Stonework shot blasting

Keeping your property looking nice, clean and new can feel a little like painting the Forth Bridge, it can be a job that never ends. When you have an older property, this can get ten times harder, and keeping classical features like stonework and masonry smart can be really difficult.
Older buildings often have a patina of age that seems to go hand in hand with their dignity and splendour, but before long the wind, rain and weather can wreak havoc on features of classical architecture. Looking after a classical building is a satisfying task, but it can also take a lot of skills and expertise. It is important to refresh and clean stonework from time to time to protect against weather damage, moss, mould and damp. The best way to protect external stonework on architecture is by using a technique called stonework shot blasting.

What is stonework shot blasting?

Shot blasting, on stonework or other surfaces, is a technique designed to deep clean surfaces, scouring away damaging or unwanted paint, mould, moss, plant-life, rust and oil. Stonework shot blasting, like other types of shot blasting, involves spraying a powerful jet of small particles at a surface which creates a scouring effect. This type of cleaning is known generally as ‘abrasive blasting’ Usually, the particles for stonework shot blasting are made from small spheres of steel, aluminium, zinc or copper. Another type of abrasive blasting is known as sand blasting, but treating stonework with shot blasting is a much more precise technique and delivers a much better final finish.

Stonework Shot Blasting versus Sand Blasting

Sand blasting and shot blasting are two significantly different techniques that require different machinery. Sand blasting relies on compressed air to direct grains of sand at a surface at high speed. This makes sand blasting a less focused technique and creates copious amounts of dust which pollutes the surrounding air. On the other hand, stonework shot blasting is done using a centrifugal wheel to propel the abrasive media at speed, which is a more precise. Sand blasting also offers no choice of media, but an expert in stonework shot blasting will be able to choose different materials to suit different settings, stone finishes and areas.

Stonework shot blasting is seen as safer than sand blasting because sand blasting produces a large amount of dust. This can be dangerous for people and animals in the vicinity and requires PPE be worn. Stonework shot blasting produces a lot less dust and is considered eco-friendly. Any debris from the shot media can easily be vacuumed up and reused, saving waste and keeping the work space clean and tidy.

Professional Stonework Shot Blasting

EcoBlast are experts in all sorts of shotblasting, including on vehicles, metalwork, wood and properties. If you have stonework that needs cleaning up, EcoBlast offer an eco-friendly, professional service at reasonable rates. To find out about their professional stonework shot blasting service, get in touch with their team today by phone or through this website.