Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. Thanks for your comment. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. So glad I read this. 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. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. 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. The concentration of the exposure is important too. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Plumbing Problem? If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Awsome and useful informations too, thanks for sharing this educational post! Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. We do have pets and have young kids. Is that legal? Should you refinish, reglaze or replace your bathtub? - Today A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. i like it. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. 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. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. Bathtub Refinishing | Benefits & Considerations in 2023 | REthority According to the Centers of Disease Control, more than half a million children ages 1-5 in the U.S. have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. (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. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. 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. 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. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. 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.. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. The vapors should subside after awhile and you should not be able to smell the strong odor. I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, which is cost effective for some, but certainly a chemical risk for the workers and I would think the homeowners need to be made aware of this type of chemical being used in their home. This is poor. So we need extra care. We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . I will always do the research beforehand going forward. Now what about substances that are used in bathtub refinishing as final top-coats such as Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane, or, another, as one company advertises: Porcelain Glaze-a new type of chemical finish. What is porcelain glaze? 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. I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. Is that dangerous as well? 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. With just a day or two of work, reglazing the centerpiece of your bathroom with a durable coating and color is an easy way to give your tub a quick facelift without breaking the bank. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. Your email address will not be published. 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. Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? I have been in hat business for 20 years. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? I would like to know. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. 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. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. I found out the hard way. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. We sure take a lot things for granted. My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. 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. 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)). Whether your tub is refinished or reglazed depends on whether or not the old coating was removed before putting a new layer of epoxy or another coating. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. Thank you. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. Provided your surface was prepped correctly, you can expect your reglazed tub and/or tile to be good for about seven to 10 years, and the more you take care of it, the longer it will last. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. 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. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. Thank you! Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? Works on all types of surfaces. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. What is this stuff? 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. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Its staff and technicians from any and . Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. A fresh air system is critical. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. I did not realize how strong the chemical is, and now I am concerned about any (however microscopic) of this leeching into my bathwater and onto my skin. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. 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. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. 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 went outside after he was finished. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? $ 89 00. Thanks for sharing. Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless I never post anything anywhere. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. 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. 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. MC is not flammable on its own. Is it safe to stay???? 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. 22 oz. Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. There were 13 Fatal Exposures to Methylene Chloride Paint Strippers Among Bathtub Refinishers in the last decade. (Centers for Disease Control) Not to mention those who experience unexplained symptoms that go undiagnosed that may also be caused from these dangerous bathtub refinishing and paint stripping chemicals. thank you. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products.I think this type of finish should be banned.This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. Thanks! I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . 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. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. And, are there any substances that are dangerous and can later leach into bath water and be absorbed by the skin? Thanks! This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. thank you so much. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. When I smell the tiles I can not smell anything but with my nose close to the bathtub I can smell a sweetish sour chemical smell. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. I attempt to lead a very clean life and avoid many commercial products (body care products, cleaning products, sprays etc). Thank you. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things.

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