Hi
I have had MSC CFS for about 10 years.
I live in a council flat which I keep chemical free as best I can. The council are planning replacing my kitchen and bathroom and rewiring the electrics sometime in the next financial year. I have been offered a flat to stay in while the work is being done. I am about to ask if I can stay there for an extra month or 2 after the work has been completed.
They are attempting to get a list of all chemicals involved from the contractor..
How long do you think I should stay away to make a difference?
I was very ill for a year after new double glazing fitted. I had not realised it would involve gluing plastic facing everywhere with solvents!!
Any info or similar experiences would be helpful...
(The work really does need doing, otherwise I would request to be left out of the refurb program.)

Hi brighid,

There's really no easy way around this. It will take far longer than 2 months for the VOCs from a new kitchen and bathroom to out-gas. The kitchen will be a particular problem as all the cupboards and worktops will be made of manufactured wood panels containing adhesives and other chemicals that will continue to out-gas heavily for a considerable amount of time.

If you were ill after new windows were fitted I'm sorry to say that a new kitchen is likely to be much worse. I know it's a major stress but all I can recommend is that you ask the council to move you to another flat permanently where the kitchen was replaced some time ago and is not in need of replacement in the near future. Living in a flat with a new kitchen and bathroom when you have MCS and CFS really could be terrible for your health so it's not worth the risk. If these rooms are in desperate need of \"improving\" then a permanent move really is the best option for you.

Take care and good luck.