Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. 22 oz. 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 . Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. CDC twenty four seven. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? 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. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. But I keep on hitting dead ends. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. Bathtub Reglazing Los Angeles CA | Fiberglass Porcelain Refinishing As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. 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. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. Patrick. 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 . and products contain ISOs. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys We have for years been trying to come up with a Stripper that will remove Epoxy DIY kits that do not have the Methylene Chloride but time is an issue. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. 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. Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United Thank you for the great information. 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. We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. 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. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. My apartment manager refinished my bathtub about 2 1/2 years ago instead of buying a new one. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. A bathtub in our old home was reglazed a few weeks ago. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. Needless to say, I was shocked, I am taken aback by the statistics. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. As a result, most tenants moved. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. So glad I read this. Any other surfaces in the vicinity of the tub should be covered in protective paper and drop cloths, and you should wait a day or two to remove everything and use your bathroom and tub. 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. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. In Europe, the use of paint strippers containing more than 0.1 % methylene chloride is allowed only in industrial installations with adequate controls to reduce exposure. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. if we do we get evicted. The Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has profiled two businesses that successfully strip bathtubs without MC. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. PDF Acute Lung Disease from Bathtub Refinishing - University of California Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. 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. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. Overwhelming toxic fumes from renovations on a neighbor's apartment 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. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. Rents an apartment with ventilation that mixes with neighbors and brings odors from adjacent apartments, Was subjected to highly toxic fumes from maintenance being performed on a neighboring apartment Suffered from effects of those fumes, and nearly succumbing to them For example, if your pipes have burst, spilling water into the unit, a day or two may be reasonable, assuming that the landlord can employ a qualified repair person within that time period . Hello. 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. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. Unless you have access to all the necessary protective clothing and equipment and are confident in your bathrooms ventilation system as well as your DIY capabilities, you should hire a professional to handle it. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. And again, dont be afraid to ask. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. I found out the hard way. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. 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. 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. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Not sure if it can come through the walls. The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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. 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! After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. She refinished furniture in our garage. This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. 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. 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. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! Thank you for your comment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. Thanks for sharing. 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. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. If youve been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Bathroom fans or open windows do not provide adequate ventilation. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (, Moving to NYC after college? No warning that fumes would make me sick. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! 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. Never stay where resurfacing is being done. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. i like it. I have been in hat business for 20 years.