Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Quite naive of me. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? 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. 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. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. You can review and change the way we collect information below. Thank you for your comment. What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing? Never stay where resurfacing is being done. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? Use a qualified occupational safety and health specialist to assist in the design and installation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to effectively control vapors to below applicable PELs. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. Posts: 19. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. Does anyone know if I should be worried? 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. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. 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 had no choice but to return home. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Thanks. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? I found out the hard way. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. Ron, If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? Simply not worth the risk. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. 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. 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. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. 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. 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. "[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. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. 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. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. I think this type of finish should be banned. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. 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. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. $ 89 00. Now its already peeling. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . Thanks! 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. All the tips in the post are great. A fresh air system is critical. Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. Jimmy White of Staten Island-based Custom Spraying and Reglazing, who has been doing it for more than 30 years and is considered the reglazer to the starsheworked on Faye Dunaway's and Candace Bergens bathroomssays it can be done in a few hours, plus 24 hours of dry time. Bathtub. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. 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. Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. Thanks for your comment. 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. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. 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. We need to care when the baths are refinished. Until the finishing dries, it is a good idea to leave the house. Thanks if you reply. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. THANK YOU! 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. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. Agree with your perspective. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. 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)). Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. We do not tread lightly, so I think we are a good example to work off of in terms of durability., Of the overall aesthetic, particularly the walls, she says: If you look closely, it's a little weird as you see the indent of the grout lines, but it's all one texture. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. AND DURING CLEANING. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. Thanks for your comment. I manage a home related business in Australia and we are often exposed to applications that we are unsure of what dangers we could be exposed to. Karma: 3. Even a tiny bit? Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. good cotent, i like it. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. Its worth looking into how long a company has been in business andits rating with the Better Business Bureau to get a sense of their track record before commissioning a job. Kimberly Evans. Bathtubs should be refinished every seven to 10 years, or more frequently if there is significant damage, stained, or you (or your homes previous owners) havent been cleaning your bathtub the right way. 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 NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure such as you describe. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. When engineering and work practice controls cannot decrease methylene chloride levels below OSHAs PELs (25 ppm over an 8-hour TWA or 125 ppm over a 15-minute period), employers must provide their workers with full-face atmosphere-supplying respirators. 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. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. It gives me hope to see that some commenters are specialists who are trying to recreate safer and more effective processes that will phase out use of this agent. 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. Refinishing a tub consists of applying a new chemical coating with a special brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub without removing the old layer first. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (read more about that here), and overall, is pleased with the results. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. 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. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. 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. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Is that dangerous as well? Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. I opened my windows, all four. This is in Australia. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. She refinished furniture in our garage. 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! I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. Sometimes, it's less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if it's a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. 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. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! I think this type of finish should be banned. If you are considering refinishing your bathtub or shower, click on Find a Location or call our toll free locator number, 1-888-271-7690 . Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. I usually like to do things myself, but I think I will have to find someone to do my bathtub repair in concord ma. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. His death could have been easily prevented if he had simply had a co worker outside the door to verbally check on him every 30 seconds. Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. Thanks for the great post. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. 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. Thank you for your comment. if we do we get evicted. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. Whenever respirators are required to be worn, the employer must establish and implement a complete respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of OSHAs Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), including proper selection, usage, training and medical surveillance (OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, February 2013, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2013-110 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-110/ ). Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Thank you. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. I and my two other friends went to the hospital last night to say our goodbyes. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. 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. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. Thank you so much! He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. But I keep on hitting dead ends. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? 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. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. A bathtub in our old home was reglazed a few weeks ago. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. 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. Your local health department may be able to provide assistance. Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. This post was helpful to me too. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. a great article! NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. The coating and sanding are done alternatively. 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. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? very good and helpful post thanks to author. i come back again this blog, any way i think I am unknown form this . Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. 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. The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? But two days later it still bothers me. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. Works on all types of surfaces. My puppy also is constantly licking the floor. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. The warning labels should be more elaborate about the safety requirements. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. As my two other friends and I stood there over our lost brother, we could not help but cry, tell stories of our past together, and wish that he could hear us one last time. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. 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. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. Thank you for your comment. Very good info. 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. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. 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. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. I have read reglazing tub reviews where a few customers couldn't take the scent while others had no issue with the bathtub reglazing odor. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. Gerda. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing.
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