Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. We work a lot with paints and try to stay abreast of the dangers when working with chemicals, solvents and paint compounds. 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. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. 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. Just trying to speak up for low income and maybe other apartment dwellers too. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. 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. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. Your local health department may be able to provide assistance. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! At Specialized Refinishing, we have a team of highly experienced, certified refinishing and reglazing technicians who can restore and revitalize a wide variety of surfaces and fixtures in your rental property or before you put a house on the market. Now what about substances that are used in bathtub refinishing as final top-coats such as Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane, or, another, as one company advertises: Porcelain Glaze-a new type of chemical finish. What is porcelain glaze? Thank you for your comment. Agree with your perspective. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. Liners can leak and create mold problems. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. 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. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. 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. Is that legal? Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (, Moving to NYC after college? Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. /box. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? 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. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Thank you for the great information. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. Thank you so much! I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. Of course I wont be using it for a good week or so just to be safe, but I dont even use bleach or Flash to clean my tub because of the chemicals getting into the bathwater; even rinsing thoroughly. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. 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. 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. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. Im not aware of any can anyone point me in the right direction please? OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and/or loved ones due to CM. What is this stuff? Is it safe to stay???? Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . The coating and sanding are done alternatively. My apartment manager refinished my bathtub about 2 1/2 years ago instead of buying a new one. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. She refinished furniture in our garage. Cristine. All the tips in the post are great. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Is that dangerous as well? I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. Ive read some incredible information in this article. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. Stay safe! And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. 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. NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? I regret it so much! 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. 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. 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. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? Publication number 81-8b-2012, Successful bathtub stripping using sanding as an alternative to methylene chloride If youve got an old bathtub(or bathroom) and youre investigating your options for giving it an upgrade, youve likely come across the term reglazingalso known as refinishing or recoating, which can revive a tiredtub or evenold bathroom tile. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. 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. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. I attempt to lead a very clean life and avoid many commercial products (body care products, cleaning products, sprays etc). So glad I read this. The only ventilation in the hours between the reglazing and now was provided by the slatted windows in the bathroom. 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. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. I think this type of finish should be banned. 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! Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! I would really like some reassurance. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. 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. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I have no experience in this type of work, my day job is a guidance counselor, but I started thinking about how we might prevent these fatalities from happening going forward, if using MC. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. The odor and fumes were suffocating. We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. 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. 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. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. But it's not just about looks. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? I was researching because i just had a bad experience. There may also be substitute stripping products or methods however, please be aware that substitute stripping products may include other harmful chemicals or hazards, so use substitutes safely. Simply not worth the risk. You can review and change the way we collect information below. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. *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. And, are there any substances that are dangerous and can later leach into bath water and be absorbed by the skin? Bathtub refinishing is amazing. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or difficulty staying awake require immediate medical attention. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. (before we had kids). Read more about our comment policy . Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. Is it safe to bath in especially for my toddler??? 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. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. 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. AND DURING CLEANING. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Winter renters lose leverage, questions for condo and co-op buyers, & more, The allure of tax abatements, a Chelsea affordable housing lottery, & more, Co-ops may have some 'splaining to do, renting a penthouse, & more. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. Thank you for your comment. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. Superior heavy duty Reglazing. If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? 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. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. 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. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. What to know about adding skylights to your NYC brownstone or apartment, How to evaluate different types of NYC contractor bids when you're renovating, New Yorkers moving out of state save more money on housing than taxes, 5 houses for sale in Margaretville, NY, a small town in the Catskills, 5 houses for sale in Sagaponack, the most expensive zip code in NY. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . More needs to be done to protect the workers!. Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 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. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. One of the significant risks of refinishing a bathtub is exposure to methylene chloride or dichloromethane, which strips the tub and removes the previous glaze or finish. Very good info. I have learned some incredible information in this report. 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. Thanks. Its staff and technicians from any and . You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Never stay where resurfacing is being done. Ron, I have a similar question to the one already asked. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. Kimberly Evans. 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. I opened my windows, all four. Traditional methods used for detecting methylene chloride involve air sampling pumps (calibrated at the desired air flow) and a sampling train with charcoal tubes as the collection media for methylene chloride. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). 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. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Thanks! You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. keep blogging~! The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. 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. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. Methylene chloride exposure may cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, a feeling of intoxication, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. 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. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. 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! It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. In September 2011, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to strip the glaze from a bathtub collapsed in the bathtub and later died. I just rented a house. This is in Australia. You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. 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. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. White is popular, but we can do pretty much any color you have in mind.