They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. 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. 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. I very much agree with you, that safety and health is a very important thing in our lives, The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. $ 89 00. They know where people bathe. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. 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. We are inconsolable. Bathtub Reglazing Safety Tips: How to Protect Yourself - TopKote 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. 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. Bathtub Refinishing Fumes - How To Protect Yourself - EzineArticles The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. 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. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? Thanks for the great post. Many stripping products (including those that may also be available to consumers) contain high percentages of methylene chloride. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. Awsome and useful informations too, thanks for sharing this educational post! I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. 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. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. Sometimes, it's less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if it's a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers 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. 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. My puppy also is constantly licking the floor. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. 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. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. Their cost is at least twice as expensive as Miracle Method refinishing and can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from ordering to installation. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. Frequently Asked Questions - Bathtub Refinishing - Miracle Method The Perfect Drying Conditions You should let the tub surface to cure for 24 to 48 hours. Thanks for sharing. I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. 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. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. 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. Liners can leak and create mold problems. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? 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. I also have a 6 year oldshould we leave? Understanding the Fumes Associated with Bathtub Refinishing Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. (before we had kids). Simply not worth the risk. Is the Bathtub Reglazing Odor Terrible? Learn About the Bathtub We are sorry to hear about your health issues. 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. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. 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. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. very good and helpful post thanks to author. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Apartments | Specialized Refinishing Co. It has one small rust stain and is still moderately shiny. /box. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. 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. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Find them at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. Myown life was almost cut short stripping a bathtub and I was using the best Equipment money can buy but machinery or equipment can fail. "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? Thanks! Is it safe to bath in especially for my toddler??? My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Prolonged skin contact may cause irritation and even chemical burns. thank you. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. It smelled awful for days. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. 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. This is horrible People please do not use these DIY kits. So glad I read this. Publication number 81-8c-2013. 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 . During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. 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. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Thanks for sharing, Im sure it will really come in handy. Bathtub. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. 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/ ). They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. Thanks for your comment. 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. Overwhelming toxic fumes from renovations on a neighbor's apartment You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. There is a lot of toxicological information available on the Internet which can be found by joining the term MSDS with as specific a description of the product about which you are interested in knowing. After the surface has dried, it is 100% safe to use the bathroom fixture. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. Thank you for sharing this useful information. 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. 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 didnt realize this was so deadly. Look for an alternative to do the bathtub refinishing. Great article. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Never stay where resurfacing is being done. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). 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. Weve added a resource to try and educate those who are using these processes and offered a number of safer alternatives to using substances other than methylene chloride here: http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. 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. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Always wear hand and eye protection. We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation.