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. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (, Moving to NYC after college? 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. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. Thank you for this post. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Ron, I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. 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. I remember my grandfather saying something about antifreeze having that safety precaution I believe. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. I had no choice but to return home. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Ive read some incredible information in this article. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. 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. I will always do the research beforehand going forward. 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. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 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. It is now peeling off. This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. Instead, many homeowners have the existing tub reglazed or refinished, which typically costs $300-$600, depending on the area and process. 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. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Or will we be ok?? With just a day or two of work, reglazing the centerpiece of your bathroom with a durable coating and color is an easy way to give your tub a quick facelift without breaking the bank. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. I just rented a house. Thank you for your comment. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and/or loved ones due to CM. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . We have had a terrible experience. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. share Share. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. $ 89 00. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. 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. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. Bathtub Refinishing Countertop Refinishing Vanity Refinishing Fiberglass Enclosures Wall Tile I have stripped hundreds of tubs. Thanks for your comment. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! I believe in situations like these, two or more workers would be present in the bathroom, when proper ventilation is impossible. 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. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. /box. But it's not just about looks. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. This post was helpful to me too. Thanks for your comment. Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. Just wonderful post, personally i am very interested for this topic. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. 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. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. We do have pets and have young kids. Of course I wont be using it for a good week or so just to be safe, but I dont even use bleach or Flash to clean my tub because of the chemicals getting into the bathwater; even rinsing thoroughly. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. Thank you! I have used this product recently on a tub used all the proper PPE and approved NIOSH mask and jump suit and I have tasted this awful taste in my mouth for a couple of days its been 2 weeks and I still kinda feel it in my chest. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. 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.. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. 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. 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. Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? 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. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. 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. 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/ ). I think people always take safety for too lightly. 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. 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. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. 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. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. If you feel you are in danger, you should contact your local emergency services for assistance. Works on all types of surfaces. Find them at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. 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. 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. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. Melissa. 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. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%.

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