Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless a great article! Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? Resurfacing is when we paint the counters, cabinets or tubs. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. 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. Thanks! I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Is there some disconnect between science, policy and legal enforcement? The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Plumbing Problem? 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 Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? I think this type of finish should be banned. Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. I wish they warned me and Id have had means to stay out of house for a few days. This may be an ignorant comment, so please accept my apology preemptively if so. Hover Image to Zoom. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. These are classified as potential human carcinogens according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and protective gear should be worn when working with them. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. 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. This post was helpful to me too. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Provided your surface was prepped correctly, you can expect your reglazed tub and/or tile to be good for about seven to 10 years, and the more you take care of it, the longer it will last. I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. This is poor. 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. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. Even a tiny bit? If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. 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. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. 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 sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. If youre nervous, leaving your apartment for the duration of the job is always an option. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). It can and will save your life. Sad to hear, but at least proves to me that I was right! A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. And I havent been able to use mine in years to due mobility being so compromised. Kimberly Evans. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. I think there should be more regulation on access to such chemicals and certainly there should be stringent training laws in place when it comes to using such chemicals. Now Im cleaning up the interior; its not in terrible condition, but it has a few chips and the surface is not as smooth as Id like. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. Its staff and technicians from any and . 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. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Thank you. As a result, most tenants moved. Apartments | Specialized Refinishing Co. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. Thanks for sharing. 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. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. The fumes are stronger fumes so we do not allow anyone to be in the apartment for 8 hours. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! Thanks for your comment. You can refinish a tub yourself if youre a true DIY-er, but the new finish can look painted or different than the original color or texture. It is amazing that I get over 100 hits per month on the article from homeowners who are fumed out during and after refinishing. 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 am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe? Its thick, full-seal coating restores tub surfaces to a "like new" bright gloss. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. Is Bathtub Refinishing Safe? | Tub Reglazing Fumes & Safety - Angi If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. 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. Coatings suitable for bathtub reglazing include: You can use these materials on several surfaces, including acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass bathtubs. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. I went to clean out the tub to take another shower myself and by just barely cleaning it a whole bunch of paint came off, like over a foot and I was just barely scrubbing! Finding a Miracle Method office. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. We can ask questions and be well-informed. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. The Environmental Protection Agency provides general information and resources on indoor air quality in apartments, see https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments. I figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? Thank you! Its highly toxic Teri. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. 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. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. I am all for saving money and dont wish to come off like I dont appreciate the effort but if your already saving $5000 why not let a pro do it. Thanks! I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. Gerda. Refinishing a bathtub is a less costly . 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. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. Changing ones business practices and methods can certainly be a daunting task and a big decision, but in the case of methylene chloride and bathtubs it is an important, potentially lifesaving one. We use a spray-on compound that hardens to a polished and durable, like-new finish. I will always do the research beforehand going forward. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. I regret it so much! Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. Always wear hand and eye protection. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. Patrick. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Ive spoken with many other tub resurfacing company owners and employees, and most of them do not use or even own full-face air-supplied respirators. 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. 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. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. My question is about whether it leaches during use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. 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. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. Please respond quickly. [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says. i come back again this blog, any way i think Pacific Reglazing | Bathtub Reglazing Experts However, it's not necessary if the bathroom is properly ventilated. Melissa. How much does moving to the suburbs cost vs. staying in NYC? Overwhelming toxic fumes from renovations on a neighbor's apartment Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed.
