Liners can leak and create mold problems. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. a great article! Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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 no shower, only this bath and no space for one. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. I dont think I had the right mask on. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. Thank you so much! Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. 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. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. I have read many articles but this is different one. This is a great article. 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. THANK YOU! You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Its better not to use methylene chloride for the safety of everybody. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Thanks for the post on this. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. I believe in situations like these, two or more workers would be present in the bathroom, when proper ventilation is impossible. I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. We have had a terrible experience. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. 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. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Thank you for sharing this useful information. The only ventilation in the hours between the reglazing and now was provided by the slatted windows in the bathroom. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. Not sure if it can come through the walls. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Please respond quickly. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. She refinished furniture in our garage. 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. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. That is really great to know. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Here's how to do it, How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else, A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm, How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly, From Boerum Hill to Prospect Lefferts Gardens: After years of renting, we wanted to buy a condo with amenities, What to know about buying in Briarwood, Queens, where you may score a house with a driveway and garage. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. So we need extra care. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). Instead, many homeowners have the existing tub reglazed or refinished, which typically costs $300-$600, depending on the area and process. 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. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? It was a cold day, so I went back inside. 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. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? I figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. Thanks for your comment. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. 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. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. Patrick. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. As my two other friends and I stood there over our lost brother, we could not help but cry, tell stories of our past together, and wish that he could hear us one last time. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. In February 2012, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to refinish a bathtub was found dead, slumped over a bathtub in an unventilated bathroom. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. Even a tiny bit? Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Hi, this is all so helpful. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? The health issues that you can face immediately and also in the future are not worth the risk. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. Thanks if you reply. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. There is an incredible amount of data I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. I had no choice but to return home. If you have a tub that has seen better days, but you dont want to remove and replace it completely, then you may need to have it reglazed or refinished to restore it to its original state. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. I think there should be more regulation on access to such chemicals and certainly there should be stringent training laws in place when it comes to using such chemicals. 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. How do I know if this is toxic? Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! Wow! This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. 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 . Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. Very interesting. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. print Print. 22 oz. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. Dust masks do not protect you from bathtub refinishing vapors. His death could have been easily prevented if he had simply had a co worker outside the door to verbally check on him every 30 seconds. I had my tub reglazed recently. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. 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? Thanks. 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. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. Keep up the good work! Thanks for telling us now. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. 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. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Simply not worth the risk. 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. We were told when we did it that it only lasts about five years and I'm finding that to betrue, she says. 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. Thank you. 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/. We use a spray-on compound that hardens to a polished and durable, like-new finish. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. 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.