A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. Kimberly Evans. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. 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. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. Thank you for your comment. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. 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.. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. He also had a small fan in the bathroom window to remove the fumes, as well as towels on the floor to prevent odors from coming into the living area. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. 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. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY SO NO DANGEROUS FUMES? Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. We can ask questions and be well-informed. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. Surface Designers Remodeling Inc - Bathtub Refinishing in Houston, Texas This is in Australia. 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. We sure take a lot things for granted. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Note that humidity affects both dry time and how well the topcoat bonds to the surface, so the cool, less-humid seasons of fall or spring providethe best conditions for this type of work. I have never thought of this before! All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. Perfect for renters, apartment dwellers, and residential or commercial tubs, sinks, showers. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. 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. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Your email address will not be published. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? It is really shocking that stripping agents contrain toxic elements in them. I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. Apartments | Specialized Refinishing Co. Its staff and technicians from any and . I have been in hat business for 20 years. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. But if we get together as a group of experienced bathtub refinishers I am positive that we can come up with a simple solution that will keep us safe. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. 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. Bathtub Refinishing 101: Tackle This DIY Project in 7 Steps Karma: 3. So we need extra care. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. Ms. Scott thank you for your interest in our blog Dangers of Bathtub Refinishing and your question regarding how to assess exposure to toxic vapors. 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. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Ive read some incredible information in this article. How Long Does It Take the Tub to Dry After Reglazing? MC is not flammable on its own. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. That is pretty serious stuff. 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. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. Rents an apartment with ventilation that mixes with neighbors and brings odors from adjacent apartments, Was subjected to highly toxic fumes from maintenance being performed on a neighboring apartment Suffered from effects of those fumes, and nearly succumbing to them (Removing a tub and installing a new one can cost thousands, and if youre in an apartment building, it might even require getting your downstairs neighbor involved as it may impact plumbing beyond your apartment. This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. 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. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? 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. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Great article. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Why? He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. The nearby exterior door was open for ventilation and the overhead fan was blowing and although they had a pipe going from the bathroom down the hall and out the front door this was not sufficient. I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. If youve got an old bathtub(or bathroom) and youre investigating your options for giving it an upgrade, youve likely come across the term reglazingalso known as refinishing or recoating, which can revive a tiredtub or evenold bathroom tile. Sometimes, you may need to refinish your bathtub which requires chemical coating with special kind of brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub. 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. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub.