Help, Are These Countertops Going to Kill Us?

June 7, 2011, by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from ellietn

Hi Debra and readers,

I just moved to a new state into a new apartment and found out it had a musty moldy smell from the carpets. Supposedly they were cleaned but I had them cleaned again after moving in to no avail. I finally was told I could transfer to a better apartment (with new carpets) and moved everything. 

After just moving in the last box, 20 seconds afterward, the managers came to the door to announce that 'the guys were here to spray the countertops'. They had told me about these guys spraying over existing formica, that that was the preferred 'new' method by corporate to cover the damaged counters instead of replacing them. 

They said at first the fumes would be gone in 2 hours, then they said 7, then 24, well...we have basically been homeless (although we paid rent) for 6 days (going to be at least 2 more I think) now. 

The fumes were SO BAD we could not stay there and all of our things smell like noxious paint fumes (and some have small droplets of paint overspray you can feel). We finally requested our old apartment back provided they replace the carpet (which they are saying they don't need to do).

I am almost in tears because I don't know if this otherwise great apartment has been ruined forever by these people poisoning us with this epoxy-like spray paint over the countertops. Granted, they *look* nice, but was it really worth putting their tenants in danger? 

Debra's Answer

I don't know what brand was used, but the MSDS for one brand of countertop paint says, " Avoid breathing vapors or mists. Harmful if inhaled." It contains some pretty heavy-duty toxic solvents.

Personally, I wouldn't use this product at all and wouldn't stay in an apartment where it had been applied until it has been completely cured. I don't know how long that would take.

I can tell you these are very toxic solvents that can affect your nervous system, especially.