23 August What You Need to Know About Sandblasting August 23, 2018 By NPI Marketing Team DIY home exterior 0 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SANDBLASTING August 23, 2018 | DIY | home exterior Sandblasting is the process of sanding a surface to remove rough edges or foreign materials. Sandblasting makes sanding much easier, as it is pressure-driven and easily reaches hard-to-sand areas like nooks and crannies. The “blasting” is done using compressed air to blow sand through a nozzle for a smooth, clean finish. Depending on the project, you can use abrasive materials other than sand to prepare a surface for repainting, staining or refinishing. What Materials Can Be Sandblasted? Wood: Wood sometimes has several layers of paint, which may be peeling. Porch swings, picnic tables and gazebos are items you may consider having sandblasted. Concrete: Commercial building owners may want to remove parking lines and reconfigure a parking lot, so they can sandblast the old parking lines for a clean surface to work with. Home owners may sandblast their driveways to remove paint or oil spills. Cast Iron: If a cast iron railing or other detail has been painted, you may want to sandblast it to remove peeling and chipping paint. Brick: Sandblasting can make painted or dirty bricks look clean and new. Automobiles: Sandblasting can remove the rust on that fixer-upper in your garage before you paint it. Costs for Sandblasting Sandblasting can be performed on a variety of material and is preferable when sandpaper or hand-held sanders are just not appropriate for the task at hand. Sandblasting can save you time, strenuous work and the demanding physical labor of bending, sitting, squatting and reaching. If you have never sandblasted before, you may want to contact a professional. Using a blaster without experience could potentially cause injury if correct measures are not taken or followed. In addition, keep the following in mind: Some cities may require a permit for sandblasting, so check your local requirements before beginning. If hiring a professional, they may apply for the permit for you. Although rare, accidental damages could occur to your property or neighboring property during the sandblasting process, so consider that additional expenses could arise. The average cost to sandblast an exterior surface is between $664 and $1,116. The average cost per square foot: Brush blast (1/32 inch deep): $1.35 to $2.70 Light blast (1/16 inch deep): $2.25 to $4.50 Medium blast (1/4 inch deep): $4.50 to $7.20 Heavy blast (3/8 inch deep or more): $6.75 to $15.75. Originally published November 2, 2015, updated August 23, 2018. Comments are closed.