It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. Having your bathtub professionally refinished will cost around $460 (the national average), but you can expect to pay between $200 to $900 depending on the type of tub you have and the cost of labor in your location. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Very good info. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? Publication number 81-8b-2012, Successful bathtub stripping using sanding as an alternative to methylene chloride If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. Need professional help with your project? It is now peeling off. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. 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. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. 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. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. Your email address will not be published. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. 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. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . 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. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. I cant tell you how many times Ive told others in the field that are doing this to make sure they have more ventilation and to remove or re-coat the tube out of the bathroom and to at least not to do it without the proper breathing apparatus. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. 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. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. 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/ ). 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. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? We were told when we did it that it only lasts about five years and I'm finding that to betrue, she says. You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. (Removing a tub and installing a new one can cost thousands, and if youre in an apartment building, it might even require getting your downstairs neighbor involved as it may impact plumbing beyond your apartment. 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. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. AND DURING CLEANING. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. So glad I read this. If they continue, you should consult your doctor. 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. Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Keep in mind that alternative products and other stripping agents may pose additional risks. Works on all types of surfaces. This post was helpful to me too. The fumes from stripping a tub of its previous coating(s) can contain methylene chloride, a colorless liquid that smells similar to chloroform and emits VOCs, aka volatile organic compounds. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. We use a spray-on compound that hardens to a polished and durable, like-new finish. Absolutely agree with this article. 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. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. Unfortunately, manufacturers tend to play-down the immediate and especially long-term exposure risks from degassing (fumes) that occur perhaps over the next month or more. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. Personally the bathtub reglazing odor resembles the aroma of a room after it has been painted and therefore the fragrance will keep within the facility for up to 2 days, this is not body odor we are . Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . 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 smelled awful for days. Perfect for renters, apartment dwellers, and residential or commercial tubs, sinks, showers. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. I never post anything anywhere. Thanks for sharing. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. Karma: 3. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. Will these chemicals be leaching out of the surface, presenting a health concern from contact? An apartment maintenance man entered the apartment to look for the man and found him behind the closed bathroom door, unresponsive, and slumped over the tub. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed.. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. I also have a 6 year oldshould we leave? I will always do the research beforehand going forward. 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. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile 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. All the tips in the post are great. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. 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. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad, theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. print Print. In workers with heart disease, an increase in carbon monoxide may lead to early onset heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). And if we can afford it, let the pros do their jobs. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. if we do we get evicted. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. There is apparently limited research on this issue, but there are case studies of some children getting lead poisoning from bathing in an old bathtub that was leaching lead. 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. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. 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. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to levels above OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs) of 25 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 125 ppm over any 15-minute period (short-term exposure limit or STEL) (29 CFR 1910.1052(c)). These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. There is an incredible amount of data Thank you for your comment. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. However, the human body can quickly become desensitized to the smell and a worker may be overexposed even if he or she can no longer smell it. I live in Newark housing and I have been there for 11 years and every 9 months they have to paint the tub and I have to stay in the house after they paint it and it keeps messing up can you tell me what should I do. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. 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. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. Thank you. Wow! Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. I own a small bathtub refinishing business and we have committed to stay away from M.C. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. I would really like some reassurance. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. She enjoyed improving discarded furniture, then selling it it was like art to her. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. This is a great article. 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. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. 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. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. Very interesting. I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. The fumes were in her room not mine, i didnt know until i opened the door, we had put on the fan origionally for the smell, fumes came full blown after. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. What is this stuff? We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. Wow, great article on the dangers and Health Effects when methylene chloride is used. Or will we be ok?? Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. It is really shocking that stripping agents contrain toxic elements in them. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. The health issues that you can face immediately and also in the future are not worth the risk. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. Bathtub. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. Thank you for your comment. Thank you for this post. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage.
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