Concrete Shot Blasting
In practice, concrete shot blasting is built for slabs too large or too contaminated to grind. Because of that, steel shot strips coatings and leaves a clean, uniform profile at production scale.
When concrete shot blasting is the right tool
Very large open slabs
Typically, on big warehouse decks, grinding becomes a schedule problem. In addition, a blaster covers ground far faster and leaves a consistent profile across the whole area.
Heavy contamination
As a result, where a slab is heavily coated or contaminated, blasting removes the material and takes the surface back to sound concrete in one pass.
Coatings that need real profile
In short, heavy-build coatings and urethane cement need a deeper profile than grinding typically produces. For example, blasting delivers a CSP 3 to CSP 6 profile.
Concrete shot blasting versus grinding
Generally, they are not competing methods, they suit different conditions. As a result, most large projects use both, with the blaster on the open field and grinders where it cannot reach.
Where blasting wins
Because of that, large open areas, heavy coating removal, and any specification calling for a deeper CSP profile. However, production rate is the main advantage.
Where blasting does not fit
In most cases, a blaster cannot work tight to walls, into corners, or around fixed plant. Those areas are ground instead, which is why most jobs run both.
How a concrete shot blasting project runs
Site assessment
Above all, we walk the slab, check its condition, test for moisture where it matters, and give you a clear scope with no vague line items.
Blast the open field
In practice, steel shot is thrown at the slab and recovered in a closed loop, stripping the surface and profiling it as the machine advances.
Grind the edges
Typically, perimeters, corners and areas around fixed equipment are ground to match the profile the blaster achieved on the open floor.
Clean handoff
As a result, dust is collected at the machine throughout, and the slab is handed off clean and uniformly profiled for the next system.
Where we provide concrete shot blasting
In short, all West Surface Prep is based in Commerce City, Colorado and works across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. In other words, for Denver metro projects specifically, see our concrete shot blasting in Denver page.
Colorado60 cities
New Mexico7 cities
South Dakota6 cities
Common questions about concrete shot blasting
How much profile does concrete shot blasting leave?
Typically a ICRI CSP 3 to CSP 6 profile depending on how the machine is set. That is why, the coating manufacturer specifies which level their system needs.
Is it dusty?
Generally, far less than people expect. Of course, the shot is recovered in a closed loop and dust is collected at the machine, which is why blasting suits occupied buildings.
Can you blast right up to the walls?
Because of that, no machine can. Perimeters and corners are ground to match, so the whole floor ends up at a consistent profile.
How large a floor can you handle?
In most cases, aWSP has taken projects up to 160,000 square feet. Because of that, production rate is exactly why blasting gets specified on slabs that size.
Get a concrete shot blasting quote
Above all, send the facility type, the approximate square footage and what is currently on the floor. In addition, you will hear back the same business day.