Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Will these chemicals be leaching out of the surface, presenting a health concern from contact? Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? The vapors should subside after awhile and you should not be able to smell the strong odor. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. Thank you for the great information. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Thanks for your comment. OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. /box. My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. share Share. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Acid is then applied to deglaze the tub and/or tile, followed by a bonding agent or primer, and finally, a urethane topcoat is applied. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. Awsome and useful informations too, thanks for sharing this educational post! Superior heavy duty Reglazing. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. When there is not a properly designed local exhaust ventilation system to remove vapors, the workers should have used full-face supplied-air respirators, protective gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is resistant to methylene chloride during the entire refinishing process. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. Hello. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. 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. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. Thanks for your comment. 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. 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. We have had a terrible experience. Thank you for sharing this useful information. and products contain ISOs. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. Thank you for this post. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. Need professional help with your project? I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. I regret it so much! Melissa. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. (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. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? Sometimes, it's less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if it's a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. The fact of the matter is that using a professional that is trained and well-versed in the safety measures of bathtub refinishing; is critical, and can not only protect the owners of the property, but those performing the job! What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers When selecting a PID care must be taken to make sure that the instrument is equipped with a lamp that has the ionization potential necessary to detect methylene chloride (11.7 eV lamp). 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. Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. This post was helpful to me too. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. 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. Thanks for telling us now. Very good info. Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. 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. At Specialized Refinishing, we have a team of highly experienced, certified refinishing and reglazing technicians who can restore and revitalize a wide variety of surfaces and fixtures in your rental property or before you put a house on the market. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. Keep up the good work! But it's not just about looks. During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. 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. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. I didnt realize this was so deadly. Our tub was just resurfaced today I was told six hours after they got done we could return to the apartment and stay the night just cant use the tub or take the tape off for 48 hours is that safe? Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? thank you. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. 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. Is that smell dangerous for children? The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. I have never thought of this before! I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. How do I know if this is toxic? Hover Image to Zoom. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. i come back again this blog, any way i think Hello I have stripped hundreds of tubs. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. There is a lot of toxicological information available on the Internet which can be found by joining the term MSDS with as specific a description of the product about which you are interested in knowing. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. Barely 3 days later I now have pluracy and bronchitis, i feel the building should be held responsible as we werent notified of the dangers. It is now peeling off. However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). Since methylene chloride is a volatile organic compound that will evaporate faster when sprayed, brushed, or poured, the chemical vapors can quickly build up in small spaces. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. The specific effects of methylene chloride exposure will vary depending on several factors, such as the amount of methylene chloride the worker is exposed to, how long the exposure lasts, and whether the worker has a higher susceptibility (for example, having a preexisting heart condition). Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. Now what about substances that are used in bathtub refinishing as final top-coats such as Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane, or, another, as one company advertises: Porcelain Glaze-a new type of chemical finish. What is porcelain glaze? My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. 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. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. 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. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Whenever respirators are required to be worn, the employer must establish and implement a complete respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of OSHAs Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), including proper selection, usage, training and medical surveillance (OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, February 2013, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2013-110 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-110/ ). Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. keep blogging~! I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Its staff and technicians from any and . 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. Works on all types of surfaces. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. The odor and fumes were suffocating. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. 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. 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. Absolutely agree with this article. 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 . 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. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. IT IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.I LIKE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME AS WELL. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. Gerda. It hurt to know that such a good person you loved and cared about so much is now gone. 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/. 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. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. Unless you have access to all the necessary protective clothing and equipment and are confident in your bathrooms ventilation system as well as your DIY capabilities, you should hire a professional to handle it. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). I wonder if it healthy & ok to use the tub for baths after a certain period of tome (days?). As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. 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. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. 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. It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. If you are concerned for your pets, it may be a good idea to remove them from the home during the stripping process. We use a spray-on compound that hardens to a polished and durable, like-new finish. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. There is apparently limited research on this issue, but there are case studies of some children getting lead poisoning from bathing in an old bathtub that was leaching lead. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. Remove the overflow plate from the tub and begin the caulk removal stage.Start by removing the caulk around the tub where it meets the tile surround. It was a cold day, so I went back inside. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. However, the human body can quickly become desensitized to the smell and a worker may be overexposed even if he or she can no longer smell it. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. Thanks for your comment. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. 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 My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. 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. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. Thanks for the great post. 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. However, we have shared the findings of this work and made recommendations to manufacturers and with agencies that may have regulatory/legal authority, including those with oversight beyond the workplace. It gives me hope to see that some commenters are specialists who are trying to recreate safer and more effective processes that will phase out use of this agent. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. However, during the refinishing process, it is not possible for us to guess what the airborne concentration of methylene chloride may be in your home without knowing how the workers will be using methylene chloride and how they plan to ventilate the work area and the house. While NIOSH research and prevention efforts typically focus on workers, worker representatives and employers, the readers of this blog may be able to help us reach the do-it-yourself community who can face the same risks. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. There is an incredible amount of data I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. I didnt think too much about it. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. Stay safe! The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. 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. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas.
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