I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. 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 think they want things swept under the carpet. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. 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. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. Its highly toxic Teri. We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer.
We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. Thanks for your comment. 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. 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. Always wear hand and eye protection. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. 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. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin.
How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one.
Surface Designers Remodeling Inc - Bathtub Refinishing in Houston, Texas It is really shocking that stripping agents contrain toxic elements in them. Ron, I have a similar question to the one already asked. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. Thank you for your comment. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. 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. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. Liners can leak and create mold problems. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? The bath was not stripped just resurfaced with a very thin layer of the napco product paint. i come back again this blog, any way i think Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. Hello Im Derrick I used this last night now this morning Im sick as a dog headache stomachache am throwing up I didnt use a mask. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. 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! good cotent, i like it. If you feel you are in danger, you should contact your local emergency services for assistance. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Thank you for your comment. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. If youve been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. 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. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! Thanks for your comment. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. However, during the refinishing process, it is not possible for us to guess what the airborne concentration of methylene chloride may be in your home without knowing how the workers will be using methylene chloride and how they plan to ventilate the work area and the house. 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. 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.. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. Contractors who handle bathtub refinishing or reglazing are well-versed in the health risks and OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Association) guidelines for risky jobs like these, making it an easy choice to bring in an expert for the task. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? I opted in for your Feed too. Our blog focused on the exposures from methylene chloride to workers during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. 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. I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. Will these chemicals be leaching out of the surface, presenting a health concern from contact? Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. 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. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. 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. 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. I would also like to issue one other caveat. 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. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. 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. 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. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. 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. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. 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. And, are there any substances that are dangerous and can later leach into bath water and be absorbed by the skin? The toxins became so concentrated in a short period of time due to lack if ventilation and confined space. 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. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. Is that legal? Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. 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. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. 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. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. 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. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! Bathtub Reglazing Experts. The tub needs to go. Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. When engineering and work practice controls cannot decrease methylene chloride levels below OSHAs PELs (25 ppm over an 8-hour TWA or 125 ppm over a 15-minute period), employers must provide their workers with full-face atmosphere-supplying respirators. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? It seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. His go-to isScrubbing Bubbles. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. thank you so much. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it.
Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United My friend was in the bathroom for only 4 minutes until his co workers had discovered him lying head first into the bathtub, still wearing proper mask and gloves both of which in good condition. Ron, I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. 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. Very interesting. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? The guy who came to do tub had a fancy breathing mask that covered his whole face and tubes attached to his belt I was concerned when I saw the precautions he took but said it was no problem. very good and helpful post thanks to author. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. My puppy also is constantly licking the floor. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. God bless you! The coating and sanding are done alternatively. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! I dont think I had the right mask on. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Moreover, because methylene chloride evaporates quickly (it has a high vapor pressure), vapors can collect in the bottom of a bathtub and in the workers breathing zone when working in the bathtub. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right!