[pepscae]

I am working on a fire damage property and I am sub contracting the soot removal and cleaning of charred rafters to a restoration company.
I was offered two possibilities: both applications include the use fogging and ozone machines but for blasting the first offer uses soda blasting,while the other will use crushed glass blasting and application of sealant (kilz2). I will do the demolition of the plaster, replace the new floors and eventually apply the primer/sealant.
what do you think? soda or glass+primer. Is the primer application even necessary the contractor says that glass works very fast and is cheaper.
Thanks Joe

 

[Betterblast]

Either one will work well. Nice things about soda is it helps with the burnt smell and if you have good windows in the blast area you won't etch them with over spray.

However, this is assuming your pot is set up well for blasting soda, a good metering valve a sharp 60% bottom and good water separation. It cost more but I tend to get a lot more time from a bag of soda than I do with glass. If you are renting a general purpose blast pot that you are not experienced with you may do better with glass.

 

[Dyer]

I've done both on burned
Soda does kill the smell but does not completely take it away
Glass works well if it's really deep, it will clean it fast, but windows need to be plastic or taped

 

[blastserv]

I never propose soda any longer. Insurance companies want it done as cheap as possible and do not care about your profit margins so therefore I shoot abrasive and move on. And.. Soda is much harder to cleanup

 

[R.MKP]

What if you use both glass and soda. Mix up your media 50/50.

 

[Betterblast]

Different weights, I wonder if they would flow well. A lot of work to keep mixing it together fist.

 

[blastserv]

Armex offers a premixed blend called maintenance grade...it is mixed with aluminum oxide.
Soda is not the media to use on fire/soot but that is just my opinion. You can use potatoes if you want...I just don't see the value in it.

 

[Betterblast]

One example where soda worked well for me was a smoke job on a block basement. It cleaned it and didn't harm the block. If you are just hitting wooden beams or block that will be covered that will up then it wouldn't matter so much. I do think it helps with the odor some. I would also say if the flooring is not damaged and might be scratched up from an abrasive or if it saves from covering glass then it can be a plus.

 

[pepscae]

Thank you all for the replays. The smoke damaged area is made of wood, and for what I was told and you confirmed glass is a good/faster/more economical option. The plaster is damaged by smoke in all the 3rd floor and there was quite a bit of water damage. Should go down. The floor I will leave it for last and see what do to. The problem is not the damage by the soot that for sure penetrated underneath it.
Thanks again to all
Joe

 

[CO2Solutions]

Soda still seems to be the preferred media on Insurance work here as per Adjusters but other medias work just as well. The idea is to remove the soot damaged areas etc But you should still seal with an odour control primer ie. Killz or BIN's
Unless you hepa vacuum and wipe every surface, I mean EVERY surface you're probaly still leaving residue from the fire.
We blast (usually soda sometimes Dry Ice), light clean up then seal with primer...all good!