Soda Blasting Contractor
McCahill Painting has successfully completed hundreds of soda blasting restoration projects across a wide range of industries and environments. We employ rigorous safety standards, extensive technician training, and state-of-the-art equipment to meet client project goals while ensuring the safety of the crew, nearby personnel, and the work environment.
As a McCahill Painting client, you’ll find we are a true partner you can rely on to complete your soda blasting projects safely, on time, on budget, with minimal disruption and excellent results.
What is soda blasting and how does it work?
Soda blasting uses pressurized air to blast sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, against a surface to remove old paint, corrosion, decay, oil, and biological and atmospheric contamination.
Soda blasting is less abrasive than some other forms of dry abrasive blasting (like sandblasting) and is well suited to metal, copper, stucco, brick, limestone, wood, and other surfaces requiring a more delicate blasting technique. Because it is gentler, soda blasting will not leave a surface profile and is far less likely to damage a substrate.
Soda blasting is also more environmentally friendly than some other forms of blasting, making it a good choice for busy and sensitive areas and as a way to reduce the environmental impact of a project.
Soda Blasting vs. Sandblasting
Sandblasting can rapidly clean and restore a variety of surfaces including steel, concrete, metal, and brick. Often used to prepare surfaces for painting, sandblasting creates a rough surface profile that supports optimum paint adhesion and long-lasting results.
Soda blasting, by comparison, is an excellent choice for projects where you do not want to profile or risk damaging the substrate—a key reason soda blasting has been used to restore treasured monuments like the Statue of Liberty.
Looking for dust-free blasting options?
Soda blasting works well but produces ample dust, so it may not be the best choice for every project or environment. While 100% dust-free blasting is a myth, our innovative sponge blasting and advanced vapor blasting services greatly suppress dust—by up to 98%!
These very low dust blasting options minimize prep and clean up, reduce health and safety hazards, and protect the environment and your space exponentially over traditional blasting methods like soda blasting and sandblasting.
Which blasting method is right for your project?
Our team is experienced in a wide range of blasting methods and will consult with you to determine the best blasting technique for your specific project goals and job environment.
Where is soda blasting used?
Soda blasting is used for a wide range of industrial and commercial purposes:
- deep cleaning and deoderizing
- paint and coating removal
- masonry cleaning
- stucco removal
- graffiti removal
- mold and mildew removal
- fire damage restoration
- historic restoration
- delicate art and metalwork restoration
Soda blasting to remove decaying stucco
While the process takes a little longer, using soda blasting to remove decaying stucco achieves the same great results as sandblasting but is safer for populated and sensitive areas like busy public spaces and residential neighborhoods. In this video, we use soda blasting to completely remove decaying stucco from a Frank Lloyd Wright home.
Soda blasting to clean and deodorize
Sodium bicarbonate media is water-soluble, environmentally friendly, and non-acidic, and has the added benefit of deodorizing a surface as it cleans. Due to its deodorizing properties, soda blasting is often used to restore surfaces damaged by mold, fire, or smoke.
Soda blasting for graffiti removal
While soda blasting can be used for graffiti removal, we have had excellent results completely removing graffiti with our proven power washing method of combining environmentally safe cleaning agents and 250-degree hot water.
The Chicago Area's Soda Blasting Expert
As a McCahill Painting customer, you’ll find we’re a true partner you can rely on to complete your blasting projects safely, on time, on budget, with minimal disruption and excellent, long-lasting results.
- 45+ years of experience in industrial and commercial painting and restoration, including extensive abrasive blasting experience
- Impeccable safety record over more than four decades
- Exceptional craftsmanship and sky-high work standards
- Asset preservation approach: we do more than improve aesthetics—we help customers extend the usable life of their industrial and commercial assets
- Clear and comprehensive project proposals
- ISNetworld Certified Contractor and member of AMPP, PCA, CPIA, and TRMA
- Fully bonded, licensed and insured
- Proudly serving industrial and commercial customers in Chicago & Suburbs, northern Illinois, southeast Wisconsin, northwest Indiana, and southwest Michigan
