Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. 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. Many stripping products (including those that may also be available to consumers) contain high percentages of methylene chloride. I have so many friends that are a part of DIY pages that encourage individuals to attempt these kinds of projects on their own, unknowingly knowing some of the real dangers. So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Simply not worth the risk. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. 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. What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? Why can strippers with this ingredient be sold to consumers in U.S. hardware stores that do _not_ sell the full-face air supplied respirators that should be worn while using it? If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. Traditional methods used for detecting methylene chloride involve air sampling pumps (calibrated at the desired air flow) and a sampling train with charcoal tubes as the collection media for methylene chloride. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. Thats why we see it a lot in historic neighborhoods.. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Thank you for this post. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. This post was helpful to me too. I have no experience in this type of work, my day job is a guidance counselor, but I started thinking about how we might prevent these fatalities from happening going forward, if using MC. Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. They hold soap scum, body oils, dirt, basically everything that comes off the human body will form a paste of scum. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. We have had a terrible experience. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? How do I know if this is toxic? It's 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. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. share Share. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. Your local health department may be able to provide assistance. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. 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 dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. 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. Takes longer and cost more but the client can pay the labor or feel free to do it themselves. 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. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. 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. But I keep on hitting dead ends. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. 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. thank you. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. This is a great article. 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. I recently had our tub sresurfaced as well as kitchen counters done, and the smell was so strong I dont know how these guys can do this every day. Finding a Miracle Method office. His go-to isScrubbing Bubbles. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. How to get your plans past the board, 3 NYC apartment bathroom renovation veterans on what they learned from the process, How to read a NYC co-op or condo buildings financial statement. Read more about our comment policy . Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. i come back again this blog, any way i think 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 may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. I would also like to issue one other caveat. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed.. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Stay safe! I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? 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. She refinished furniture in our garage. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. 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. 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 hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. If those working with these finishes have concerns about their health they can request a Health Hazard Evaluation from NIOSH at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/. 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. You can review and change the way we collect information below. We can ask questions and be well-informed. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. It can and will save your life. Mostly problem is that it can broken. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. She her nextwalked over to-door neighbor's apartment, where a team weari ng respirators was refinishi ng the bathroom with a spray-on resurfacing material and a chemical accelerator. As owner of a tub refinishing company we have moved away from polyurethane isocyanate systems years ago because of the hazards but, for educational purposes, we provide a dedicated page with links to various articles on our website explaining the dangers of isocyanate coating use in residential markets. If they continue, you should consult your doctor. Ventilate Your Work Area. 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. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. 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 . Bathtub. Now Im cleaning up the interior; its not in terrible condition, but it has a few chips and the surface is not as smooth as Id like. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. 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. What is this stuff? Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. 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. Until the finishing dries, it is a good idea to leave the house. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Hello. 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. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. Works on all types of surfaces. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Very interesting. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. good cotent, i like it. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. Not sure if it can come through the walls. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. 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. It has one small rust stain and is still moderately shiny. I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. Our beloved pet went into respiratory failure the next day, was rushed to the ER and spent three nights in the veterinarian ICU. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. Although we cant say there is any particular hazard from these paint chips, it would be prudent to prevent your toddler from eating the paint chips or bathing the toddler in water with material that is degrading from the tub into the water. 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. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. Thanks for sharing. 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. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. 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. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. I just rented a house. A fresh air system is critical. We are not familiar with the finishes you mention.
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