Get matched with top sandblasting pros in Shady Side, MD

Soda-blasting systems are slightly more expensive than sandblasting systems. To soda blast, you’ll need to spend a few hundred dollars for a blast hose and nozzle, a compressed air supply, a blast generator, a moisture decontamination system, and sodium bicarbonate media, a recurring cost because the powder is not reusable. To start with sandblasting, you will need to spend upwards of $30 for a blast pot, a blast gun, an air compressor, and sandblasting media, many of which are recyclable—further reducing the cost. The total cost for either will depend on the size of the system.

The cost of sandblasting depends on the scope of the project, the surface type, labor, and equipment required. Services typically cost between $50 and $80 per hour, though most professionals charge by surface area at a rate of $1.50 to $7 per square foot. Total project costs can range from $700 to $12,500, with an average homeowner spending around $3,200 to sandblast a 1,000-square-foot surface.

There are two ways sandblasting could be dangerous: improper use of the equipment so that the stream touches your skin, and air particles created during the sandblasting process. While the first is easier to avoid and fairly obvious, the second has the potential to be more serious and is much more difficult to understand. This is why you should always hire a pro to sandblast, as they understand the dangers associated with the process. If proper safety measures are taken, then sandblasting is rarely dangerous.

Sandblasting is useful when you need to strip material off a hard surface. Common reasons to sandblast are to remove paint, rust, or get a surface ready for a new material. You aren’t limited to surfaces like walls either—you can sandblast rusted tools, bicycle frames, cement, bricks, and many others. If what you’re sandblasting is still structurally sound, sandblasting can be a fast and inexpensive way to revive the original material.