Ventilate Your Work Area. good cotent, i like it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. Refinishing a bathtub is a fraction of the cost to replace your bathtub (around $2,900), so if youre at all hesitant about your DIY skills, hiring a pro is a somewhat small price to pay for your health and safety. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. Great article. I and my two other friends went to the hospital last night to say our goodbyes. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. My question is about whether it leaches during use. I know this because the epoxy finish began peeling away within a couple months of daily use. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! It can and will save your life. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. This is poor. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Plumbing Problem? Wow! What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. 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. What's included in a deal sheet when you buy a NYC apartment? Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. It was heart breaking. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. Perhaps this us not the case. If you have a tub that has seen better days, but you dont want to remove and replace it completely, then you may need to have it reglazed or refinished to restore it to its original state. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. 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. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? Thank you for the great information. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. 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. 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. This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please respond quickly. Is that dangerous as well? Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed.. 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. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. 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. We need to care when the baths are refinished. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. Is the Bathtub Reglazing Odor Terrible? Learn About the Bathtub Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! Great information. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. They hold soap scum, body oils, dirt, basically everything that comes off the human body will form a paste of scum. *By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors, Copyright 2009-2022 by BrickUnderground | PrivacyPolicy | TermsofService | AdChoices | Login, National Association of Real Estate Editors. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. Pros will have the correct gear, knowledge of how to ventilate the space and protect themselves, and familiarity with the various chemicals used so you dont need to worry about keeping yourself safe. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. No warning that fumes would make me sick. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. If proper ventilation is not possible, there needs to be a supervisor on watch in the room, or at least directly outside the door, ready to open immediately if the worker inside does not verbally respond to continuous 30 second verbal safety checks. I myself am in the process of creating a technique that will eliminate the need for methylene chloride. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Even if you hire a professional to reglaze or refinish your bathtub, you and your family or other residents should leave the property during the entire process, including while the epoxy coat cures after application. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. If those working with these finishes have concerns about their health they can request a Health Hazard Evaluation from NIOSH at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. Thank you for this post. 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/ ). Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. 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. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. Its better not to use methylene chloride for the safety of everybody. (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. 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. Thank you. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. How to Refinish A Bathtub - DIY Bathtub Refinishing 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). What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. How do I know if this is toxic? Your email address will not be published. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. 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. 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. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Absolutely agree with this article. 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. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. Ive spoken with many other tub resurfacing company owners and employees, and most of them do not use or even own full-face air-supplied respirators. The bath was not stripped just resurfaced with a very thin layer of the napco product paint. My husband and I have been thinking about getting our master bathtub refinished so we will have to keep this information in mind. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. 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. Thank you for your comment. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Thanks for sharing. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? 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. if we do we get evicted. I have so many friends that are a part of DIY pages that encourage individuals to attempt these kinds of projects on their own, unknowingly knowing some of the real dangers. Thanks for the great post. Thank you for your comment. Is that legal? sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. But two days later it still bothers me. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Liners can leak and create mold problems. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. I opted in for your Feed too. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. I think they want things swept under the carpet. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. As a result, most tenants moved. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! 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. Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. 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. Overwhelming toxic fumes from renovations on a neighbor's apartment But I keep on hitting dead ends. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. In our blog we state that methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. keep blogging~! I just rented a house. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. 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. 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?

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