If you’re DIYing the project, it could take up to a week if you aren’t able to dedicate full-time hours. If you hire a professional and they arrive with a team, expect your stairs to be sanded in as little as 2 hours (for simple projects). Finishing the stairs takes a while longer as there are drying and sealing times to consider, but the actual work will take much less time than the sanding portion.

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.

You can concrete can be done when it’s wet or dry. However, it’s safer when wet, as harmful dust and chemicals are present. Sanding it when dry is faster, but you’ll agitate more dust and chemicals, meaning you’ll need to be more careful.

Sandblasting removes old paint, rust, and grime efficiently, providing a clean surface for refinishing.