Sandblasting Bristol

We are a specialist sandblaster in Bristol with 20+ years of experience. Whether it's a commercial  project or personal one, we can do it. Our professional sandblasting services offer you an efficient, cost-effective and reliable solution.

Sandblasting in Bristol


Sandblasting Bristol is a specialist sandblasting company based in Bristol. We specialise in providing high-quality sandblasting services for both commercial and residential clients. As professional sandblasters in Bristol, we use the latest equipment and techniques to deliver exceptional results, whether you need to restore a historic building or refurbish a piece of machinery. Our skilled and experienced teams are dedicated to providing a bespoke service that meets your own specific needs and requirements. Have a look below to learn more about our sandblasting services and how we can help transform your surfaces, making them look brand new.

We've built our exceptional reputation on hard work and acquiring many years of experience, allowing us to carry out any project smoothly. We work with you closely in the planning stage to figure out precisely what you need so we can come up with a solution that meets both your goals and budget. After this, we'll carry out the sandblasting thoroughly and efficiently before applying the finishing touches to ensure a quality result that you'll be happy with. Our wealth of knowledge and many years of experience make us the best choice for sandblasting near Bristol; get in touch for your free no, obligation quote.


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Sandblasting Bristol leads


“I have tried other companies that were okay, but non were as efficient or user friendly as Sandblasting Bristol. Made the whole process very easy!"


Peter Lawry Sandblasting Concrete

2023

Bristol


“Decided to clean our oak beams by soda blasting. The service was friendly and the results were great. Much quicker than cleaning them myself.”


Lisa Rosen Soda Blasting

2022

Bath


“If you are looking for a sandblasting company with high standards I highly recommend these. Blasted my house to remove paint off of two sides in a day.”


David Barlow Sandblasting House

2023

Chippenham

3500+

Surfaces Sandblasted!

2000+

Happy Customers!

20+

Years Of Experience!

What is Sandblasting?


Sandblasting is a process that involves using compressed air and abrasive materials to remove or roughen the surface of an object. A high-pressure stream of abrasive particles is shot onto a surface to either clean or prepare it for painting or other forms of coating. When done correctly it can bring a surface back to life, making it appear brand new.


Sandblasting is a versatile technique and can be used on various surfaces, including metal, wood, concrete, and stone. The process removes rust, paint, and other coatings from the surface and is the first step in making your wall, metal, or stone look brand new. It can also be used to create a textured or matte finish on a surface, which can be helpful in decorative applications or to improve grip.


Why should you use a sandblaster?


Using our sandblasting services will allow you to rejuvenate a surface of your choice. From metal and concrete to stone and wood, sandblasting will remove any rust or unwanted contaminants and strip it back to its original look. This can make the surface look brand new or make it ready for a new coating layer.


A sandblaster is most commonly used if you want to re-vamp your old material and get it looking great. It is the quickest and most cost-effective way to remove old coatings and prepare the base for a new coat. We can use different sandblasting methods depending on the desired finish, matte or smooth, so you get the outcome you want every time.

What Is Sandblasting Used For?

Surface preparation:

We commonly use Sandblasting in Bristol to prepare various materials for painting, sealing, or coating. This process removes rust, old paint, or other debris from the surface, creating a clean, smooth surface that allows a new layer to stick better.


Restoration:

Shot Blasting is a great technique for restoring old or damaged surfaces. It removes old paint, rust, or other debris, revealing a stripped-back surface that looks almost brand new. This is useful for restoring classic cars, metal sculptures, and historical buildings. It is regularly used on traditional stone buildings.

Cleaning:

Sandblasting is an extremely effective and quick cleaning method for removing dirt, debris, and other contaminants. We often use it to clean vehicle parts, machinery, and equipment.


Carving:

Sand blasting can be used to etch designs or patterns onto various materials. This technique is used primarily for decorative purposes, but we also use it on signs and plaques.


Texturing:

Adhesive Blasting can be used to create a textured surface on various materials such as metal, glass, and wood. This method can add a decorative touch to surfaces, improve grip for safety purposes and provide that finishing touch.



