My personal opinion is that the applicator needs to be redesigned. Do not use a foam applicator or roller. It is very important that all coats be thin. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. Is it safe to bath in especially for my toddler??? The standard also sets a 12.5 ppm action level (AL) which triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance provisions. I’ll mention it to my readers on my real estate site. The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Hi there. You will love it. NewBath Bath Sink Shower Tiles Resurfacing Enamel White Water Resistant 2K Paint 500ml 4.2 out of 5 stars 298. If I do decide to hire a professional, I will make sure they have the ventilation equipment described here. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. Or will we be ok?? As a result, most tenants moved. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. I think this blog is very helpful in knowing about the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products.We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing.Thanks a lot for sharing such a helpful information. I use all chemical-free products to clean, and cannot use otherwise or it affects me. If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. Can you advise me on what I can use for these problems? Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Purchased the Homax Knockdown product from Lowe's on two occasions. thanks Ron Hall for such a valuable information, its horrible, why its still available in the market, it should be banned from the market. The product we ended up with was Homax Tough as Tile from Home Depot. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. Is that dangerous as well? And if we can afford it, let the pro’s do their jobs. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. I like the fact that it doesn't scratch the surface of the tub. I didn’t realize this was so deadly. Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. Sometimes workers are not educated, companies should invest in staff training to work with these materials. If the chemical you are using is marked as “flammable” then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. Next. Homax ® Tough As Tile ® Spray On Tub, Sink & Tile Refinishing Product (Non-Kit) - White. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. Your email address will not be published. Right now, I am surrounded by vacant apartments, and the new owner is reglazing all of the tubs. Save your money. I’ve also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Best thing since the invention of white bread. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products.I think this type of finish should be banned.This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. That is really great to know. He also had a small fan in the bathroom window to remove the fumes, as well as towels on the floor to prevent odors from coming into the living area. Wrong! I usually like to do things myself, but I think I will have to find someone to do my bathtub repair in concord ma. Wow, great article on the dangers and Health Effects when methylene chloride is used. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. hated to replace the tub because that would entail destroying all the unmatchable tile. Use a clean stir stick to gently stir the paint before each use. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Bathtub refinishing is very risky. Add to registry Homax 1015082 10 oz White Water-Based Wall & Ceiling Texture, Pack of 6. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve 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. If you are concerned about the “smells,” you could seek help from your local health department. We had to doctor it up. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. The home I purchased a few years ago came with cast iron bathtub and ceramic tile walls that had been covered with a 2-step epoxy finish. Thanks! Now what about substances that are used in bathtub refinishing as final ‘top-coats’ such as Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane, or, another, as one company advertises: “Porcelain Glaze-a new type of chemical finish.” What is porcelain glaze? It did not preform as we were used to. How do I know if this is toxic? NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. I think this blog is very helpful in knowing about the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products.We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing.Thanks a lot for sharing. In our blog we state that “methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PELs). I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I don’t know why someone would choose them. Should add the bathroom door was closed with towel under it but small window open for two days. I am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide open…is it safe? I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. A total waste of money. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Products containing methylene chloride should be avoided when possible. The nozzle doesn't work to move it from Fine to heavy. This product is crap,cheap nozzle falls apart ,good luck trying to adjust it .shook can for 3 minutes . I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. Methylene chloride’s boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. Please respond quickly. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Both products, Pro Grade and Standard, just dribbled out of the nozzle and down the side of the can. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples’ lives. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. Thank you! Thanks for your comment. If proper ventilation is not possible, there needs to be a supervisor on watch in the room, or at least directly outside the door, ready to open immediately if the worker inside does not verbally respond to continuous 30 second verbal safety checks. I thought this was a permanent fix. Its highly toxic… Teri. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. I use it in good ventilation and, if I’m going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me… This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! i’ve found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. Also I have asthma, and after the job was done today I cant stop wheezing. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PELs). Of all the glues I have experienced, Homaz glue is the very best. I have read many articles but this is different one. 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. I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). Watched the video, shook it, warmed it in some warm water, no matter what I do it oozes out if the can like toothpaste then falls off the wall. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. Bathtub refinishing is essentially painting the tub, although is it painting that is done with a highly specialized coating. Homax 720771 32-Ounce Tub and Sink One-Part Spray-On Epoxy, White. After most fumes and smell went away two days later i still had muscle pain and spasms all over, headache, very sick and weak, skin burned and stung, could feel it in my lungs. 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? It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. It was heart breaking. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? These are obviously unethical companies that don't care about their customers or repeat business. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. Cristine. Thank you for your comment. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. Wrong! We wanted to start our tub next day, so we picked up whatever our local hardware store had. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. It’s used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. Thank you. Homax? I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, … At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. My Landlord is planning on re glazing our tub and we are leaving for the weekend. Simply not worth the risk. When engineering and work practice controls cannot decrease methylene chloride levels below OSHA’s PELs (25 ppm over an 8-hour TWA or 125 ppm over a 15-minute period), employers must provide their workers with full-face atmosphere-supplying respirators. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! I found out the hard way. Or should I leave? I just rented a house. If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. If I were painting large, flat sections of tile, and I didn’t have access to a sprayer, I would absolutely use a roller. I am unknown form this . I used both and foam and a regular brush for the application. Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). We are sorry to hear about your health issues. 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. I didn’t think too much about it. Worked like crap. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. The specific effects of methylene chloride exposure will vary depending on several factors, such as the amount of methylene chloride the worker is exposed to, how long the exposure lasts, and whether the worker has a higher susceptibility (for example, having a preexisting heart condition). NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. 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