tub resurfacing fumes apartment

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/. You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. Our beloved pet went into respiratory failure the next day, was rushed to the ER and spent three nights in the veterinarian ICU. The Perfect Drying Conditions You should let the tub surface to cure for 24 to 48 hours. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. All the tips in the post are great. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. Pros will have the correct gear, knowledge of how to ventilate the space and protect themselves, and familiarity with the various chemicals used so you dont need to worry about keeping yourself safe. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. The tub needs to go. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. 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. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Very interesting. My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. good cotent, i like it. (323) 396-1030. [email protected]. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. Hello. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. Extraction during the process is everything. Im 70 and have no place to go except my apartment. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. I never post anything anywhere. Liners can leak and create mold problems. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. Thanks for your comment. share Share. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. If you are concerned for your pets, it may be a good idea to remove them from the home during the stripping process. Moreover, because methylene chloride evaporates quickly (it has a high vapor pressure), vapors can collect in the bottom of a bathtub and in the workers breathing zone when working in the bathtub. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. I think this type of finish should be banned. Gerda. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing? I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. I have 2 small kids and an infant. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. Karma: 3. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. That is a shocking statistic, At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. He was found unconscious minutes later and was rushed to the emergency room, several neuro tests where done and they all concluded the same thing.. Kevin had been brain dead before he was found on the job. 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. I manage a home related business in Australia and we are often exposed to applications that we are unsure of what dangers we could be exposed to. If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. 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. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. This post was helpful to me too. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. print Print. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. I live in Newark housing and I have been there for 11 years and every 9 months they have to paint the tub and I have to stay in the house after they paint it and it keeps messing up can you tell me what should I do. When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. I take epsom salt baths and the salts are absorbed systemically. 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. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. The home I purchased a few years ago came with cast iron bathtub and ceramic tile walls that had been covered with a 2-step epoxy finish. White is popular, but we can do pretty much any color you have in mind. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. keep blogging~! Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. The concentration of the exposure is important too. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! 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 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! They were wearing some gas mask type stuff while they were doing it, but I have noticed even after spraying the fumes were strong; and I was outside when they did this. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. 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. But I keep on hitting dead ends. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. Now its already peeling. 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 figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. In Europe, the use of paint strippers containing more than 0.1 % methylene chloride is allowed only in industrial installations with adequate controls to reduce exposure. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Thanks for the great post. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. 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. 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. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. Works on all types of surfaces. $ 89 00. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. I didnt think too much about it. 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. Pacific Reglazing provides high quality, affordable kitchen and bathroom repair and refinishing services throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, the San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange County and Riverside County. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. *By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors, Copyright 2009-2022 by BrickUnderground | PrivacyPolicy | TermsofService | AdChoices | Login, National Association of Real Estate Editors. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. 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 We are inconsolable. It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. 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 . The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? Is that smell dangerous for children? Your email address will not be published. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. She enjoyed improving discarded furniture, then selling it it was like art to her. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. There is an incredible amount of data I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. Thanks! Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. 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. 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. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? Its like trying to paint a car yourself. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. We have for years been trying to come up with a Stripper that will remove Epoxy DIY kits that do not have the Methylene Chloride but time is an issue. No warning that fumes would make me sick. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. Wow, great article on the dangers and Health Effects when methylene chloride is used. Never stay where resurfacing is being done. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. 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? I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. I opened my windows, all four. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. 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. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. Hover Image to Zoom. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. 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/. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. i like it. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. I am all for saving money and dont wish to come off like I dont appreciate the effort but if your already saving $5000 why not let a pro do it. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. I think this type of finish should be banned. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. We have had a terrible experience. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. Is it safe to bath in especially for my toddler??? HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. Read more about our comment policy . Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. 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. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. You should always wear protective clothing and use the appropriate safety-rated equipment whenever you are doing any household repair or remodeling work, and reglazing a bathtub is no exception. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Keep up the good work! 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. 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. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. Thank you so much! 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. Adults? If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time.