There is an incredible amount of data Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. 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. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. Bathtub refinishing can be very dangerous indeed, I have seen many poorly trained so called bathtub refinishing specialists using dangerous chemicals to refinish bathtubs in peoples homes without the proper ventilation systems in place and without using the proper protective equipment necessary. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? Extraction during the process is everything. Just trying to speak up for low income and maybe other apartment dwellers too. I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. 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 can ask questions and be well-informed. How to get your plans past the board, 3 NYC apartment bathroom renovation veterans on what they learned from the process, How to read a NYC co-op or condo buildings financial statement. I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. Provided your surface was prepped correctly, you can expect your reglazed tub and/or tile to be good for about seven to 10 years, and the more you take care of it, the longer it will last. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. Awsome and useful informations too, thanks for sharing this educational post! Thanks so much for the info! I didnt think too much about it. A 2015 report by the Center for Public Integrity on U.S. deaths connected to methylene chloride noted that researchers have argued for 30 years that regulation of methylene chloride in the U.S. isnt strong enough to protect workers and that warnings on labels for consumers are insufficient. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. In Europe, the use of paint strippers containing more than 0.1 % methylene chloride is allowed only in industrial installations with adequate controls to reduce exposure. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Find them at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General 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. I have so many friends that are a part of DIY pages that encourage individuals to attempt these kinds of projects on their own, unknowingly knowing some of the real dangers. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. 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. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. Ron, I have a similar question to the one already asked. We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. The Environmental Protection Agency provides general information and resources on indoor air quality in apartments, see https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. MC is not flammable on its own. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. It seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? 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. share Share. I believe in situations like these, two or more workers would be present in the bathroom, when proper ventilation is impossible. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. The tub needs to go. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. print Print. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Wow, great article on the dangers and Health Effects when methylene chloride is used. There were 13 Fatal Exposures to Methylene Chloride Paint Strippers Among Bathtub Refinishers in the last decade. (Centers for Disease Control) Not to mention those who experience unexplained symptoms that go undiagnosed that may also be caused from these dangerous bathtub refinishing and paint stripping chemicals. Thank you for your comment. Thanks! and it was very helpful for people, In addition to the hazards of strippers, old porcelain bathtubs, sinks and tiles manufactured before the mid-1990s could also have lead in the glaze, which could leach into bathwater, or if sanded or scraped could form a dust that if ingested by young children (who touch it with bare skin) could cause lead poisoning. In February 2012, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to refinish a bathtub was found dead, slumped over a bathtub in an unventilated bathroom. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? Thank you so much! Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Thanks for your comment. The bath was not stripped just resurfaced with a very thin layer of the napco product paint. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Ventilate Your Work Area. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. (Removing a tub and installing a new one can cost thousands, and if youre in an apartment building, it might even require getting your downstairs neighbor involved as it may impact plumbing beyond your apartment. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. 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. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Absolutely agree with this article. Superior heavy duty Reglazing. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Remove the overflow plate from the tub and begin the caulk removal stage.Start by removing the caulk around the tub where it meets the tile surround. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. 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. Good to see so much effort going into bringing awareness to bathtub refinishing in Waltham. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). But if we get together as a group of experienced bathtub refinishers I am positive that we can come up with a simple solution that will keep us safe. While a new tub can cost as little as $150, labor expenses for the replacement process can easily add $1,500 or more to the bill. thank you. Agree with your perspective. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. 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. You can review and change the way we collect information below. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. Very good info. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. 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. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. 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. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. I had my tub reglazed recently. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. We need to care when the baths are refinished. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Read more about our comment policy . The fact of the matter is that using a professional that is trained and well-versed in the safety measures of bathtub refinishing; is critical, and can not only protect the owners of the property, but those performing the job! ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. 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. "[The problem area] now takes up about a third of the bottom of the tub, because every time the water runs, more comes off," she says. information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. Great information. What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? Keep in mind that alternative products and other stripping agents may pose additional risks. 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. I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. It is really shocking that stripping agents contrain toxic elements in them. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. That is really great to know. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. After most fumes and smell went away two days later i still had muscle pain and spasms all over, headache, very sick and weak, skin burned and stung, could feel it in my lungs. I found out the hard way. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products.I think this type of finish should be banned.This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. But if we ever have it done again, I will definitely check to be sure its a safe process for the workers AND the homeowners. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. I am thankful that I found this article before I made a final decision on whether or not to purchase a DIY kit for my tub interior. Thanks if you reply. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. I didnt realize this was so deadly. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. Hover Image to Zoom. The concentration of the exposure is important too. if we do we get evicted. I did not realize how strong the chemical is, and now I am concerned about any (however microscopic) of this leeching into my bathwater and onto my skin. Any other surfaces in the vicinity of the tub should be covered in protective paper and drop cloths, and you should wait a day or two to remove everything and use your bathroom and tub. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. A fresh air system is critical. Open the bathroom door and as many . HOPING THE SAME FINEST OPERATE IN THE UP COMING DAYS ALSO. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. As owner of a tub refinishing company we have moved away from polyurethane isocyanate systems years ago because of the hazards but, for educational purposes, we provide a dedicated page with links to various articles on our website explaining the dangers of isocyanate coating use in residential markets. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. God bless you! You can refinish a tub yourself if youre a true DIY-er, but the new finish can look painted or different than the original color or texture. I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. He was found unconscious minutes later and was rushed to the emergency room, several neuro tests where done and they all concluded the same thing.. Kevin had been brain dead before he was found on the job. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys More needs to be done to protect the workers!. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. The fumes were in her room not mine, i didnt know until i opened the door, we had put on the fan origionally for the smell, fumes came full blown after. When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. Changing ones business practices and methods can certainly be a daunting task and a big decision, but in the case of methylene chloride and bathtubs it is an important, potentially lifesaving one. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. She enjoyed improving discarded furniture, then selling it it was like art to her. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. I am unknown form this . So glad I read this. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. Now its already peeling. If methylene chloride was used to strip the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing (the focus of our blog), it is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. If the cost of removing the old tub and installing a new one versus reglazing are similar or your tub is particularly old or damaged, it might be better to get a new one. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure such as you describe. 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. For example, if your pipes have burst, spilling water into the unit, a day or two may be reasonable, assuming that the landlord can employ a qualified repair person within that time period . *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. I think this blog is very helpful in knowing about the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products.We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing.Thanks a lot for sharing such a helpful information. Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . I would also like to issue one other caveat. Thank you for this post. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. THANK YOU! Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. (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.). We are inconsolable. It can and will save your life. This is in Australia. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. 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. Although we cant say there is any particular hazard from these paint chips, it would be prudent to prevent your toddler from eating the paint chips or bathing the toddler in water with material that is degrading from the tub into the water. Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. I have learned some incredible information in this report. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. 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. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. I would like to know. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! Here's how to do it, How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else, A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm, How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly, From Boerum Hill to Prospect Lefferts Gardens: After years of renting, we wanted to buy a condo with amenities, What to know about buying in Briarwood, Queens, where you may score a house with a driveway and garage. Patrick. As a result, most tenants moved. We were told when we did it that it only lasts about five years and I'm finding that to betrue, she says. Quite naive of me. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. Thank you for sharing this useful information. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. Thank you for your comment. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. i like it. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? Sometimes, you may need to refinish your bathtub which requires chemical coating with special kind of brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub. It smelled awful for days. In our blog we state that methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs).
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