tub resurfacing fumes apartment

Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. Prolonged skin contact may cause irritation and even chemical burns. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! An apartment maintenance man entered the apartment to look for the man and found him behind the closed bathroom door, unresponsive, and slumped over the tub. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. Hi, this is all so helpful. I would like to know. The whole job will take around 5 hours after which you will have a reglazed bathtub. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. 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. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Thank you. 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. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. 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 could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Ventilate Your Work Area. 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 . 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. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General, http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA, http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html, http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/, https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. No warning that fumes would make me sick. We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. But two days later it still bothers me. We do have pets and have young kids. If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. Thats why we see it a lot in historic neighborhoods.. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? How do I know if this is toxic? 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/. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. I just rented a house. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. 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 A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Thanks for the great post. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? 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. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. I hope the fumes and the tub return to a safe level. Gerda. 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. Its a multi-step process that involves cleaning the tub thoroughly and sanding it to remove any soap scum or other particles, and repairing cracks or worn areasall of these imperfections will affect the quality and durability of the final finishing coat. The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. I opened my windows, all four. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. 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 Superior heavy duty Reglazing. Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. There were 13 Fatal Exposures to Methylene Chloride Paint Strippers Among Bathtub Refinishers in the last decade. (Centers for Disease Control) Not to mention those who experience unexplained symptoms that go undiagnosed that may also be caused from these dangerous bathtub refinishing and paint stripping chemicals. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. But if we ever have it done again, I will definitely check to be sure its a safe process for the workers AND the homeowners. We do not tread lightly, so I think we are a good example to work off of in terms of durability., Of the overall aesthetic, particularly the walls, she says: If you look closely, it's a little weird as you see the indent of the grout lines, but it's all one texture. Posts: 19. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? In September 2011, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to strip the glaze from a bathtub collapsed in the bathtub and later died. Thank you for your comment. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? We are inconsolable. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Patrick. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. I have read reglazing tub reviews where a few customers couldn't take the scent while others had no issue with the bathtub reglazing odor. As owner of a tub refinishing company we have moved away from polyurethane isocyanate systems years ago because of the hazards but, for educational purposes, we provide a dedicated page with links to various articles on our website explaining the dangers of isocyanate coating use in residential markets. Use full-face air-supplied respirators, protective gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is resistant to methylene chloride during the entire refinishing process. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. thank you. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. 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 have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. Melissa. NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. a great article! They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would fully evaporate shortly after a project is completed. 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. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! Is it safe to stay???? Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. I very much agree with you, that safety and health is a very important thing in our lives, I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. and it was very helpful for people, In addition to the hazards of strippers, old porcelain bathtubs, sinks and tiles manufactured before the mid-1990s could also have lead in the glaze, which could leach into bathwater, or if sanded or scraped could form a dust that if ingested by young children (who touch it with bare skin) could cause lead poisoning. Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. very good and helpful post thanks to author. 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. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! 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. Thanks! NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. 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. 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.. This post was helpful to me too. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. 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. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. thank you so much. *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. I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. She wont fix it since they are going to remodel in the future. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. 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. 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 either not portable or cost prohibitive. 22 oz. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. I had a tub refinished with epoxy that had a bad smell, but nothing like this. 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. Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post. Thanks! Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. Here's how to do it, How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else, A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm, How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly, From Boerum Hill to Prospect Lefferts Gardens: After years of renting, we wanted to buy a condo with amenities, What to know about buying in Briarwood, Queens, where you may score a house with a driveway and garage. 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. 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. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. 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. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. It hurt to know he was no longer mentality or livingly present with us in that room. My tub will soon be refinished and I am glad I have read this article. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. I remember my grandfather saying something about antifreeze having that safety precaution I believe. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. We can ask questions and be well-informed. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. 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. Thanks for sharing. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. 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. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. I wish they warned me and Id have had means to stay out of house for a few days. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Never stay where resurfacing is being done. I never post anything anywhere. Winter renters lose leverage, questions for condo and co-op buyers, & more, The allure of tax abatements, a Chelsea affordable housing lottery, & more, Co-ops may have some 'splaining to do, renting a penthouse, & more. This is a great article. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. 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. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. In years past, when lead-based paints were used in various home applications, various studies showed that small children (toddlers) were known to ingest (eat) paint chips. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? Thank you so much for this great article and hope that others now are aware of the safety measures that need to be followed. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? All the tips in the post are great. You can review and change the way we collect information below. 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. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. 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. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad, theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. If the cost of removing the old tub and installing a new one versus reglazing are similar or your tub is particularly old or damaged, it might be better to get a new one.

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