After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). 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. All the tips in the post are great. 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. Needless to say, I was shocked, I am taken aback by the statistics. I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Thanks!
Bathtub Refinishing | Benefits & Considerations in 2023 | REthority 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. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well.
Bathtub Reglazing Los Angeles CA | Fiberglass Porcelain Refinishing Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated.
Surface Designers Remodeling Inc - Bathtub Refinishing in Houston, Texas Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. Ron, 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. We use a spray-on compound that hardens to a polished and durable, like-new finish. 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. 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. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. 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. My question is about whether it leaches during use. I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? Methylene chloride exposure may cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, a feeling of intoxication, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. Thank you for your comment. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? "[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. 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. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. Very interesting. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. 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. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. 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. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. 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. 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. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. I have tried a couple of my wifes lotions to easy the burning, which has only made it worse.. any suggestion on what to take the stinging away.. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. She refinished furniture in our garage. For example, if your pipes have burst, spilling water into the unit, a day or two may be reasonable, assuming that the landlord can employ a qualified repair person within that time period . "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. 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. 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. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White.
9 Easy Steps to Refinish Your Bathtub | Lowe's Good to see so much effort going into bringing awareness to bathtub refinishing in Waltham. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. They know where people bathe. Thanks for sharing, Im sure it will really come in handy. 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. We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. What to know about adding skylights to your NYC brownstone or apartment, How to evaluate different types of NYC contractor bids when you're renovating, New Yorkers moving out of state save more money on housing than taxes, 5 houses for sale in Margaretville, NY, a small town in the Catskills, 5 houses for sale in Sagaponack, the most expensive zip code in NY. How do I know if this is toxic? 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 this information. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. It can and will save your life. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. 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? Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or difficulty staying awake require immediate medical attention. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. I asked the doctors if they collect lifestyle information and report it to the government so correlations can be made about cause and effect they said no. Adults? If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. The Environmental Protection Agency provides general information and resources on indoor air quality in apartments, see https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. Thank you for your comment. 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. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Methyl chloride has high vapor pressure, meaning that it evaporates extremely quickly and turns into gas that can easily be inhaled, especially in a small bathroom that may not be adequately ventilated. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to levels above OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs) of 25 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 125 ppm over any 15-minute period (short-term exposure limit or STEL) (29 CFR 1910.1052(c)). After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. Theyll also ensure adequate ventilation during the project, if necessary deploying powerful fans with duct extensions to exhaust hazardous vapors to the outdoors, says DeClerico. Step 2: Clean the Tub Thoroughly Step 3: Protect Areas Around the Tub Step 4: Remove the Glaze Step 5: Sand the Surface Step 6: Prep the Surface for Glaze Application
Don't Replace, Renew | Surface Renew How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. We do have pets and have young kids. We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. Thanks. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit.