There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). What is this stuff? 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. Step 2: Clean the Tub Thoroughly Step 3: Protect Areas Around the Tub Step 4: Remove the Glaze Step 5: Sand the Surface Step 6: Prep the Surface for Glaze Application Absolutely agree with this article. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. Thank you. Thanks. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. 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. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. After doing research on reglazing chemicals typically used for bathtubs, we found that it's strongly suggested to (1) not be in the home for at least 48 hours after the reglazing and (2) that leaving windows open is not enough, but you must bring in some kind of ventilation gear such as hurricane fans or powered tubing to clear the area out . HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY SO NO DANGEROUS FUMES? When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . If you are concerned for your pets, it may be a good idea to remove them from the home during the stripping process. Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. 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. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. This is poor. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. This post was helpful to me too. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. I have learned some incredible information in this report. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Thanks for the post on this. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. Finding a Miracle Method office. Ill mention it to my readers on my real estate site. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! 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 Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. Thanks for your comment. Your article has truly peaked my interest. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! 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. Simply not worth the risk. 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. The concentration of the exposure is important too. 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. It took me a little bit to get used to, and while it doesn't look super cool, it's clean and an upgrade from the '90s pink tile for sure.. Thank you for this post. White is popular, but we can do pretty much any color you have in mind. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions. Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. 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). Their cost is at least twice as expensive as Miracle Method refinishing and can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from ordering to installation. Thank you! I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. To ensure their safety, the employees should have left the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? 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. The only ventilation in the hours between the reglazing and now was provided by the slatted windows in the bathroom. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? Melissa. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. 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. We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. I remember my grandfather saying something about antifreeze having that safety precaution I believe. 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. *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. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. "[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 had my tub reglazed recently. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? 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. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. I very much agree with you, that safety and health is a very important thing in our lives, We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. I have 2 small kids and an infant. Thanks if you reply. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. Traditional methods used for detecting methylene chloride involve air sampling pumps (calibrated at the desired air flow) and a sampling train with charcoal tubes as the collection media for methylene chloride. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? 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. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Great article. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? Those DIY kits are not cutting it. 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. thank you so much. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Your email address will not be published. CDC twenty four seven. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. 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. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. I dont think I had the right mask on. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. 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 . Its staff and technicians from any and . Thanks! If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Patrick. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. Because this process, which involves spraying a new topcoat on your existing tub and/or tile, is significantly cheaper, easier, cleaner, and less time-consuming than actually replacing a tub. MC is not flammable on its own. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. keep blogging~! 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. All the tips in the post are great. Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. 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)). This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. 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 say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. 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. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Thanks for your comment. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. 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. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. I think people always take safety for too lightly. 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. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . 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. As owner of a tub refinishing company we have moved away from polyurethane isocyanate systems years ago because of the hazards but, for educational purposes, we provide a dedicated page with links to various articles on our website explaining the dangers of isocyanate coating use in residential markets. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . $ 89 00. 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. His go-to isScrubbing Bubbles. This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! The warning labels should be more elaborate about the safety requirements. 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. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. 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? I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Thank you for your comment. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. 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. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! I have been in hat business for 20 years. Adults? If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. 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. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. We are inconsolable. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? We are sorry to hear about your health issues. 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. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. I would also like to issue one other caveat. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. Concessions return to the NYC rental market as recession fears slow leasing activity, The pros and cons of buying a penthouse apartment, Racism and the lack of diversity in the appraisal business, Making sense of the NYC real estate market with Jonathan Miller, The Brick Underground Podcast: Predators in the NYC rental market, with Hannah Levintova from Mother Jones, The Brick Underground Podcast: Protecting against fire and floods in your NYC apartment, The Brick Underground Podcast: Finding a deal as NYC landlords pull concessions and raise rents, The Brick Underground Podcast: Trading your NYC apartment for a cheap(er) vacation. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. I take epsom salt baths and the salts are absorbed systemically. Needless to say, I was shocked, I am taken aback by the statistics. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. The tub needs to go. if we do we get evicted. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. 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. Stay safe! If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? 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.
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