Concrete Tilt Up

Light - Expose the fine aggregate with occasional exposure of coarse aggregate sometimes known as a sandpaper finish.

Medium - Some coarse aggregate is exposed. The concrete has been removed from the surface of the rocks. The concrete and the aggregate remain at about the same level.

Heavy - Expose the coarse aggregate with the surface being rough and uneven. The sides of the large aggregate are slightly visible.

Poured in Place Concrete

Light - Expose the fine aggregate with occasional exposure of coarse aggregate sometimes known as a sandpaper finish.

Medium - Some coarse aggregate is exposed. The concrete has been removed from the surface of the rocks. The concrete and the aggregate remain at about the same level.

Heavy - Expose the coarse aggregate with the surface being rough and uneven. The sides of the large aggregate are slightly visible.

Flat Work Concrete

Light - Expose all fine aggregate to a sandpaper finish.

Medium - The concrete has been removed from the surface at the rocks. The concrete and the aggregate remain at about the same level.

Heavy - Expose all coarse aggregate with slight projection.

Concrete Block (CMU)

Light - Clean the surface with no exposure of the aggregate.

Medium - The concrete has been removed from the surface of the rocks. The concrete and the aggregate remain at about the same level.

Heavy - To expose all aggregate.

Brick

The purpose of sandblasting brick is to either clean off stains or to remove paint. Being a clay product, any abrasive will pit the surface. The pictures to the left are examples of sandblasted brick where a specific look was achieved.

Wood

Light - Sufficient to lightly clean the surface with slight exposure of the wood grain.

Medium - To uniformly expose the wood grain.

Heavy - To deeply expose the wood grain.

Stucco

Sandblast Stucco for Re-Painting

The purpose of sandblasting stucco is to prepare the surface for either re-paint or re-stucco. When sandblasting to prepare for re-paint, it is important not to damage the stucco, as new paint hasn't enough body to cover or hide rough spots caused by sandblasting. Often the old paint is harder than the stucco. We find that removal of loose paint is the best that can be done in order to leave the stucco intact.

Sandblasting for Re-Stucco

The intent is to remove the paint from the surface and leave all the colorcoat intact. There is no reason to remove the colorcoat down to the browncoat, unless it is sandy and deteriorated.

Glossary

Concrete
Irregularities from
forms such as wood
grain and joints cannot
be removed by
sandblasting.
Selection of the proper abrasive and equipment
is important depending
on the type of sandblast finish required.
For heavy sandblast
finish it is recommended
that sandblasting be
started as soon as
possible.

Wood
Stains from tie binders
and weather stains
cannot be removed by
light sandblasting. It is important to select the proper abrasive and equipment for the
project depending on
the sandblast finish
required.

Blast Cleaning Steel

White Metal Blast Cleaning (SSPC-PC 5 or NACE 1)

White metal blast cleaning is used when a totally cleaned surface is required. The method of cleaning is defined as a blast cleaned surface with a gray-white uniform metallic color. It shall be free of all oil, grease, dirt, mill scale, rust, corrosion products, oxides, paint, stains, streaks or any other contaminant across 100% of every square inch.

Commercial Blast Cleaning (SSPC-SP 6 or NACE 3)

Commercial blast cleaned surface is defined as one in which all oil, grease, dirt, mill scale, rust and old paint have been completely removed from the blast cleaned surface, except that slight streaks, or discolorations caused by rust stain, mill scale oxides, or slight tightly adherent residues of paint or coating may remain. If the surface is pitted, slight residues of rust or paint may remain in the bottom of the pits. The slight discolorations mentioned above are limited to one-third of every square inch.

Brush-Off Blast Cleaning (SSPC 7 or NACE 4)

Brush-off blast is defined as one in which all oil, grease, dirt, rust scale, loose mill scale, loose rust and loose paint or coating are completely removed. Tight mill scale and tightly adherent rust and paint or coatings may remain as long s the entire surface has been exposed to abrasive blasting.

Power Tool Cleaning To Bare Metal (SSPC 11)

Power tool cleaning to bare metal is defined as cleaning metallic surfaces to such a degree, that when viewed without magnification, the surface shall be free of all visible oil, grease, dirt, dust, mill scale, rust, paint, oxide, corrosion products and other contaminants. Slight residues of rust and paint may be left in the lower portions of pits if the original surface is pitted. The surface shall be roughened to a degree suitable for the specified paint system. The surface profile shall not be less than 1 mil.

Near-White Blast Cleaning (SSPC 10 or NACE 2)

Near-white blast cleaning is defined as one from which all oil, grease, dirt, mill scale, rust, corrosion products, oxides, paint or any other contaminant have been completely removed from the surface. Very light shadows, very slight streaks or discolorations caused by rust stain, mill scale oxides or slight tight residues of paint or coating are permitted to remain. Only 5% of every square inch may contain the slight discolorations mentioned above.