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We specialize in the removal of unsightly or contaminated material
From any surface for Fire, Flood, Vandalism or Restoration.
Soda Blasting uses No Hazardous Waste Material, Chemicals, Abrasives, Solvents or Damaging Material harmful to the Environment.
Log Home Restoration: Knowing When To Media Blast; the Good, the Bad, and the Dusty
Log home restoration consists of many different techniques and procedures. One procedure
that may not be familiar to some log home owners is "media blasting." Just the name
sounds pretty aggressive and may cause concern. However, used properly it is the
best method of removing certain coatings and finishes.
Media blasting is similar
to sand blasting in that it is a system that uses compressed air to force a particular
media through a hose onto a surface with enough force to remove a coating or other
material from the surface being cleaned. Different media reacts differently depending
on the surface being cleaned and the coating being removed. Sand being one the most
abrasive media is generally used for more industrial applications such as rust removal
from steel, epoxy paints and other hard surfaces. Sand is not used as much as it
once was because of the safety issues involved. Sand is made up of Silica, a known
cancer causing agent. Therefore other types of media that have become available are
preferred and are widely used.
In the case of log home restoration, media blasting has become an acceptable way of cleaning and removing some finishes from the logs and other surfaces. As with any type of cleaning or stripping, care must be taken in order to not change the profile or damage the surface of the logs or other substrate.
There are many different types of blasting media being used on the market. The most popular for log home restoration is crushed corn cob, crushed glass or glass beads and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda.) Each has its place and purpose.
Corn cob is probably the most popular and readily available. It works well at removing tough finishes without harming delicate surfaces such as vinyl trim, aluminum or glass. It also can be reclaimed, sifted and reused a few times before becoming spent and of no value. The disadvantage of using corn cob is, one its cost. Like other food products, corn is getting expensive, especially when using a couple of thousand pounds on a log home. And two, it probably creates the most dust. Although any finely ground media will be dusty, corn cob being so light and less dense, creates far more than most others. Also, being the dustiest means that it will get in every nook and cranny in and around your log home. It would be wise to ask whoever you get to do your blasting what precautions will be taken to eliminate as much dust as possible. Just as a side note, some dust will get inside of the home no matter what is done to prevent it so be ready to do some spring cleaning. There are a few ways however to help reduce the infiltration.
Another blasting media being used is sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. This is used with good results especially if there is mold and mildew or smoke damage. It is the most expensive of the three and therefore generally used for the aforementioned applications. Unlike corn cob, soda can not be used over because it breaks down to the point that it becomes ineffective, again making it more expensive. It is like corn cob in that it is much forgiven and will not damage the underlying substrate. It is so forgiven that it can be used to remove paint from glass and plastic, but it has to be done properly.
Crushed glass or glass beads are a finely ground recycled glass that is the texture
of fine sand. It does not cut the skin if handled, but can be harmful if ingested
or inhaled so safety equipment must be used as with any media. Glass, unlike soda
and corn can damage the surface and the substrate particularly wood and especially
soft wood such as cedar or white pine. The utmost care must be taken so as not to
gouge or pit the wood. Although non-
Media blasting using these three products performs well at removing latex stains
and paint as well as some of the tougher "film forming" oil stains and sealers. They
are eco-
Although some sanding may be involved, media blasting compared to sanding alone or using other latex strippers that usually contain methylene chloride, known to cause cancer, has become the best method of removing finishes that the typical oil strippers will not remove.
Log home restoration consists of many techniques and procedures. Media blasting is one that has found it's place in the log home restoration process. Knowing when to media blast depends on the finish on the log home. Knowing how to media blast depends on not only the proper technique, media, air pressure, and nozzle size, but also a knowledgeable operator. This is one procedure that you will get what you pay for.
Most Log Homes are now Media Blasted with recycled glass at either 50/100 or 30/60 grade and will leave a slight profile that will enhance the final look of the logs and home itself. If you wish for a smooth finish then sanding will be required at an additional cost that makes the job more expensive.