tub resurfacing fumes apartment tub resurfacing fumes apartment

Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. It is now peeling off. I think this type of finish should be banned. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. Needless to say, I was shocked, I am taken aback by the statistics. We need to care when the baths are refinished. The odor and fumes were suffocating. Even if you hire a professional to reglaze or refinish your bathtub, you and your family or other residents should leave the property during the entire process, including while the epoxy coat cures after application. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. 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. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. They hold soap scum, body oils, dirt, basically everything that comes off the human body will form a paste of scum. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Thanks for your comment. I opted in for your Feed too. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! Stay safe! A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. I figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. 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. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Thanks! Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. If you feel you are in danger, you should contact your local emergency services for assistance. Why can strippers with this ingredient be sold to consumers in U.S. hardware stores that do _not_ sell the full-face air supplied respirators that should be worn while using it? Bathtubs should be refinished every seven to 10 years, or more frequently if there is significant damage, stained, or you (or your homes previous owners) havent been cleaning your bathtub the right way. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . Works on all types of surfaces. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? It can and will save your life. Every 10 minutes or so I would have to leave and go outside because my eyes burning so bad. Our tub was just resurfaced today I was told six hours after they got done we could return to the apartment and stay the night just cant use the tub or take the tape off for 48 hours is that safe? Your article has truly peaked my interest. Perhaps this us not the case. 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. I own a small bathtub refinishing business and we have committed to stay away from M.C. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no 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. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. Ventilate Your Work Area. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. 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. That is really great to know. When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Very interesting. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? 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. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. Bathtub. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. Now its already peeling. Your email address will not be published. and products contain ISOs. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. I used a paint scraper and razor to completely strip the tub. Your local health department may be able to provide assistance. This study is great for warning against the potential dangers. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. Its really awesome and very dangers take care guys We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. 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. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. After the surface has dried, it is 100% safe to use the bathroom fixture. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. 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. "[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. if we do we get evicted. 21 people who I worked with at that time have all died,one very recently with cancer. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. Thanks for telling us now. 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. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. 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. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. 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. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. I think this type of finish should be banned. In workers with heart disease, an increase in carbon monoxide may lead to early onset heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Myown life was almost cut short stripping a bathtub and I was using the best Equipment money can buy but machinery or equipment can fail. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. My apartment complex refinished nicks in tub. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. Never stay where resurfacing is being done. Not worth it. If methylene chloride was used to strip the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing (the focus of our blog), it is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. This post was helpful to me too. 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 . AND DURING CLEANING. Why? Is that legal? very good and helpful post thanks to author. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? 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 . Please let me know where to seek more information, particularly in the Australian climate? I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. THANK YOU! Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. Surface Designers have been in business for over 20 years resurfacing bathtubs and countertops. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. Finding a Miracle Method office. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Fumes associated with bathtub stripping chemicals have taken the lives of those that did not follow the warnings on the product. Thanks for your comment. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers.