Is Sandblasting Safe?
The honest answer: it depends on the method. High-pressure abrasive on soft historic material is a disaster. A properly chosen method is completely safe.
- Specialist-trained operators
- Method-matched to your surface
Can Old Brick and Stone Be Damaged by Blasting?
Yes — if the wrong method is used. Victorian bricks have a hard fired outer skin protecting a softer core; strip that skin and the brick fails within a couple of winters. Soft sandstone weathers back millimetres under aggressive abrasive.
Why Method Matters More Than "Sandblasting" as a Blanket Term
High-Pressure Abrasive
Superheated Steam
Soda Blasting
How We Choose the Right Method
Site survey first, method second. We tell you which method we'd use and why — before you commit.
Signs a Contractor Is Using the Wrong Method
A quote that doesn't name the method. A single price per m² regardless of substrate. No certificate. No method statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the safest method for soft sandstone?
Low-pressure superheated steam is the safest first choice. It removes soiling and biological growth without any abrasive contact with the stone face.
Can sandblasting be reversed if it goes wrong?
No — once the fired outer skin of a brick or the weathered face of soft stone is stripped, it's gone. Damaged units can only be replaced or lime-repaired.
How do I know if my contractor is using the right method?
Ask them to name the method, pressure and media. A specialist explains why they've chosen it. A generalist just says 'sandblasting'.
Get a free site survey
Send us a couple of photos and a postcode. We'll come out, survey the property, and put a written price in your hand within days — not weeks.