The Sandblasting Process


Sandblasting is a very effective surface preparation method which involves propelling abrasive particles to remove unwanted contaminants and create a clean, smooth surface. However, before the sandblasting process can begin, the surface must be correctly prepped to ensure the best outcome. Below, we have listed the stages we will undertake when sandblasting your surface:


  1. Clean: The first step is to clean the surface well. We will remove any dirt or debris that may be present on the surface using a pressure washer or chemical cleaner.
  2. Abrasive selection: Once the surface is clean, we must decide on the appropriate type of abrasive for the task. We use different types of abrasives for different jobs, depending on how solid the surface being prepped is. A few materials we use are metal, grit and glass.
  3. Abrasive blasting: This is when we carry out the shot blasting itself, propelling the selected abrasives at high velocity using compressed air or water. This will remove any remaining contaminants and prepare the surface for the final steps.
  4. Surface profiling: In a lot of cases, it is necessary to create a rough surface, ensuring proper absorption of the finishing product. We do this by adjusting the size and velocity of the particles fired and also altering the distance between the nozzle and the surface.
  5. Surface conditioning: Finally, we condition the surface to remove leftover dust or debris and create a smooth texture. This is done by air blasting, vacuum blasting, or wet blasting.


Proper surface preparation is critical for achieving optimal results with sandblasting. It is absolutely vital that you use a professional sandblaster in Bristol who has lots of experience. By cleaning, choosing the right abrasive, and properly conditioning the surface, we ensure a quality result that you will be happy with. If not done correctly, the surface won't be ready for the finishing coat.


Types of Abrasive Blasting Materials


We use many different types of abrasive materials when blasting, each with its unique properties and finishes. Below are some of the common abrasive blasting materials that we use.


Steel Grit - This is a commonly used material for surface preparation on metal surfaces. It is made out of carbon steel and is available in multiple sizes, from fine to rough. Steel grit is ideal for removing rust and other surface contaminants from metal surfaces. It is also a perfect pick for creating surface texture allowing better future adhesion of coatings.



Glass Beads - Glass beads are an abrasive material used for surface preparation in the car and aerospace industries. The beads are made from recycled glass and come in a range of sizes. Glass beads are ideal for cleaning delicate surfaces, such as aluminium and fibreglass. They can also be used for creating matte finishes on metal surfaces.



Aluminium Oxide - Aluminium oxide is made from aluminium oxide crystals and comes in multiple sizes depending on the application. It is a non-metallic material and is ideal for removing rust and other surface contaminants from metal surfaces which can also be used to create a matte or textured finish.



Expendable Abrasives - This material is a great economical option for surface preparation and cleans ferrous and non-ferrous metals. It is an excellent affordable, and practical solution often used by Sandblasting Bristol.


There are many types of abrasive materials used when abrasive blasting in Bristol, each with unique uses. The abrasive material chosen is critical to the outcome of the blast, depending on factors such as the type of surface being blasted and the preferred finish. Sandblasting Bristol has experts that understand the different abrasive materials available and can choose the best abrasive for your surface preparation needs.

Different Uses of Sandblasting

To Strip Off Paint, Rust or Corrosion

This is one of the main tasks that sandblasting is used for. Rust, paint and corrosion are difficult to remove using conventional techniques and hard scrubbing. Our Bristol Sandblasters can remove contaminants from machinery, vehicles, rusty tools and even old patio furniture. It can make all of these objects look almost brand new. When we remove paint, we use the correct adhesive, which allows us to strip back the paint without damaging the surface beneath.


Enable Easier Assembly

Sometimes when you come to assemble the parts of an item, you may find they are difficult or impossible to build. This may be due to the individual parts having burrs or irregularities. Sandblasting can remove these anomalies leaving you with pieces that are quick and easy to assemble, saving you time and money. Also, if required, we can reshape a surface completely if needed.


Prep an area for coating.

Whether the chosen finish is standard paint or a complex render, sandblasting is the best way to prep the surface. Our sandblasters will strip off the existing coat and remove any contaminants left over, leaving you with a surface fully prepped for coating. If the surface isn't properly prepared, then the coating won't stick to the surface correctly and will eventually start to peel off, so it is vital to prepare the base layer first.


Restore a traditional brick or stone building to its former glory

Traditional brick or stone are naturally great finishes for buildings, and sandblasting is the best way to get them looking as good as new. Old buildings are regularly painted to hide deterioration; however, the better choice is to sandblast the surface to keep it natural. This technique also increases the lifespan of the surfaces.


Easier cleaning than pressure washing

Pressure washing a wall, driveway or paving can be difficult and time-consuming. Instead, get our sandblasting experts to clean your surfaces. We can remove stains such as oil or grease. It will save you both time and effort when cleaning.

Smoothing and Polishing

Sandblasting not only cleans surfaces but also leaves them looking glossy and polished. Sometimes we get asked to polish a surface and make its appearance as good as possible. Whether you are selling the item or would just like it to look new; our sandblasters can do it. They will carefully choose the correct adhesive to make sure you get the finish and texture that you want.


