Thank you. Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. Thanks for sharing. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. 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. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. Thanks! What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. The odor and fumes were suffocating. 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. Just trying to speak up for low income and maybe other apartment dwellers too. If those working with these finishes have concerns about their health they can request a Health Hazard Evaluation from NIOSH at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. $ 89 00. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. 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. I went to clean out the tub to take another shower myself and by just barely cleaning it a whole bunch of paint came off, like over a foot and I was just barely scrubbing! 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] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. I never post anything anywhere. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. Theyll also ensure adequate ventilation during the project, if necessary deploying powerful fans with duct extensions to exhaust hazardous vapors to the outdoors, says DeClerico. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? 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. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. Thank you for the great information. 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. 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. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. 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. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. 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. Thanks for the post on this. 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. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. keep blogging~! Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Kimberly Evans. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. 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 do have pets and have young kids. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? Awsome and useful informations too, thanks for sharing this educational post! As a result, most tenants moved. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. 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. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Need professional help with your project? Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. 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)). Now Im cleaning up the interior; its not in terrible condition, but it has a few chips and the surface is not as smooth as Id like. and products contain ISOs. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. If you have a tub that has seen better days, but you dont want to remove and replace it completely, then you may need to have it reglazed or refinished to restore it to its original state. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. 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. It is now peeling off. She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. 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. I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? Is it dangerous to any or all of us? Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. I didnt realize this was so deadly. 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. Great article. 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. Refinishing a bathtub is a fraction of the cost to replace your bathtub (around $2,900), so if youre at all hesitant about your DIY skills, hiring a pro is a somewhat small price to pay for your health and safety. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. I cant tell you how many times Ive told others in the field that are doing this to make sure they have more ventilation and to remove or re-coat the tube out of the bathroom and to at least not to do it without the proper breathing apparatus. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Contractors who handle bathtub refinishing or reglazing are well-versed in the health risks and OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Association) guidelines for risky jobs like these, making it an easy choice to bring in an expert for the task. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. My cat and I were both really sick afterwards and my cat has now passed on.no one told us to go anywhere else, my cat was unable to be transported anyway and so was I since Im handicapped. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. I know this because the epoxy finish began peeling away within a couple months of daily use. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile Very good info. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The tub needs to go. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. 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. You can also use your favorite search engine and search using the following key words: Bathtub Porcelain Glaze MSDS As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? 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. If the area is poorly ventilated (which is common in bathrooms) or the person doing the work isnt wearing the appropriate protective gear, they could stop breathing, or worsemethyl chloride has an effect similar to carbon monoxide poisoning. 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? 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. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. That is a shocking statistic, At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. *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. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? Not sure if it can come through the walls. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. Thanks for your comment. Publication number 81-8c-2013. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad, theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. It has one small rust stain and is still moderately shiny. if we do we get evicted. I have never thought of this before! 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. 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)). Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? Now its already peeling. Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? Your local health department may be able to provide assistance. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. I am unknown form this . These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. I just rented a house. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Thanks for telling us now. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. 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. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! Thanks for the great post. 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. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. I think this type of finish should be banned. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs.
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