My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. I am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe? Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. I have learned some incredible information in this report. This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. 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. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. I usually like to do things myself, but I think I will have to find someone to do my bathtub repair in concord ma. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. i come back again this blog, any way i think I think this type of finish should be banned. The second method uses no chemical stripper but relies instead on scraping and mechanical sanding to remove bathtub finishes. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). Now its already peeling. However, the human body can quickly become desensitized to the smell and a worker may be overexposed even if he or she can no longer smell it. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. Works on all types of surfaces. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Traditional methods used for detecting methylene chloride involve air sampling pumps (calibrated at the desired air flow) and a sampling train with charcoal tubes as the collection media for methylene chloride. 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. Finding a Miracle Method office. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. The coating and sanding are done alternatively. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. At Specialized Refinishing, we have a team of highly experienced, certified refinishing and reglazing technicians who can restore and revitalize a wide variety of surfaces and fixtures in your rental property or before you put a house on the market. CDC twenty four seven. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. Please respond quickly. Whenever respirators are required to be worn, the employer must establish and implement a complete respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of OSHAs Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), including proper selection, usage, training and medical surveillance (OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, February 2013, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2013-110 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-110/ ). The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. Overwhelming toxic fumes from renovations on a neighbor's apartment The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. 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. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. It is now peeling off. How to Refinish A Bathtub - DIY Bathtub Refinishing What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? Thanks for sharing. The fact of the matter is that using a professional that is trained and well-versed in the safety measures of bathtub refinishing; is critical, and can not only protect the owners of the property, but those performing the job! Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. Frequently Asked Questions - Bathtub Refinishing - Miracle Method 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. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. I manage a home related business in Australia and we are often exposed to applications that we are unsure of what dangers we could be exposed to. We always use full-face air-supplied masks and full protective gloves in order to get the job done correctly AND safely. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. We share your concern for the workers who worked on the tub in a confined space with the door closed. 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. The Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has profiled two businesses that successfully strip bathtubs without MC. 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. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. If they continue, you should consult your doctor. 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. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. 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. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any PDF Acute Lung Disease from Bathtub Refinishing - University of California It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. 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 . 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. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. 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. We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . I certainly will be approaching this much differently. (323) 396-1030. [email protected]. Quite naive of me. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Ventilate Your Work Area. This is poor. His death could have been easily prevented if he had simply had a co worker outside the door to verbally check on him every 30 seconds. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY SO NO DANGEROUS FUMES? Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. 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. 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. Its like trying to paint a car yourself. Thanks! The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. There is an incredible amount of data Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. This post was helpful to me too. They know where people bathe. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. And if we can afford it, let the pros do their jobs. It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. The concentration of the exposure is important too. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? 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. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. Ill mention it to my readers on my real estate site. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? While bathtub refinishing is one I havent tried, I do know that in-home work with many types of cleaners, paints and strippers and adhesives is always going to be a concern due to poor air circulation indoors, and sometimes outdoors too. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well.