Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). We can ask questions and be well-informed. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. 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. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Thanks for your comment. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Extraction during the process is everything. Thanks for the great post. 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 . Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. The fumes are stronger fumes so we do not allow anyone to be in the apartment for 8 hours. The tub needs to go. 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. I regret it so much! Publication number 81-8b-2012, Successful bathtub stripping using sanding as an alternative to methylene chloride Takes longer and cost more but the client can pay the labor or feel free to do it themselves. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. My puppy also is constantly licking the floor. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. Thanks. Is that dangerous as well? Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Thank you. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. 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. 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 am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe? During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. Hello You can review and change the way we collect information below. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? Thanks to those whoever posted this article. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? 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. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. I take epsom salt baths and the salts are absorbed systemically. In order to assess learn more about the products that are being used for the re-glazing, assess the air quality of your apartment, prevent exposure or remediate any hazards, seek assistance from the building owner or manager. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! 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. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. Thank you for the great information. If proper ventilation is not possible, there needs to be a supervisor on watch in the room, or at least directly outside the door, ready to open immediately if the worker inside does not verbally respond to continuous 30 second verbal safety checks. 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. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. However, you need to keep these essential health and safety considerations in mind whether you hire a contractor to refinish your tub or do it yourself. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. To ensure their safety, the employees should have left the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. But it's not just about looks. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing? CDC twenty four seven. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. Does anyone know if I should be worried? The home I purchased a few years ago came with cast iron bathtub and ceramic tile walls that had been covered with a 2-step epoxy finish. The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. PDF Acute Lung Disease from Bathtub Refinishing - University of California Do fumes from reglazing a bathtub/shower make an apartment Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? Thanks so much for the info! I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. 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. 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 . 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. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. We were told when we did it that it only lasts about five years and I'm finding that to betrue, she says. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. 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. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. 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 . What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? print Print. (Airoldi'scontractor brought a fan and blew air out the bathroom window, and she was home during the job, but didn't find the smell intolerable.). Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. Quite naive of me. It can and will save your life. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. The vapors should subside after awhile and you should not be able to smell the strong odor. My question is about whether it leaches during use. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Plumbing Problem? I had my tub reglazed recently. share Share. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. 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. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment Why? It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. 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? Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. Thank you! I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. Hi, this is all so helpful. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. 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. I think this should not be happening after 4 weeks but dont know what to do about it. I would really like some reassurance. I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. Thanks for your comment. 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. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General, http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA, http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html, http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/, https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 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. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. Thankyou for letting people know this danger alert! Dangers of Bathtub Refinishing | Blogs | CDC Just trying to speak up for low income and maybe other apartment dwellers too. Now Im cleaning up the interior; its not in terrible condition, but it has a few chips and the surface is not as smooth as Id like. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. 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. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. 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)). 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. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. 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. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. He was found unconscious minutes later and was rushed to the emergency room, several neuro tests where done and they all concluded the same thing.. Kevin had been brain dead before he was found on the job. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. I live in Newark housing and I have been there for 11 years and every 9 months they have to paint the tub and I have to stay in the house after they paint it and it keeps messing up can you tell me what should I do.