thank you so much. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? 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. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? 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. And again, dont be afraid to ask. How do I know if this is toxic? The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. In our blog we state that methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. I went outside after he was finished. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. 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. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. I regret it so much! That is pretty serious stuff. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. I have learned some incredible information in this report. Thank you. Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same! I have asked for the list of chemicals they use but have not heard anything. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. I smelled that horrible smell for nearly 3 weeks after he was doneeven my cigarette smoke couldnt compete. Thank you for sharing this useful information. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. 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 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. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! I would like to know. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. We can ask questions and be well-informed. information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. Is it dangerous to any or all of us? ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. THANK YOU! Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. Bare minimum, the ventilation should meet some requirements, and homeowners should HAVE to LEAVE THE HOUSE for 3 days. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Its better not to use methylene chloride for the safety of everybody. It smelled awful for days. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. Contact Us Today For A Free Bathtub Refinish Estimate Call [phone] or complete the contact form below for a FREE estimate! However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. Always wear hand and eye protection. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? Why? Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. I say this because his co workers where in the other bathroom working. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. Thank you for your comment. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. Mostly problem is that it can broken. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of 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 is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. We sure take a lot things for granted. Im 70 and have no place to go except my apartment. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. good cotent, i like it. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Thanks for sharing. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. I have tried a couple of my wifes lotions to easy the burning, which has only made it worse.. any suggestion on what to take the stinging away.. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. One of the significant risks of refinishing a bathtub is exposure to methylene chloride or dichloromethane, which strips the tub and removes the previous glaze or finish. 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. The vapors should subside after awhile and you should not be able to smell the strong odor. I usually like to do things myself, but I think I will have to find someone to do my bathtub repair in concord ma. Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. Pros will have the correct gear, knowledge of how to ventilate the space and protect themselves, and familiarity with the various chemicals used so you dont need to worry about keeping yourself safe. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. I did not realize how strong the chemical is, and now I am concerned about any (however microscopic) of this leeching into my bathwater and onto my skin. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. 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 . I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site.