Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! Very good info. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. While NIOSH research and prevention efforts typically focus on workers, worker representatives and employers, the readers of this blog may be able to help us reach the do-it-yourself community who can face the same risks. When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. I had no choice but to return home. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. It was heart breaking. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. *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. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. I dont think I had the right mask on. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY SO NO DANGEROUS FUMES? Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. We are inconsolable. I would also like to issue one other caveat. OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. A bathtub in our old home was reglazed a few weeks ago. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. 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. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. 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. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. "[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. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. Your email address will not be published. After the surface has dried, it is 100% safe to use the bathroom fixture. 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. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. 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. 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. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. I myself am in the process of creating a technique that will eliminate the need for methylene chloride. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. 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. 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 I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! HOPING THE SAME FINEST OPERATE IN THE UP COMING DAYS ALSO. (before we had kids). It is now 5:30 p.m., and the fumes in the apartment are too much to bear. Quite naive of me. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. 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? If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. I will always do the research beforehand going forward. I think people always take safety for too lightly. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. Thanks for sharing. Absolutely agree with this article. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? Why can strippers with this ingredient be sold to consumers in U.S. hardware stores that do _not_ sell the full-face air supplied respirators that should be worn while using it? We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. God bless you! Open the bathroom door and as many . Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? 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. CDC twenty four seven. I have read reglazing tub reviews where a few customers couldn't take the scent while others had no issue with the bathtub reglazing odor. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. 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. Theyll also ensure adequate ventilation during the project, if necessary deploying powerful fans with duct extensions to exhaust hazardous vapors to the outdoors, says DeClerico. share Share. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. I didnt realize this was so deadly. 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. 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. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. Does anyone know if I should be worried? I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. Another interest in re-glazing is being fueled by informed masses who have shown a continued interest in "greening" their homes, particularly in making them more . I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. 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. 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 learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. 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. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. I would really like some reassurance. Ive read some incredible information in this article. We need to care when the baths are refinished. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? Ron, 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. A 2015 report by the Center for Public Integrity on U.S. deaths connected to methylene chloride noted that researchers have argued for 30 years that regulation of methylene chloride in the U.S. isnt strong enough to protect workers and that warnings on labels for consumers are insufficient. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Sometimes, you may need to refinish your bathtub which requires chemical coating with special kind of brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. We can ask questions and be well-informed. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? THANK YOU! I opened my windows, all four. 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. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. Is it safe to stay???? Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. I think this type of finish should be banned. The Environmental Protection Agency provides general information and resources on indoor air quality in apartments, see https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. I attempt to lead a very clean life and avoid many commercial products (body care products, cleaning products, sprays etc). 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. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. 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 thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. Extraction during the process is everything. You can refinish a tub yourself if youre a true DIY-er, but the new finish can look painted or different than the original color or texture. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. Great information. Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. Ventilate Your Work Area. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. I have read many articles but this is different one. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. print Print. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. Sometimes, its less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if its a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. 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. 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. Now its already peeling. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done.