tub resurfacing fumes apartment

i like it. 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. 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 seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? We are sorry to hear about your health issues. 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. 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. Until the finishing dries, it is a good idea to leave the house. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. good cotent, i like it. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. I live in low income housing, a few years ago they said my tub need to be refinished. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. I myself am in the process of creating a technique that will eliminate the need for methylene chloride. (Airoldi'scontractor brought a fan and blew air out the bathroom window, and she was home during the job, but didn't find the smell intolerable.). The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. 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. Is that smell dangerous for children? I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. I learned a lot and want to ask a question about the dangers. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? It was heart breaking. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. Posts: 19. I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. Is there any type of detector on the market that will detect high levels of methlene chloride vapors? Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. I think people always take safety for too lightly. We are inconsolable. Wow! I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. The Perfect Drying Conditions You should let the tub surface to cure for 24 to 48 hours. Migraine, dizzy, shortness of breath. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. 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. thank you. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? It is definitely a good idea to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove the residual vapors. That is a shocking statistic, At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. Apartments | Specialized Refinishing Co. 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. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. Ron, NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 ways to save on your bathroom renovation, Renovating a co-op? I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. It was a cold day, so I went back inside. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. Use a qualified occupational safety and health specialist to assist in the design and installation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to effectively control vapors to below applicable PELs. 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. 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. Agree with your perspective. 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 . Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Plumbing Problem? Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. Very good info. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Tub and tile were original to the 1957 home and were actually not in bad shape. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. Thanks! She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. 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. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? Tub reglazing: What you need to know about this affordable but stinky If you have concerns you should discuss them with a medical professional. 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. Thank you for your comment. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. Does anyone know if I should be worried? Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. 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. I will always do the research beforehand going forward. 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. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? 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. Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. OSHAs Methylene Chloride standard (29 CFR 1910.1052) requires employers to test the air to determine the concentration of methylene chloride present in the air when a product containing methylene chloride is used (29 CFR 1910.1052(d)). In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. Thanks for telling us now. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. I know this because the epoxy finish began peeling away within a couple months of daily use. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. Ventilate Your Work Area. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted.