tub resurfacing fumes apartmentsection 962 election statement template
Absolutely agree with this article. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. Publication number 81-8b-2012, Successful bathtub stripping using sanding as an alternative to methylene chloride So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. The bath was not stripped just resurfaced with a very thin layer of the napco product paint. I and my two other friends went to the hospital last night to say our goodbyes. I think this type of finish should be banned. Karma: 3. I cant tell you how many times Ive told others in the field that are doing this to make sure they have more ventilation and to remove or re-coat the tube out of the bathroom and to at least not to do it without the proper breathing apparatus. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. Very good info. The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. I wish they warned me and Id have had means to stay out of house for a few days. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. My cat and I were both really sick afterwards and my cat has now passed on.no one told us to go anywhere else, my cat was unable to be transported anyway and so was I since Im handicapped. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. 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. Personally the bathtub reglazing odor resembles the aroma of a room after it has been painted and therefore the fragrance will keep within the facility for up to 2 days, this is not body odor we are . In February 2012, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to refinish a bathtub was found dead, slumped over a bathtub in an unventilated bathroom. if we do we get evicted. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. 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. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. I am thankful that I found this article before I made a final decision on whether or not to purchase a DIY kit for my tub interior. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. 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. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. Why? We are sorry to hear about your health issues. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. We can ask questions and be well-informed. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. 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. Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. good cotent, i like it. 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. Stripping products may also contain flammable solvents and flammability may be a concern. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. Hover Image to Zoom. 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. Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. We would appreciate your assistance in circulating the information in this blog and the Hazard Alert to those involved in bathtub refinishing. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. 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. Melissa. He also had a small fan in the bathroom window to remove the fumes, as well as towels on the floor to prevent odors from coming into the living area. 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. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. What are the effects of being in the house during the process (for our pets) and after the process (chemical wise around our kids). So, if the concentration were over the PEL, for example at 50 ppm, the workers would exceed the 25 ppm average limit in 4 hours. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? That is pretty serious stuff. share Share. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. But it's not just about looks. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. This post was helpful to me too. Thanks so much for the info! 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. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. Hello. 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. keep blogging~! I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. Thank you for your comment. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. "[The problem area] now takes up about a third of the bottom of the tub, because every time the water runs, more comes off," she says. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. The fumes from stripping a tub of its previous coating(s) can contain methylene chloride, a colorless liquid that smells similar to chloroform and emits VOCs, aka volatile organic compounds. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. 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. Publication number 81-8c-2013. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or difficulty staying awake require immediate medical attention. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? 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. It smelled awful for days. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. Simply not worth the risk. If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. We face inspections every year where lots of tubs are refinished in this building.but no precautions are ever taken to protect the residents and their animals. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. Superior heavy duty Reglazing. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure such as you describe. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? 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. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Methyl chloride has high vapor pressure, meaning that it evaporates extremely quickly and turns into gas that can easily be inhaled, especially in a small bathroom that may not be adequately ventilated. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. I think this should not be happening after 4 weeks but dont know what to do about it. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. 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. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. MC is not flammable on its own. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. The blog is not designed to provide personal medical or emergency information. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. We tried to open our window a bit. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. 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. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. 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. Read more about our comment policy . Adults? Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. And if we can afford it, let the pros do their jobs. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. Im 70 and have no place to go except my apartment. 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 just rented a house. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (read more about that here), and overall, is pleased with the results. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? My apartment manager refinished my bathtub about 2 1/2 years ago instead of buying a new one. Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. I regret it so much! Liners can leak and create mold problems. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. 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. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . 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. We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. If you are considering refinishing your bathtub or shower, click on Find a Location or call our toll free locator number, 1-888-271-7690 . 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. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. The coating and sanding are done alternatively. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. thank you so much. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. This post is so informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. i like it. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure.