Sandblasting Services (Abrasive)
Sandblasting services and abrasive blasting services are used to shape, smooth, or clean surfaces. Similar to other methods, the sandblasting process consists of propelling uniform particles directly at the surface of objects at high speeds.
With the correct media, Sandblasting can also provide a profile surface to facilitate paint and epoxy paint adherence to allow the paint to bond properly, making it ideal for paint priming.
Cleanup of secondary waste is required after sandblasting has taken place. Due to the dangers associated with the dust left behind, sandblasting must be carefully controlled, and the proper safety gear must be worn. This is why it is recommended to work with a trusted sand blasting company to complete the job.
Depending on the type of project being completed, more than one cleaning method may be required. Sandblasting services are often used in combination with other techniques to perform effective cleaning.
Abrasive and sandblasting is ideal for:
- Priming and smoothing surfaces before painting
- Removing paint and rust
- Decorating or frosting glass
The most common materials used in abrasive blasting include:
- Aluminum Oxide
- White Aluminum Oxide
- Corn Cobs
- Crushed Glass
- Glass Beads
- Plastic
- Pumice
- Sand
- Silicon Carbide
- Steel Shot
- Walnut Shell
- White Lightening
- Green Lightening
The Benefits of Sandblasting Services
Sandblasting offers its own benefits compared to other abrasive media blasting, making it ideal for several different types of cleaning.
- Sand blasting services are versatile and can clean many different types of surfaces, including brick, metal, pavement and more.
- Sandblasting removes many contaminants, including smoke residue, old paint, rust, and beyond.
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaning method, as sandblasting doesn’t use any chemicals. Simply remove the residue left behind and the residual sand, and you’re left with a clean surface.
- Sandblasting offers quick results, as it both cleans and smooths surfaces quickly and efficiently. Cleaning tough surfaces like concrete, stone, and metal can often take time with other methods, making this a preferred technique.
Abrasive & Sandblasting Services Applications
Abrasive and sand blasting techniques are often used for priming and smoothing surfaces before painting, as well as removing paint and rust. The process is similar to how you would use sandpaper however this provides a much faster and more effective job –you can access those hard-to-reach places and paint is removed evenly.
This technique is also popular for decorating or frosting glass. The process allows you to etch, carve, or pit glass without it cracking or breaking.
In-House Sandblasting Booth with Pickup and Delivery
Unlike other sandblasting providers, Wickens Dry Ice Blasting has in-house booths at our Guelph facility. To better serve clients in the surrounding areas, we offer convenient pickup and drop-off services for cleaned parts, minimizing downtime by eliminating the need for onsite secondary waste cleanup. Whether you operate a manufacturing plant or an industrial facility, our team can handle the transportation of your components, ensuring minimal disruption and fast turnaround.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sandblasting
What material is used in sandblasting?
When sandblasting specifically, sand is used in the process; however, sandblasting and abrasive blasting are terms often used interchangeably. When abrasive blasting, we use materials including corn cob, crushed glass, pumice, silica sand/silicon dioxide, walnut shells, and other options. What we choose depends on the individual needs of each project.
What is the sandblasting process?
Sandblasting smooths surfaces like metal and glass evenly, without causing dents. It is a fast, effective way to smooth and shape metals, and effectively removes rust, corrosion, and other residue from surfaces faster than cleaning by hand.
First, a tarp or protective surface is placed down below where sandblasting will be performed. Machines then use sandblasting to propel sand, glass beads, plastic, or shells, at the surface using compressed air. This blasting removes contaminants and buildup from surfaces, and smooths them at the same time.
After blasting, the secondary waste left behind is removed by taking away the tarps. Any residual waste is cleaned by our team.
Does sandblasting damage surfaces when used?
Sand blasting services and other abrasive surfaces do remove a layer from a surface when cleaning, technically damaging the surface in the process. This means that after cleaning, other techniques are sometimes used to restore the surface appearance to match areas where blast.
Can sandblasting prep a surface before coating?
Sandblasting is an excellent method to quickly prepare a surface to be coated. If a surface has collected a layer of corrosion or other damage, sandblasting can easily remove these contaminants and smooth the surface layer, preparing it well for any wet or dry coatings as needed.
Locations Served
Our mobile fleet offers Abrasive and Sandblasting services to companies across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, London, Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Niagara, St. Catharines, Windsor, Barrie, Sudbury, Sarnia, and more.
Certifications
Case Studies
Case Study: Safe Lead Paint Removal and Brick Restoration
Learn how Wickens Dry Ice Blasting used eco-friendly lead paint removal and vapour blasting for brick restoration.
Case Study: Vapour Blasting and Epoxy Painting Restore RCYC Jetty
See how Wickens Dry Ice Blasting used vapour blasting and epoxy painting to restore the RCYC jetty, delivering top results while protecting the environment.
Case Study: Fire Restoration on Downtown Toronto Condo Building
Discover how Wickens Dry Ice Blasting restored a Toronto condo after a fire, using eco-friendly techniques to clean eight stories of brick, concrete, and glass.
Case Study: Industrial Painting and Cleaning of Major Rail Yard Wash Bay
At Wickens, we work on complicated projects that require unique solutions. Explore our latest case study, in which we created unique cleaning solutions to prepare a major rail yard wash bay for painting.
Case Study: Fire Restoration on High-Rise Building
Learn how Wickens used DOFF cleaning on soot and fire residue to clean the exterior of a nine-storey high-rise building in our latest case study.
Case Study: Fire Restoration at Hydro Substation
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting helped restore a fire-damaged hydro substation in Ontario with top-down cleaning and careful attention to sensitive components.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal for Wanda III Steamship Restoration
Learn how we used media blasting to remove lead paint from the historical steamship, Wanda III, helping to prepare for its return to the waters.
Case Study: Attic Mould Removal in Townhouse Complex
Mould can be a serious problem in any home, causing health issues and damaging the structure of the building.
Case Study: Fire Restoration at School
Cleaning after a fire with dry ice blasting ensures that soot and odour are eliminated safely. Learn how this environmentally friendly technique restored a utility room.
Case Study: Grafton Historic Building Restoration
There are many reasons why people choose to restore an old building. Historic buildings are an important way of keeping history alive, and they can also be a great source of pride for their communities.
Case Study: DOFF Cleaning for External Wood Panelling on Estate Property
Wickens recently worked on cleaning, coating, and rejuvenating wood panelling on an elegant manor using DOFF steam cleaning methods.
Case Study: Paint Removal for Warehouse in Downtown Toronto
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting worked on a paint removal project at an old factory/warehouse in downtown Toronto that was being re-purposed into office spaces.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal in Ontario Brewery
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting assisted in the removal and disposal of lead paint in an Ontario brewery, keeping the establishment and its employees safe.
Case Study: Log Cabin Restoration
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting has extensive experience cleaning log cabins using special blasting techniques that are non-harmful to the surrounding environment.
Case Study: Dry Ice Blasting Used for a Fire Restoration Project
Wickens used dry ice blasting cleaning techniques for the safe handling of food production equipment in a fire restoration project in Toronto, Ontario.
Case Study: Fire Restoration of 10-Storey Office Building
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting worked on a fire restoration project on a 10-storey office building for a client in Ontario. This project required the use of vapour blasting which is an environmentally friendly dustless fire restoration method.
Case Study: DOFF and Dry Ice Blasting Used for Fire Restoration Project
Fires quickly spread from one part of the house to another and require non-destructive cleaning methods that are safe for the environment and effective on a wide variety of surface substrates.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal for Major Food Processor
Many older industrial and commercial buildings have lead-based paint hazards. These hazards are a major issue, as employees in these buildings are susceptible to exposure to this toxic substance and may be at risk for progressive health problems if the lead paint is not removed safely.
Case Study: Using Dry Ice Blasting to Clean Economizer Piping
Economizers are prone to dirt and deposit buildup, which hinders them from accomplishing the very tasks they’re installed to do. That’s why an S.A.G.D. industry leader located in Alberta called the professionals at Wickens Dry Ice Blasting.
Case Study: Toronto Condominium Fire Restoration
Condo fire damage quickly spreads to nearby units as well as the building exterior, displacing residents from their homes until the building can be safely restored.
Case Study: Historical Restoration and Preservation of the Kissing Bridge
Many tourists from different parts of the world come to visit Waterloo to experience the scenic beauty of the Covered Bridge. The professionals at Wickens were called in to perform dry Ice blasting, ensuring the bridge retains its pleasing interior. Thanks to dry ice blasting, cleaning this historical structure no longer carries the threat of damage it once did.
Case Study: Fire Restoration in a Subway Restaurant
When a fire leaves a business unable to function, it’s crucial to call in the experts to restore the damaged areas and get back to serving customers as quickly as possible. That’s why a restoration company called the professionals at Wickens after a Subway restaurant in Burlington experienced serious fire damage.
Case Study: Via Rail Fire Restoration & Prevention
Via Rail connects Canada from coast to coast—so it’s crucial to keep trains running safely and efficiently. After an incident involving an exhaust vent that caught fire, Via Rail called in the professionals at Wickens Dry Ice Blasting to restore the area and provide preventive cleaning to avoid similar issues in the future.
Case Study: Mould Removal from Hamilton Townhouses
The Municipality of Hamilton, Ontario faced a nightmare situation when mould was found in the attics of 90 residential townhouses. Wickens completed the three-month mould remediation project on time, under budget, and with very little disruption to the tenants.
Case Study: Using Dry Ice Blasting to Clean the Canadian Plaza Canopy in Niagara
On the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge, visitors are greeted by the Canadian Plaza, which consists of a main administration building for processing arrivals. Wickens used dry ice blasting to clean the wooden structure without disrupting the high volumes of visitor traffic.
Case Study: Mould Remediation at a St. Catharines Ice Arena
Managers of an ice arena in St. Catharine’s, Ontario discovered significant mould growth on the ceiling of the building. Wickens Dry Ice Blasting was able to clean the mould residue and mould spores from the ceiling and support structures within two weeks.
Case Study: Removing Lead Paint from a Historic Lighthouse in Niagara
Marking the entrance to the Niagara River is a lighthouse that once guided boats and ships arriving via Lake Ontario. Recently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada decided it was necessary to refurbish the lighthouse and remove the lead paint that had been applied years ago before federal regulations came into effect.
Case Study: Saving a Building Project from Mould
For builders in Northern Ontario, winter came all too quickly while constructing a luxury condo building. With snow and wet conditions, mould developed on the building materials and spread throughout the building. Wickens quickly mobilized a team of trained technicians to begin the mould remediation process.
Case Study: Removing Asbestos from an Office Building
A three-story office building in South Western Ontario had areas of exposed brick on all levels that had been painted with asbestos-containing paint. With extensive experience, specialized processes, and trained technicians, Wickens Dry Ice Blasting was able to safely and quickly remove the asbestos.