find a Location or call our toll free locator number, 1-888-271-7690 . As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Posts: 19. It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. God bless you! Fumes associated with bathtub stripping chemicals have taken the lives of those that did not follow the warnings on the product. Patrick. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. Quite naive of me. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. How do I know if this is toxic? As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. It is now 5:30 p.m., and the fumes in the apartment are too much to bear. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. I recently had our tub sresurfaced as well as kitchen counters done, and the smell was so strong I dont know how these guys can do this every day. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure.
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