Wood sandblasting
Stripping beams, staircases and floorboards gently – the essentials on wood.
Read the guideSandblasting timber framing – exposing beams gently
Grey paint, thick coatings, weathered beams: with the right, mild blasting process the wood of your timber framing reappears undamaged – indoors and out.
The process
Why blasting beats chemical stripping
Timber-framing beams were painted over again and again for decades – often with paints that do the wood no good. Gentle blasting with mild media and low pressure removes these layers evenly, without chemicals and without injuring the beam surface. The natural grain and the carpenter's old tool marks are preserved.
Unlike chemical stripping there are no residues left in the wood, and unlike sanding we reach profiles, edges and gaps evenly. After blasting, the wood is immediately ready for oil, glaze or a new diffusion-open coating.
Indoors and out
From the living room to the weather side
Indoors: Exposed timber framing turns an ordinary room into a showpiece. We restore grey or white painted beamed ceilings and wall panels so that the warm wood tone returns – during an ongoing renovation or in an occupied house, with careful sealing-off and extraction.
Outdoors: On the facade it is usually about weathered, cracked coatings that need rebuilding. We blast the beams back to sound wood; the infill panels of plaster or brick are protected or – if desired – cleaned along with them.
Listed buildings: For protected buildings, owners coordinate the process with the heritage authorities. We supply all technical details and start with a sample area – it shows bindingly what the result will look like.
The workflow
How we proceed with timber framing
Everything starts with the sample area: in an inconspicuous spot we determine blast media, grain and pressure. Then windows, fittings and adjacent surfaces are covered – indoors the room is additionally sealed dust-tight.
We blast beam by beam, with mild media such as fine slag or – for very delicate substance – even gentler agents. Spent media and old coatings are collected and disposed of properly. At the end we hand over a clean surface ready for coating.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions on this topic
No – with mild blast media, low pressure and the right distance only the coating is removed. Soft earlywood zones may recede minimally, which actually accentuates the natural structure. The sample area shows the result bindingly beforehand.
Yes. We seal interiors dust-tight and work with extraction. Furniture is protected or moved out, and after the job we hand over broom-clean.
As you wish: plaster panels can be protected and left out or cleaned along with the beams. Brick panels can be gently exposed – giving the wall back its rustic character.
Indoors it can often stay untreated or be oiled. Outdoors we recommend a diffusion-open coating or glaze as weather protection – both last considerably longer on a blasted surface than on old layers.
Keep reading
Related topics
Facade sandblasting
When blasting suits render, clinker and natural stone – honestly explained.
Read the guideHistoric substance
Our service for timber framing and heritage work at a glance.
View the service
Free & no obligation
Your timber framing should show wood again?
Send us photos of your beams – we will tell you honestly what is possible and quote a fixed price.