The EPA Methylene Chloride Ban: Why You Must Avoid 'Old School' Reglazing

If you own a home in San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose, you probably know that renovating a bathroom is one of the most expensive projects you can take on. Many Bay Area homeowners choose bathtub refinishing as a way to save thousands of dollars compared to a full replacement. It makes sense. You keep your high quality cast iron tub and get a fresh, clean surface in a single day. However, a massive shift in federal law has changed the safety landscape of this industry.

For decades, the refinishing industry relied on a chemical called methylene chloride to strip old paint and glaze from bathtubs and kitchen cabinets. It was fast, effective, and extremely dangerous. As of 2024 and 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency has stepped in to end the use of this toxin. If you are looking for non toxic bathtub refinishing in San Francisco or surrounding areas, you need to understand why the EPA chemical ban is happening and how to protect your family from "old school" contractors who might still be cutting corners with your health.

What Changed in 2025/2026?

The EPA issued a final ruling under the Toxic Substances Control Act on April 30, 2024. This ruling effectively bans most remaining uses of methylene chloride in the United States. While the law has been rolling out in phases, the most important dates for Bay Area homeowners and businesses are right now. The distribution of this chemical for consumer use is banned as of January 28, 2026. All commercial applications for bathtub refinishing must stop by April 28, 2026.

This ban did not happen by accident. It is the result of decades of data showing that methylene chloride is a silent killer in the home improvement industry. Since 1980, at least 88 workers have died from acute exposure to this chemical. Many of these deaths happened in small, poorly ventilated bathrooms exactly like the ones found in older homes in Berkeley or San Francisco.

One of the most tragic cases was Kevin Hartley. In 2017, the 21 year old was refinishing a bathtub when he was overcome by fumes. He died from the exposure. His death, along with many others, became a rallying point for safety advocates. The problem is that methylene chloride is highly volatile. It turns into a gas at room temperature and sinks. In a standard bathtub, the heavy vapors pool right where the technician is working. Even with a mask, the concentration can become so high that it displaces oxygen or is absorbed through the skin.

Beyond the immediate risk of death, the long term health effects are terrifying. The EPA has confirmed that methylene chloride causes liver cancer, lung cancer, and brain cancer. When you breathe it in, your body actually converts the chemical into carbon monoxide. This starves your brain and heart of oxygen. This is why the European Union banned these paint strippers for most uses back in 2009. The United States is finally catching up to protect you and the people working in your home.

Why Some Contractors Still Use It

You might wonder why any contractor would continue to use a chemical that is being phased out by federal law. The answer is simple. It is fast and it is cheap. In a high cost market like the Bay Area, some companies prioritize speed over safety to keep their prices low.

An "old school" refinisher can pour methylene chloride on a tub and have the old finish bubbling off in about 20 minutes. This allows them to finish a job in three hours and rush to the next one. Because the chemical is so effective at breaking down old coatings, it requires less physical labor. Some contractors have even started stockpiling the chemical before the 2026 distribution ban takes full effect. They want to keep using their old methods for as long as possible because switching to safer alternatives requires more time and better equipment.

The risk to you as a homeowner is significant. If a contractor uses this chemical in your home, they are putting your family at risk. The fumes do not stay in the bathroom. They can travel through vents and settle in other parts of your house. If you live in a dense neighborhood like the Mission District or North Beach, these fumes can even impact your neighbors in shared buildings. Beyond the health risk, hiring someone who violates federal safety laws means you are inviting an unregulated and potentially uninsured liability into your home. If a worker collapses in your bathroom due to illegal chemical use, the legal and emotional fallout is something no homeowner should ever have to face.

Our 100% Methylene-Chloride Free Process

We believe that your health is worth more than a few saved minutes. That is why we have moved to a 100% methylene chloride free process. We focus on eco friendly bathtub resurfacing that relies on science and hard work rather than toxic shortcuts.

Our primary method is mechanical stripping. Instead of melting the old finish with acids and solvents, we use specialized sanding and grinding equipment. We physically remove the old glaze. This creates a superior surface for the new coating to bond to. It takes more physical effort and more time, but it eliminates the chemical risk entirely. We use HEPA filtered vacuum systems to catch the dust as we work, keeping your home clean and your air safe.

When a chemical stripper is absolutely necessary for a specific type of old finish, we use benzyl alcohol-based strippers. These are the gold standard for non-toxic refinishing in San Francisco. Benzyl alcohol is a much larger molecule that does not turn into a gas nearly as fast as methylene chloride. It is not a carcinogen. The catch is that it takes much longer to work. While the old toxic stuff worked in 20 minutes, a safe benzyl alcohol stripper might need to sit for 6 to 12 hours to fully lift a stubborn finish.

This is why our process often costs slightly more than the "budget" guys you might find on Craigslist. In the Bay Area, you can expect to pay between $600 and $900 for a high quality, safe refinishing job. If someone quotes you $300, they are likely using the cheap, toxic chemicals and skipping the labor intensive sanding steps. We believe the safety assurance for your children, your pets, and your own lungs is worth the extra investment.

How to Spot a 'Dirty' Contractor

Since the methylene chloride ban 2026 deadline is still approaching, you need to be proactive when vetting contractors. You cannot assume that every company is following the new EPA guidelines. Here are the red flags to watch for when you are getting quotes in Palo Alto or San Jose.

First, ask about their stripping timeframe. If a contractor tells you they will have the tub stripped and ready for paint in 20 or 30 minutes, they are almost certainly using methylene chloride. A safe, mechanical or eco friendly chemical process will take significantly longer.

Second, look at their ventilation equipment. A safe contractor will always use a heavy duty ventilation hose that exhausts out of a window. If they tell you that they just "open a window" or use a small bathroom fan, they are not taking vapor accumulation seriously. Methylene chloride is heavier than air. A standard ceiling fan will not pull it out of the room.

Third, ask to see the Safety Data Sheet for their stripping agents. Every legitimate company is required by law to carry these. If they refuse to show it to you or claim they do not have one, do not let them into your home. Look for the section on ingredients. If you see "methylene chloride" or "dichloromethane," tell them to leave.

Related Reading

• Is Cabinet Refinishing Toxic? The Truth About Low-VOC Options
• Is Bathtub Refinishing Safe for Pets and Kids?
• Why Refinishing Peels (And How We Guarantee Ours Won't)
• Latex vs. 2K Polyurethane: Why We Don't Use House Paint
• The 2-Week Tub Test: Checking Refinishing Quality

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Published by RefinishQuote - connecting Bay Area homeowners with trusted refinishing professionals.