Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. 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. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. Or should I leave? Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. PDF Acute Lung Disease from Bathtub Refinishing - University of California Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. Sometimes, its less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if its a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. We do have pets and have young kids. In September 2011, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to strip the glaze from a bathtub collapsed in the bathtub and later died. 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. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. 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. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. 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. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. "[The problem area] now takes up about a third of the bottom of the tub, because every time the water runs, more comes off," she says. 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. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . Thanks! So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. 9 Easy Steps to Refinish Your Bathtub | Lowe's CDC twenty four seven. Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. Thanks if you reply. 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. $ 89 00. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. I manage a home related business in Australia and we are often exposed to applications that we are unsure of what dangers we could be exposed to. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. As a result, most tenants moved. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. She refinished furniture in our garage. And if we can afford it, let the pros do their jobs. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? Open the bathroom door and as many . How to Refinish A Bathtub - DIY Bathtub Refinishing The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure such as you describe. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Surface Designers have been in business for over 20 years resurfacing bathtubs and countertops. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. Thanks for the post on this. 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. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? How Long Does Reglazing a Tub Last and How Does it Work I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. Its a multi-step process that involves cleaning the tub thoroughly and sanding it to remove any soap scum or other particles, and repairing cracks or worn areasall of these imperfections will affect the quality and durability of the final finishing coat. 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. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. 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. Thanks for your comment. 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. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. Bathtubs should be refinished every seven to 10 years, or more frequently if there is significant damage, stained, or you (or your homes previous owners) havent been cleaning your bathtub the right way. If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. We have had a terrible experience. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. 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. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. Changing ones business practices and methods can certainly be a daunting task and a big decision, but in the case of methylene chloride and bathtubs it is an important, potentially lifesaving one. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Thanks for the great post. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. So we need extra care. Ventilate Your Work Area. It took me a little bit to get used to, and while it doesn't look super cool, it's clean and an upgrade from the '90s pink tile for sure.. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. I think people always take safety for too lightly. 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. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, which is cost effective for some, but certainly a chemical risk for the workers and I would think the homeowners need to be made aware of this type of chemical being used in their home. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Great article. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. 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. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. Wow, great article on the dangers and Health Effects when methylene chloride is used. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. I stripped the lead paint off the outside of an old cast iron tub using a low-VOC paint stripper suitable for lead paint, and then primed and painted the exterior. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. Adults? Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. Absolutely agree with this article. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. In our blog we state that methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). This is horrible People please do not use these DIY kits. But it's not just about looks. Always wear hand and eye protection. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. Because this process, which involves spraying a new topcoat on your existing tub and/or tile, is significantly cheaper, easier, cleaner, and less time-consuming than actually replacing a tub. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. Is it safe to stay???? We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. 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. 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. Provided your surface was prepped correctly, you can expect your reglazed tub and/or tile to be good for about seven to 10 years, and the more you take care of it, the longer it will last. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. Thank you for your comment. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! If youve been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Refinishing a bathtub is a fraction of the cost to replace your bathtub (around $2,900), so if youre at all hesitant about your DIY skills, hiring a pro is a somewhat small price to pay for your health and safety. Thank you! NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone.
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