Creating Art

As sandblasting can be used to shape objects and create a smooth finish, it is an excellent choice for creating art. Patterns can be carved into metal, wood, glass and stone. We can engrave the desired shape and apply the finishing touches so that your art is ready to go on show. Our sandblasters have also used their skills to improve the look of bland buildings by creating designs and patterns.


Cleaning Concrete

Another use of sandblasting is to clean concrete streets, footpaths and other concrete areas. As these areas regularly get neglected, it can make a massive difference to the area's appeal, uplifting the whole feel of the space. Other benefits of sandblasting concrete include increasing the lifespan of the concrete and creating a smooth surface can reduce the chance of accidents. This cleaning method is much quicker than using soapy water and cleaning by hand, but again, the correct type of abrasive material must be used.


Removing mould

Mould can cause lots of health issues if left unchecked in a house. Symptoms include coughing, allergic reactions, itchy eyes and even lung damage. Sandblasting can be used to remove mould on many different surfaces using soda or dry ice; our sandblasters have experience using both. Sandblasters Bristol can offer you mould removal in difficult-to-reach areas.


Etching patterns

We can quickly and easily make carving patterns into wood, stone or glass. It's an affordable way to engrave creative design patterns, writing or even logos onto your desired surface.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Sandblasting in Bristol


Sandblasting is a highly sufficient surface preparation technique that can help remove rust, paint and other impurities from various surfaces. However, the price of sandblasting can vary significantly depending on several factors. Here are some factors that can influence the cost of sandblasting:

Size and intricacy of the project

The size and sophistication of the project can greatly affect the cost of sandblasting. A larger project will generally demand more time and resources, which can push up the price.


Kind of surface

Different exteriors need different blasting tools and procedures, which can impact the cost. For example, blasting metal surfaces may require another type of tool and process than blasting concrete surfaces.


Equipment and labour expenses

The equipment and labour required for the sandblasting procedure will also influence the project's overall price.

Accessibility of the surface

If the surface being blasted is in a difficult-to-reach spot, such as a high-rise structure, this can add to the project's price.


Type of blasting tool

Different types of blasting tools have different fees. For example, using garnet as the blasting tool can be more pricey than using silica sand. Dustless blasting can be more expensive than normal sandblasting, but can reduce the amount of dust and debris produced.


State of the exterior

The condition of the surface to be blasted can also affect the cost. If the surface is laboriously rusted or covered in multiple paint coatings, it may need more time and resources to prep the surface properly.

It's important to note that the cost of sandblasting will vary depending on the specific factors of your project. Contact Sandblasting Bristol to get a free quote and a professional sand blaster.

Shot Blasting Bristol


Shot blasting uses tiny steel balls or metallic shots to clean and prepare surfaces. The shot is fired at high speed onto the treated surface, where it removes impurities and roughens the exterior for better adhesion of coatings. Shot blasting is usually used in metalworking applications, such as readying surfaces for welding, cleaning, and preparing concrete surfaces.


One of the main differences between sandblasting and shot blasting is the level of aggression between the two methods. Sandblasting is usually more aggressive, as the non-metallic abrasives are often more tough and abrasive than metallic shot. This makes it a fine choice for clearing tough coatings and pollutants from metal surfaces, but it can also damage fragile surfaces if not used carefully. Shot blasting is generally less aggressive and a better fit for prepping surfaces for coatings or removing light layers and contaminants.


The equipment used for sandblasting and shot blasting also varies. Sandblasting demands specialised equipment that can take high pressures and abrasive materials, such as a sandblasting cabinet or a mobile sandblasting machine. Shot blasting equipment is typically more extensive and complex, as it involves propelling metallic shots at high speeds using a device that can endure the required shots.


Sandblasting and shot blasting are effective surface preparation techniques in various industrial and commercial applications. Knowing the differences between these two methods allows you to determine which is best fitted for your project. The method selection relies on the type of surface being treated, the desired result, and other factors such as the level of aggression needed and the equipment available. Contact us to know more about shot blasting in Bristol.



  • Is sandblasting legal?

    Although commonly referred to as 'sandblasting', it is illegal in the UK to use the most common forms of sand for blasting, as the fine particles ejected from the sand can cause silicosis. This is why Sandblasting Bristol doesn't use any type of sand when performing abrasive blasting.

  • What materials do you use for shot blasting?

    As it is illegal to use sand for sandblasting, we use other materials such as steel, grit and glass.


If you want a reliable service, every time, then we are the sandblasters to call. Get in touch today and to see what services we can offer you!


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