What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. To ensure their safety, the employees should have left the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. I think they want things swept under the carpet. Thanks! We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. Ventilate Your Work Area. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. 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. 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. 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. Thats why we see it a lot in historic neighborhoods.. 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. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Use a qualified occupational safety and health specialist to assist in the design and installation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to effectively control vapors to below applicable PELs. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. 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. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products.I think this type of finish should be banned.This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. Or should I leave? Not sure if it can come through the walls. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. 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. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. 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. What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. share Share. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. Very good info. Your article has truly peaked my interest. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? The tub needs to go. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. Almost every technical field has harmful effects but its on the company or professional person that how they can deal with it. How do I know if this is toxic? I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Always wear hand and eye protection. 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. If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. Contractors who handle bathtub refinishing or reglazing are well-versed in the health risks and OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Association) guidelines for risky jobs like these, making it an easy choice to bring in an expert for the task. Price changing out your bathtubs before ever considering a refinishing product that is known to be toxic! 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. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. There is an incredible amount of data 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. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. if we do we get evicted. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. (Airoldi'scontractor brought a fan and blew air out the bathroom window, and she was home during the job, but didn't find the smell intolerable.). Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. But two days later it still bothers me. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Instead, many homeowners have the existing tub reglazed or refinished, which typically costs $300-$600, depending on the area and process. Hello Im Derrick I used this last night now this morning Im sick as a dog headache stomachache am throwing up I didnt use a mask. 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. The vapors should subside after awhile and you should not be able to smell the strong odor. 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. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. Thanks! The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. Thank you for your comment. I figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? 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. I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. Im not aware of any can anyone point me in the right direction please? There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Its staff and technicians from any and . So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. 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)). You can refinish a tub yourself if youre a true DIY-er, but the new finish can look painted or different than the original color or texture. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Now its already peeling. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? 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. 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. Bathtub refinishing is being used more by hotels, apartment complexes and homeowners because of a housing downturn, a mortgage-meltdown, and overall depressed and depressing economy as a way to save money in their bathroom renovation. 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. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. HOPING THE SAME FINEST OPERATE IN THE UP COMING DAYS ALSO. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? Read more about our comment policy . I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. After most fumes and smell went away two days later i still had muscle pain and spasms all over, headache, very sick and weak, skin burned and stung, could feel it in my lungs. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. 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. 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. The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. Thank you for this post. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. Hi, this is all so helpful. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. My question is about whether it leaches during use. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. 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. 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. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things.

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