Note that humidity affects both dry time and how well the topcoat bonds to the surface, so the cool, less-humid seasons of fall or spring providethe best conditions for this type of work. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. 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. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . 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. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. 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. I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). 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. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. Your email address will not be published. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. But it's not just about looks. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. 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. 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. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. Its better not to use methylene chloride for the safety of everybody. 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 believe in situations like these, two or more workers would be present in the bathroom, when proper ventilation is impossible. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. The fumes are stronger fumes so we do not allow anyone to be in the apartment for 8 hours. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. I think people always take safety for too lightly. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. Absolutely agree with this article. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. Thanks for sharing. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. Thanks. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. I think this type of finish should be banned. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? Your blog has provided useful information for the work. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? Sometimes, its less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if its a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. Thanks for the post on this. This is in Australia. very good and helpful post thanks to author. 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. 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. 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. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? Thanks for your comment. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. 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. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . 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. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). I didnt realize this was so deadly. 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. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). 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. Bathtub. Ms. Scott thank you for your interest in our blog Dangers of Bathtub Refinishing and your question regarding how to assess exposure to toxic vapors. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! Bathtub refinishing can be very dangerous indeed, I have seen many poorly trained so called bathtub refinishing specialists using dangerous chemicals to refinish bathtubs in peoples homes without the proper ventilation systems in place and without using the proper protective equipment necessary. Your article has truly peaked my interest. This post was helpful to me too. They hold soap scum, body oils, dirt, basically everything that comes off the human body will form a paste of scum. 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). I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. I am unknown form this . You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. Prolonged skin contact may cause irritation and even chemical burns. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? 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? The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . Thanks! We work a lot with paints and try to stay abreast of the dangers when working with chemicals, solvents and paint compounds. 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. Barely 3 days later I now have pluracy and bronchitis, i feel the building should be held responsible as we werent notified of the dangers. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. 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. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? I regret it so much! If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? What are the effects of being in the house during the process (for our pets) and after the process (chemical wise around our kids). Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! In workers with heart disease, an increase in carbon monoxide may lead to early onset heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. 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! Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Is that legal? A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Open the bathroom door and as many . Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. Thanks! My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Myown life was almost cut short stripping a bathtub and I was using the best Equipment money can buy but machinery or equipment can fail. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and/or loved ones due to CM. share Share. thank you. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. The Environmental Protection Agency provides general information and resources on indoor air quality in apartments, see https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. Patrick. Is that smell dangerous for children? 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. The Perfect Drying Conditions You should let the tub surface to cure for 24 to 48 hours. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. 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. This post was helpful to me too. 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. Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. 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. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. 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. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. Thanks for sharing. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. Many stripping products (including those that may also be available to consumers) contain high percentages of methylene chloride. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. Agree with your perspective. I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. 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. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. 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. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. Now its already peeling. 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/ ). I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. 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. I have learned some incredible information in this report. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. 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. Thank you. 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. Always wear hand and eye protection. The tub needs to go. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. The first one was a very long process because there was no air circulation what so ever si the two part paint kit kept separating from one another which kept me in the room with only my Tshirt pulled over my nose. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. The odor and fumes were suffocating. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Keep in mind that alternative products and other stripping agents may pose additional risks. Good to see so much effort going into bringing awareness to bathtub refinishing in Waltham. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. 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. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? 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. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. 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. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. 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. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. 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.