My question is about whether it leaches during use. Bathtub. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. 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. Why? Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). AND DURING CLEANING. I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? I had my tub reglazed recently. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. Great information. 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. Liners can leak and create mold problems. Open the bathroom door and as many . If the area is poorly ventilated (which is common in bathrooms) or the person doing the work isnt wearing the appropriate protective gear, they could stop breathing, or worsemethyl chloride has an effect similar to carbon monoxide poisoning. We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. As a result, most tenants moved. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. What are the effects of being in the house during the process (for our pets) and after the process (chemical wise around our kids). 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. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. A fresh air system is critical. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. If you are considering refinishing your bathtub or shower, click on Find a Location or call our toll free locator number, 1-888-271-7690 . I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? 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. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. Thanks for your comment. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. 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. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. Thanks for your comment. Is that dangerous as well? 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. Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. Jimmy White of Staten Island-based Custom Spraying and Reglazing, who has been doing it for more than 30 years and is considered the reglazer to the starsheworked on Faye Dunaway's and Candace Bergens bathroomssays it can be done in a few hours, plus 24 hours of dry time. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. If youve been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. 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. NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. 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. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. How do I know if this is toxic? Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. That is really great to know. Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. I wish they warned me and Id have had means to stay out of house for a few days. Its worth looking into how long a company has been in business andits rating with the Better Business Bureau to get a sense of their track record before commissioning a job. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing? I have read many articles but this is different one. I very much agree with you, that safety and health is a very important thing in our lives, It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Its highly toxic Teri. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. Thank you for your comment. It was a cold day, so I went back inside. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. $ 89 00. Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. *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. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. 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 am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. I think people always take safety for too lightly. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. One of the significant risks of refinishing a bathtub is exposure to methylene chloride or dichloromethane, which strips the tub and removes the previous glaze or finish. thank you so much. Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. 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. 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. Methyl chloride has high vapor pressure, meaning that it evaporates extremely quickly and turns into gas that can easily be inhaled, especially in a small bathroom that may not be adequately ventilated. If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. And again, dont be afraid to ask. 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. Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. 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. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. I am unknown form this . However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. Always wear hand and eye protection. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. 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 . We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. 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. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. If methylene chloride was used to strip the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing (the focus of our blog), it is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! Ive read some incredible information in this article. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. 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. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. I regret it so much! If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. 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 . Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. 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. I am thankful that I found this article before I made a final decision on whether or not to purchase a DIY kit for my tub interior. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. 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. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. Very good info. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. I have no experience in this type of work, my day job is a guidance counselor, but I started thinking about how we might prevent these fatalities from happening going forward, if using MC. Thank you for this post. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. 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. Find them at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Ventilate Your Work Area. Now its already peeling. We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. I think this type of finish should be banned. Is that smell dangerous for children? Whenever respirators are required to be worn, the employer must establish and implement a complete respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of OSHAs Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), including proper selection, usage, training and medical surveillance (OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, February 2013, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2013-110 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-110/ ). I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. Thank you! When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. Instead, many homeowners have the existing tub reglazed or refinished, which typically costs $300-$600, depending on the area and process. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. My apartment manager refinished my bathtub about 2 1/2 years ago instead of buying a new one. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. Thanks for sharing, Im sure it will really come in handy. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. How to get your plans past the board, 3 NYC apartment bathroom renovation veterans on what they learned from the process, How to read a NYC co-op or condo buildings financial statement. 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.