July 4th BBQ

Take a look at your wood deck or concrete or stone patio while you are grilling over the weekend. Does the surface need some attention? A few tips to begin the cleaning and restoration process:

Wood Decks -- Dry abrasive blasting with Corn Cob Grit can strip dirt, soils, stains and coatings without damaging the wood or raising the grain. Avoid harder media such as sand (don't ever blast with silica sand anyway) or glass or coal slag as these will definitely etch the wood and can cause damage. The main benefit of dry abrasive blasting versus high pressure water is that the dry surface can be re-sealed immediately - a one weekend project instead of two or three.

Concrete or Stone Patios -- Stripping paint off concrete surfaces requires a more aggressive abrasive such as Crushed Glass Grit. Stone which can be softer than concrete might demand Crushed Glass Grit but Walnut Shell Grit may be a better option since it is not as aggressive and stone is easier to clean (typically no paint or coatings to remove).

Final tip -- Enjoy the BBQ first, then start the work!