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. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! 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. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. 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. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. CDC twenty four seven. If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. 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 . MC is not flammable on its own. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Bathtub Reglazing Experts. 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. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. The health issues that you can face immediately and also in the future are not worth the risk. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. She refinished furniture in our garage. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. We can ask questions and be well-informed. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. 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. Thanks for your comment. 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/. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. Open the bathroom door and as many . I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. 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. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? Ive read some incredible information in this article. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. 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. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. Thanks for your comment. 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. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. But I keep on hitting dead ends. Ron, I have a similar question to the one already asked. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. Thanks for your comment. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post. Even a tiny bit? This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. 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. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. Refinishing a bathtub is a fraction of the cost to replace your bathtub (around $2,900), so if youre at all hesitant about your DIY skills, hiring a pro is a somewhat small price to pay for your health and safety. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. Animal studies have shown that exposure to methylene chloride may lead to liver and lung cancer, as well as tumors in the breast and salivary glands. Is it safe to bath in especially for my toddler??? i come back again this blog, any way i think This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. Does anyone know if I should be worried? I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. If youve got an old bathtub(or bathroom) and youre investigating your options for giving it an upgrade, youve likely come across the term reglazingalso known as refinishing or recoating, which can revive a tiredtub or evenold bathroom tile. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Bathtub refinishing can be very dangerous indeed, I have seen many poorly trained so called bathtub refinishing specialists using dangerous chemicals to refinish bathtubs in peoples homes without the proper ventilation systems in place and without using the proper protective equipment necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. Thanks if you reply. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. This toxic chemical which is known to be carcinogenic is still used with no warnings of the dangers. The toxins became so concentrated in a short period of time due to lack if ventilation and confined space. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. That is pretty serious stuff. 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). A 2015 report by the Center for Public Integrity on U.S. deaths connected to methylene chloride noted that researchers have argued for 30 years that regulation of methylene chloride in the U.S. isnt strong enough to protect workers and that warnings on labels for consumers are insufficient. Quite naive of me. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. I have read many articles but this is different one. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. 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. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. Its staff and technicians from any and . Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! I went to clean out the tub to take another shower myself and by just barely cleaning it a whole bunch of paint came off, like over a foot and I was just barely scrubbing! We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and/or loved ones due to CM. 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. Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. 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. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. Now its already peeling. I think this type of finish should be banned. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. 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. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Thanks! 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. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. Many post pictures but up close you cant see the brush strokes they leave behind. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. Consult the OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert for specific information regarding engineering controls, exposure levels and air monitoring, personal protective equipment, worker training and medical surveillance. Cristine. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. I have 2 small kids and an infant. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information.
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