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. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Methylene chloride exposure may cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, a feeling of intoxication, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. thank you so much. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. Simply not worth the risk. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. 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. 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/ ). Agree with your perspective. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. I opened my windows, all four. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Cristine. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. 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. 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. The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Thank you for sharing this useful information. Why? I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. We have had a terrible experience. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. I asked the doctors if they collect lifestyle information and report it to the government so correlations can be made about cause and effect they said no. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. We are inconsolable. Even if you hire a professional to reglaze or refinish your bathtub, you and your family or other residents should leave the property during the entire process, including while the epoxy coat cures after application. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. How do I know if this is toxic? Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. Patrick. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. Thanks for sharing, Im sure it will really come in handy. We had maintenance workers come by and resurface it earlier this week, but they did not properly ventilate the chemical smell and the stench is still there. If the cost of removing the old tub and installing a new one versus reglazing are similar or your tub is particularly old or damaged, it might be better to get a new one. Many stripping products (including those that may also be available to consumers) contain high percentages of methylene chloride. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. Great article. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. No warning that fumes would make me sick. "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. I own a small bathtub refinishing business and we have committed to stay away from M.C. 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. Thank you for this post. I have 2 small kids and an infant. While a new tub can cost as little as $150, labor expenses for the replacement process can easily add $1,500 or more to the bill. 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. Our beloved pet went into respiratory failure the next day, was rushed to the ER and spent three nights in the veterinarian ICU. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. It was heart breaking. 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. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. Thank you so much! Thanks for your comment. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. I have read many articles but this is different one. Your email address will not be published. sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. 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. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. Just trying to speak up for low income and maybe other apartment dwellers too. I cant tell you how many times Ive told others in the field that are doing this to make sure they have more ventilation and to remove or re-coat the tube out of the bathroom and to at least not to do it without the proper breathing apparatus. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. 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. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. 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. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. Karma: 3. Refinishing a tub consists of applying a new chemical coating with a special brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub without removing the old layer first. If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. 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. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. But it's not just about looks. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. You can also use your favorite search engine and search using the following key words: Bathtub Porcelain Glaze MSDS This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. 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. I have used this product recently on a tub used all the proper PPE and approved NIOSH mask and jump suit and I have tasted this awful taste in my mouth for a couple of days its been 2 weeks and I still kinda feel it in my chest. All the tips in the post are great. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. So glad I read this. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). Even if they come in a spray can unless you really know how to spray a cross hatch overlap pattern then you will have dry edges. Hello I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. 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. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. 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. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! Ron, If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. It is really shocking that stripping agents contrain toxic elements in them. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. Kimberly Evans. 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 . This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. 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. I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or difficulty staying awake require immediate medical attention. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. Gerda. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys Until the finishing dries, it is a good idea to leave the house. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Very good info. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. Quite naive of me. 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 . Concessions return to the NYC rental market as recession fears slow leasing activity, The pros and cons of buying a penthouse apartment, Racism and the lack of diversity in the appraisal business, Making sense of the NYC real estate market with Jonathan Miller, The Brick Underground Podcast: Predators in the NYC rental market, with Hannah Levintova from Mother Jones, The Brick Underground Podcast: Protecting against fire and floods in your NYC apartment, The Brick Underground Podcast: Finding a deal as NYC landlords pull concessions and raise rents, The Brick Underground Podcast: Trading your NYC apartment for a cheap(er) vacation. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. THANK YOU! Superior heavy duty Reglazing. After the surface has dried, it is 100% safe to use the bathroom fixture. We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I think people always take safety for too lightly. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. That is really great to know. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. 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. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. Read more about our comment policy . Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. The concentration of the exposure is important too. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. 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 . It is now 5:30 p.m., and the fumes in the apartment are too much to bear. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. 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. After most fumes and smell went away two days later i still had muscle pain and spasms all over, headache, very sick and weak, skin burned and stung, could feel it in my lungs. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. 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. Thanks for your comment. share Share. Great information. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. HOPING THE SAME FINEST OPERATE IN THE UP COMING DAYS ALSO. If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. 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. 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. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! In years past, when lead-based paints were used in various home applications, various studies showed that small children (toddlers) were known to ingest (eat) paint chips. We work a lot with paints and try to stay abreast of the dangers when working with chemicals, solvents and paint compounds. We can ask questions and be well-informed. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. 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. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. Thank you! 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. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. 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. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Barely 3 days later I now have pluracy and bronchitis, i feel the building should be held responsible as we werent notified of the dangers. 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. 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. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished.