To keep your beloved home in a good shape, you need to maintain it well. Bathroom fixtures are no different, as these can get damaged after years of continuous use.
But it is a bit different from the bathtub, as it can lead to peeling off the bathtub finish. Is bathtub paint peeling dangerous, is a million-dollar question that someone may ask going through the process.
Before getting to know about this question, let’s get to know why it happens.
Purpose of Bathtub Paint
Porcelain bathtub surfaces are coated with specially formulated paint for several reasons:
- Protect porous porcelain – Seals out moisture that can damage tub.
- Create glossy appearance – Enamel paints provide desired shiny look.
- Add color – Pigments create bright white or colored tubs.
- Resist chemicals – Protects against cleaners.
- Provide traction – Textured paints like slip-resistant epoxy enhance safety.
When this protective paint coating fails, it compromises appearance and function.
The Reasons Behind The Bathtub Surface Coming Off
You may find several reasons. But these are mostly the following ones;
- An imperfect refinishing work
- Long term unresolved fault in the bathtub
- Long term use of the bathtub
These are the primary reason behind the bathtub surface coming off. But along with the above-mentioned reasons, there could be various other reasons that could lead to the problem.
One of the major and common reasons could be the young children of the house peeling the bathtub paint off intentionally.
They do so purely out of enjoyment, without having the needed awareness about the risk associated with it.
Common Causes of Peeling Paint
There are several factors that can cause bathtub paint to peel and lose adhesion:
Moisture Damage
Constant water exposure allows moisture under the paint surface. This causes bubbling and peeling, especially with inferior paint quality.
Harsh Chemicals
Strong cleaners like acetone, alcohol, and acidic compounds interact with paint, degrading adhesion over time.
Poor Surface Prep
Lack of proper porcelain etching or degreasing during application allows new paint to poorly bond.
Chipping and Scratching
Wear and tear from cleaning, scrubbing, falling objects, even pets climbing in and out can chip paint down to the porcelain.
Sun Exposure
Bathrooms with sunny windows can degrade paint over years due to UV radiation weakening its polymeric structure.
Incompatible Paint
Paint not formulated for porcelain tubs may fail prematurely. Using the wrong activators with 2-part epoxy paints also causes issues.
Proper surface prep, paint selection, and limiting chemical and scratch damage helps maximize paint life.
Why Bathtub Peeling Is Dangerous?
Well, there is no mystery that bathtub paint peeling off can pose a real threat to you and your loved ones if you do not give it the attention it requires.
Once you recognize that there is such an issue in your bathroom, you must take all the necessary measures without any further delay.
All the painting materials coming out from your bathroom can get mixed in the water and once the young kids or the elder get exposed to it, then it might be hazardous.
It happens because there are different materials in bathtub painting like methylene chloride that could lead to a serious consequence for the people in your home.
This certain element is extremely harmful once it is not being used in a proper manner as per the instruction. The havoc mostly occurs during bathtub refinishing.
Since 2000 almost 14 workers have died as a result of the presence of stripping agents containing methylene chloride at the time of bathtub refinishing.
On top of that, the top paint of the bathtub may also auto come out of the surface, causing lead exposure risk to the children.
It may occur due to the age of the bathtub as it gets damaged due to everyday use.
No matter what, whether it is unintentional or intentional, any paint coming off from the bathtub can cause a significant threat to the people being exposed to it because of the poisonous element it contains.
Effects Of The Poisonous Elements To Your Health
For whatever reason, the bathtub paint is peeling off and giving you a headache, it has a very detrimental impact on the people exposed to it. One simply can not ignore it so easily.
To make you understand the severity of it, I would mention a few incidents related to this issue. This is definitely something to be taken into account immediately, whether the paint coming out naturally or you are considering refinishing work to get done.
As we know, each year numerous children get injured in the bathtub by falling, slipping, drowning, and so on.
But the lead in the bathtub could be another very hazardous disaster to your children that you need to be aware of.
Acute lead poisoning cases have been identified among the children, and it is no wonder that the source was their home bathtub. Though it is being overlooked, the number seems to be very significant regarding this matter.
From the authentic studies, it is being found that, in American households, around 62 percent of the porcelain tubs have a lead that eventually gets mixed in the bathwater.
This incident is exposing the children to a significant risk.
The bathtub manufacturers are the ones to blame for this. For the use of lead in the glaze for their tubs.
As a result of this, when the outer surface of the bathtub is damaged then the lead can come from it and can get mixed with the water, causing significant harm to the adult and kids ingesting it.
This is extremely dangerous for you and your family members.
On the other hand, bathtub refinishing work can prove to be dangerous to the workers in so many ways. Because of the presence of methylene chloride, a significant number of workers have died since the year 2000.
Just for instance, in the year 2012, a worker was found dead while doing the refinishing job with a product containing methylene chloride.
It needs to be noted that, the bathroom was unventilated and surely this worked as a catalyst for this incident.
Though the bathtub refinishing is less costly than replacing it entirely, it needs to be done following all the preventive measures.
Important Measures To Mitigate The Danger
I am sure while having a read regarding the upper part of this write up you must have realized how dangerous bathtub paint can be. But there is no reason to be much worried as you are now aware of it.
You can now take all the preventive measures to avoid the worse outcome of it and keep yourself and your family members safe.
So what could be those preventive measures? Let’s give some thought to it.
- Having Bathroom With Proper Ventilation
There is a significant health risk involved with the paint peeling off from the bathtub. DIY refinishing job is extremely dangerous and most advise not to do it. The process is extremely dangerous.
If you still decide to do it yourself, make sure there is proper ventilation inside your bathroom.
As the stripping agent from the old finish contains harmful chemicals that can be very dangerous in a closed bathroom or in a low ventilation bathroom.
Even the fumes or the vapors can be really toxic to be around for a long time.
- Replacement of the bathtub
It is a bit expensive, but the risk involved can be significantly less risky. But the process of replacing the bathtub may not be as easy as it may seem to be.
You may find several rules and regulations in your cities to follow regarding it.
- Doing The Refinishing Job With The Experts
To avoid the mess and the risk, you can do the refinishing job through experts.
Professional service experts can have a look at your entire setup and can give the most suitable solution to you according to your budget.
- Using Safe Ingredients Through Proper Research
While doing the refinishing job entirely by yourself you can do proper research or consult with an expert to pick the proper tools or ingredients to make the job effective and lessen the risk involved.
Though, it is always better to leave the job to experts only.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
Numerous cases of acute lead poisoning are being reported due to the lead coming out from the bathtub. The children are the primary sufferer of it as they ingest it with water.
There are several ways that you can consider. You can go to the costly method of replacing the bathtub, or you can ask help from a professional to do the refinishing work for you by taking all preventive measures.
If you are not being rough while using, then the paint of your bathtub can stay for quite a long time. With proper care and maintenance, it can remain up to 10 to 15 years.
Common reasons bathtub paint peels are moisture under the surface, chemical damage from cleaners, poor initial paint prep and bonding, chipping and scratching over time, UV exposure from sunlight, and using the wrong paint type or application methods.
Paint peeling in the tub mainly poses slip, fall, and minor abrasion risks. However, vintage paints may release lead dust if peeling, requiring safety precautions.
Modern latex tub paints are considered non-toxic once fully cured. Old paints may contain lead. Epoxy paints use chemicals requiring safety measures until fully hardened after application.
To sum up
If you are still wondering, is bathtub paint peeling dangerous, then know that definitely, it is.
But, now that you know about this fact, you can consciously go for taking all the preventive measures to keep your loved ones and yourself safe.