Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. Hover Image to Zoom. Thank you for your comment. /box. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? if we do we get evicted. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. This post was helpful to me too. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. 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. Thank you for sharing this useful information. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. My husband and I have been thinking about getting our master bathtub refinished so we will have to keep this information in mind. 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. All the tips in the post are great. This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. Thanks for your comment. I think this type of finish should be banned. Acid is then applied to deglaze the tub and/or tile, followed by a bonding agent or primer, and finally, a urethane topcoat is applied. Moreover, because methylene chloride evaporates quickly (it has a high vapor pressure), vapors can collect in the bottom of a bathtub and in the workers breathing zone when working in the bathtub. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. thank you so much. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. 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. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing? If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. Or should I leave? Always wear hand and eye protection. Thanks for your comment. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? There is a lot of toxicological information available on the Internet which can be found by joining the term MSDS with as specific a description of the product about which you are interested in knowing. We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. She her nextwalked over to-door neighbor's apartment, where a team weari ng respirators was refinishi ng the bathroom with a spray-on resurfacing material and a chemical accelerator. Your article has truly peaked my interest. What's included in a deal sheet when you buy a NYC apartment? I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? Cristine. Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Im not aware of any can anyone point me in the right direction please? She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Use full-face air-supplied respirators, protective gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is resistant to methylene chloride during the entire refinishing process. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. 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. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. I remember my grandfather saying something about antifreeze having that safety precaution I believe. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. Publication number 81-8c-2013. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. Simply not worth the risk. 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. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. Thank you for your comment. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. I think they want things swept under the carpet. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. i come back again this blog, any way i think If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. 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. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. good cotent, i like it. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. Bathtub refinishing is being used more by hotels, apartment complexes and homeowners because of a housing downturn, a mortgage-meltdown, and overall depressed and depressing economy as a way to save money in their bathroom renovation. I went outside after he was finished. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. Its a multi-step process that involves cleaning the tub thoroughly and sanding it to remove any soap scum or other particles, and repairing cracks or worn areasall of these imperfections will affect the quality and durability of the final finishing coat. 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. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. 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. Thank you! 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. It hurt to know that such a good person you loved and cared about so much is now gone. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. Thanks for your comment. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. I didnt realize this was so deadly. 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. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. 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. I opened my windows, all four. 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. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. We tried to open our window a bit. I regret it so much! Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. While bathtub refinishing is one I havent tried, I do know that in-home work with many types of cleaners, paints and strippers and adhesives is always going to be a concern due to poor air circulation indoors, and sometimes outdoors too. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. 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. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. Ya, very helpful articles are posted. It's a multi-step process that involves cleaning the tub thoroughly and sanding it to remove any soap scum or other particles, and repairing cracks or worn areasall of these imperfections will affect the quality and durability of the final finishing coat. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. 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. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. I opted in for your Feed too. They were wearing some gas mask type stuff while they were doing it, but I have noticed even after spraying the fumes were strong; and I was outside when they did this. Consult the OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert for specific information regarding engineering controls, exposure levels and air monitoring, personal protective equipment, worker training and medical surveillance. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? Bathroom fans or open windows do not provide adequate ventilation. If you feel you are in danger, you should contact your local emergency services for assistance. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. Thank you. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am 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. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? We need to care when the baths are refinished. Please respond quickly. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. 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. CDC twenty four seven. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Wow! I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. If you are concerned for your pets, it may be a good idea to remove them from the home during the stripping process. The specific effects of methylene chloride exposure will vary depending on several factors, such as the amount of methylene chloride the worker is exposed to, how long the exposure lasts, and whether the worker has a higher susceptibility (for example, having a preexisting heart condition). This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. MC is not flammable on its own. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. I am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe?