Sandblasting in Vancouver: Common Questions

Most sandblasting in the Lower Mainland runs roughly $4 to $12 per square foot, or about C$100 to $135 per hour including media, with small residential jobs often landing between $300 and $800. The surface, the coating, and access all move the number. We provide a free written estimate so the price reflects your actual job.

Yes — our whole operation is mobile. We bring the blasting rig to your home, shop, job site, or marina anywhere across Metro Vancouver, so there's no hauling heavy or awkward pieces across town. We contain the work area and clean up the spent media before we leave.

Dustless, or wet, blasting mixes water into the abrasive stream, which suppresses the vast majority of the airborne dust and runs cooler so thin metal is less likely to warp. Traditional dry blasting is faster and cuts harder, which suits heavy rust and industrial steel. We choose the method based on your surface and surroundings.

Yes — every job starts with a free, no-obligation written estimate that lays out the method, the media, and the cost before any blasting happens. We'd rather see the surface first than quote you a guess over the phone, so the number you get reflects the real work.

Yes — that's the core of what abrasive blasting does. It strips rust, paint, and failed coatings right back to bare, clean metal, leaving a profile that primer and paint can grip. On corroded steel we can apply a primer on the spot so the bare metal doesn't flash-rust.

Both, depending on the job. Large, easy-to-measure surfaces like decks and flat steel are usually priced per square foot, while small, intricate, or heavily corroded pieces are often fairer to bill hourly. Your written estimate spells out which model applies and exactly what's included.

It can carry a small premium because of the extra setup and slurry cleanup, but it's often the right call near other property, on thin metal, or where dust is a concern. The difference is usually modest, and many customers find the reduced mess and lower risk well worth it. We'll lay out both options in your estimate.

Most jobs finish within one to two days, including setup, masking, blasting, and cleanup. Small items can be done in a few hours, while large commercial or industrial work with containment runs longer. Heavy rust and layered coatings add time, and we confirm a realistic timeline in your written estimate.

Yes, when the media and pressure are matched to the surface. We dial it down for soft brick, heritage masonry, concrete, and thin metal, and often use the dustless wet method on delicate work. That cleans the surface effectively without gouging, etching, or warping it.

Always — cleanup is part of every job. We contain the work area first, then collect and haul away all spent media and debris so your site is left tidy. Responsible disposal of media and old coatings matters, especially on dense Metro Vancouver sites.

Not when we use our dustless wet setup, which cushions and cools the blast to reduce the heat that warps thin aluminum and light panels. That's the approach we take on boat hulls and bodywork, stripping them clean without distorting the metal. We match the method to the gauge of the metal.

We match the media to the surface and the result you need — coarser, harder abrasives like garnet for heavy rust and structural steel, and finer or wet media for delicate metal, concrete, and brick. Choosing the right abrasive for your specific surface is part of the estimate.

We serve Vancouver and the surrounding Lower Mainland within roughly a 40 km radius, including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Delta, and West Vancouver. The rig is mobile, so we travel to your site across Metro Vancouver.

Yes — North Vancouver and West Vancouver are within our regular service area, including the shipyards, the marinas, and the steeper streets above Lonsdale. We bring the equipment to you, and the heavy North Shore rain means we often prime bare metal right after blasting so it doesn't flash-rust.

Yes — we're registered and in good standing with WorkSafe BC and fully insured, and a letter of clearance is available for commercial and industrial projects that require one before work starts. Strata councils, property managers, and industrial sites can get the documentation they need up front.