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. Ventilate Your Work Area. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. (before we had kids). Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Or will we be ok?? I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? MC is not flammable on its own. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Not worth it. Ya, very helpful articles are posted. There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Thanks! 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. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and/or loved ones due to CM. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. 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. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. When selecting a PID care must be taken to make sure that the instrument is equipped with a lamp that has the ionization potential necessary to detect methylene chloride (11.7 eV lamp). Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? *By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors, Copyright 2009-2022 by BrickUnderground | PrivacyPolicy | TermsofService | AdChoices | Login, National Association of Real Estate Editors. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? 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. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . I think there should be more regulation on access to such chemicals and certainly there should be stringent training laws in place when it comes to using such chemicals. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad, theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. To ensure their safety, the employees should have left the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. I am all for saving money and dont wish to come off like I dont appreciate the effort but if your already saving $5000 why not let a pro do it. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. We had maintenance workers come by and resurface it earlier this week, but they did not properly ventilate the chemical smell and the stench is still there. 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? I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. 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. 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. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. With just a day or two of work, reglazing the centerpiece of your bathroom with a durable coating and color is an easy way to give your tub a quick facelift without breaking the bank. Very good info. I had my tub reglazed recently. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. 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. Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. Our tub was just resurfaced today I was told six hours after they got done we could return to the apartment and stay the night just cant use the tub or take the tape off for 48 hours is that safe? Thank you! Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Even if they come in a spray can unless you really know how to spray a cross hatch overlap pattern then you will have dry edges. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. if we do we get evicted. Thank you. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. I am unknown form this . I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. I am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe? What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? Thanks for sharing. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile 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. When working with stripper or using solvents,acid,etcas well as applying your refinishing product.ALWAYS USE A FRESH-AIR SYSTEM..NOT MASKSmasks leak so they dont give the protection you need for long term exposure.I use a mask only when Im outside mixing or gathering my equipment when the job is finished and I should be using the fresh air system while I do that.Also cover your skinsome of these chemical will get into your body through your skin.Good LuckKeep yourself safe..DO YOUR RESEARCH. 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. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. Quite naive of me. My friend was in the bathroom for only 4 minutes until his co workers had discovered him lying head first into the bathtub, still wearing proper mask and gloves both of which in good condition. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? I have used this product recently on a tub used all the proper PPE and approved NIOSH mask and jump suit and I have tasted this awful taste in my mouth for a couple of days its been 2 weeks and I still kinda feel it in my chest. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. 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. This is in Australia. Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. 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. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. We tried to open our window a bit. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? It smelled awful for days. When there is not a properly designed local exhaust ventilation system to remove vapors, the workers should have used full-face supplied-air respirators, protective gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is resistant to methylene chloride during the entire refinishing process. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. Even if you hire a professional to reglaze or refinish your bathtub, you and your family or other residents should leave the property during the entire process, including while the epoxy coat cures after application. It was heart breaking. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. Thanks for your comment. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. When I smell the tiles I can not smell anything but with my nose close to the bathtub I can smell a sweetish sour chemical smell. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. I opened my windows, all four. Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. I went outside after he was finished. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. 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 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. 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.. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. We can ask questions and be well-informed. I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. Your email address will not be published. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. Thanks! Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. I never post anything anywhere. 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. The fumes are stronger fumes so we do not allow anyone to be in the apartment for 8 hours. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. The concentration of the exposure is important too. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. 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. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Since methylene chloride is a volatile organic compound that will evaporate faster when sprayed, brushed, or poured, the chemical vapors can quickly build up in small spaces. I had no choice but to return home. Ron, I have a similar question to the one already asked. It is now peeling off. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. Simply not worth the risk. Ive read some incredible information in this article. Cristine. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. The toxins became so concentrated in a short period of time due to lack if ventilation and confined space. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Needless to say, I was shocked, I am taken aback by the statistics. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. I remember my grandfather saying something about antifreeze having that safety precaution I believe. In years past, when lead-based paints were used in various home applications, various studies showed that small children (toddlers) were known to ingest (eat) paint chips. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? 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)). We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. "[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. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. And if we can afford it, let the pros do their jobs. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Our beloved pet went into respiratory failure the next day, was rushed to the ER and spent three nights in the veterinarian ICU. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? Im not aware of any can anyone point me in the right direction please? Open the bathroom door and as many . Kimberly Evans. This is horrible People please do not use these DIY kits. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. 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. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. Thank you. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time.