January 13th, 2010 by bbergman

Soda blasting has numerous advantages over power washing when it comes to clean log homes. For starters, soda blasting is a gentle non-chemical, non-toxic and non-abrasive process.

Using just the right pressure, soda blasting eliminates the grime, old finish, dirt and mold without harming the wood’s surface. And soda blasting actually leaves the wood feeling slightly “softer” – not the same brittle-like, harsh texture you get with corn cob blasting or other media solutions.

As the log home job wraps up, your sodablast contractor will do a quick walk-through for any areas he may have overlooked. Property owners and managers don’t have to worry about timely, expensive and difficult clean-ups.

Your contractor will probably hose down the outside of the property and wash away any dust created during the job. He will also pick up any debris, materials and plastic associated with the job.

Here are some helpful tips homeowners and property managers can use:

* Provide the sodablaster with access to water and a hose;

* Dispose the contractor’s trash (i.e., blast material packaging, plastic);

Once you work with a contractor you like, make sure you have all the necessary information to contact him again. It’s important to maintain, restore and clean your log home regularly to ensure it’s kept in the best condition.

Logs need to breathe, but if your home has too many layers of old finish on it, you can actually start to retain too much moisture – the beginning of rot.

The restoration and cleaning process will help identify hidden problems within the log home as old finishes are removed. If there are any issues during the job, our sodablast contractors will help or direct you to the sources that can repair or replace the damaged logs.

Once the sodablast contractor is finished with the job you hired him for, you will need to consider applying a non-toxic borate preservative to protect your wood home and a new coat of stain, which enhances the beauty of the logs.

January 4th, 2010 by bbergman

Once you’ve made the decision to blast your log home, hired a professional sodablast contractor to handle the project and agreed on a date to restore the wood structure, it’s time to make sure everything is set up for a successful outcome.

If the contractor plans to blast any part of the outside of the log building, it will be necessary to scope out the property for overgrown trees, shrubs or bushes that could get in the way. While it certainly makes it easier for the sodablast contractor to work – especially if he has to rent scaffolding equipment to reach high areas - it’s really about making sure you get what you pay for: a complete log home restoration.

Your sodablast contractor will likely need to store some materials on the property while he completes the job. A clear spot in the driveway area or part of a corner in the garage works well.

Be prepared for loud noises for long stretches during the day. You may also notice a little dust collect around the windows inside the log home. Taping the windows can help minimize the dust build-up.

At SodaBlast Systems, one of the most important tips we give our property owners when they hire a professional is to make sure your sodablast contractor knows how to reach you in case he needs to clarify a point or runs into an issue that requires your attention.

After all, the last thing you want to do is come back and find out the contractor went over the budget by $1,000 or stalled for half a day because of an open window.

Coming up next: Discover some quick clean-up tips and learn what your sodablast professional is going to do next.

December 29th, 2009 by bbergman

Hiring a contractor to handle your log cabin restoration project can be overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before. You’re probably wondering where to start, how to find a qualified professional and what kinds of questions to ask.

An association, group or business that represents restoration professionals is a good place to start. When you call one of these sources, they will ask you for specifics about your cabin such as the size, where it’s located and the condition of the wood.

In order to be able to help and direct you to the right contractor, you will need to know and be able to tell someone if you have structural damage, insect or log rot problems and if this is a repair or restoration project.

In most cases, you will receive a short list of qualified professionals who are experienced to handle your type of job. Remember that even the best source can only provide you with basic information. You will need to do your own research and ask questions to make sure you’re hiring the right company to handle your project.

Here are several questions to ask that will help you determine the right soda blasting company for the job:

• Does the contractor have a portfolio that highlights similar work? You wouldn’t hire a plumber to coordinate your wedding or the pet groomer to mow your lawn. Most contractors have a nice sample of various projects they’ve completed. Make sure your contactor has done this kind of work before.

• Can the contractor provide references to similar jobs completed within the past 12 months? Once you’ve determined that his portfolio is up to par, make sure it’s his portfolio! Call on a few past jobs or references to find out how they would rate your contractor. You might find out that he did a great job but over-bid the project or took three weeks longer to complete the restoration.

• How long will it take to complete the job? No one wants to hire a contractor around Labor Day and have to tiptoe past his work come Christmas! Make sure your contractor gives you a reasonable timeframe and then sticks to it. Ask about potential delays and how those setbacks will be handled. This is especially important if you’re restoring the cabin so you can rent it out as a vacation home or sell it. If time is critical, let your contractor know.

Tomorrow’s Topic: Learn what to expect when your sodablast professional starts the log cabin restoration/repair process.

December 21st, 2009 by rhondap

Whether you use your log cabin as a vacation rental, weekend getaway or as a primary residence, you want to make sure you take the best care to preserve and enhance the beauty of your property. Stain removal from any type of wood surfaces can be difficult, especially if it’s not handled appropriately.

Soda blasting removes years of stains, grime and dirt build-up without damaging or compromising the wood structure and professional contractors experienced with media blasting know how to prepare the job correctly.

Like car restoration projects and boat bottom jobs, soda blasting restores log cabins back to the original condition. But how do you know if your log cabin is ready or in need of a restoration?

Ask yourself the following:

• Have you recently constructed an addition on the cabin?

The new structure could have a different color compared to the original cabin.

• Do you plan to sell your cabin or convert it into a weekend retreat?

The cabin could need a little pick-me-upper on the curb appeal to make it a more attractive buy or destination.

• Does your cabin have that weathered, worn-out look?

If it seems that it just doesn’t have the same shine it did a few years back, it might just need a quick restore – it’s a great way to preserve the structure too!

Tomorrow’s Topic: What three questions to ask a contractor as you plan to restore your cabin.

December 17th, 2009 by rhondap

Soda blasting can strip any surface safely and efficiently, reduce the time it takes to do the job and cuts cost by at least a third – if not more. It is the ideal choice for auto restoration projects because it cleans the surface to bare metal without harming or damaging the body. Car enthusiasts love it because they don’t have to remove chrome, rubber or wiring when it comes time to prepare the car for a blast job.

Soda blasting is a welcome alternative embraced by car fanatics who worry about polluting the environment. Unlike sand, soda blasting doesn’t have a negative impact on the vehicle, environment or contractor.

• Sodablasting is a great option because:
• It doesn’t damage the surface, harm the metal or scratch the body;
• It is easy to wash away and leaves behind no smelly, ugly messes or residue;

Unlike sand, it is a water-soluble food-grade product. That means contractors can work around baking soda without causing long-term scar tissue or damage to their internal organs.

Of course, there’s always the ‘cool’ factor – and great conversation-starter - when you tell everyone you’re car was restored the eco-friendly, green way.

December 14th, 2009 by rhondap

Stripping your boat properly and preparing it for a bottom paint job is important and this is a good time of year to complete the task. You probably not sailing as much in December compared to July due to chilly weather, holiday functions, work commitments and school schedules.

No one wants to suit up in a scuba outfit and scrub the bottom of a boat in the water. And the time – days in fact - you spend sanding it by hand could be better spent elsewhere doing something more productive and even profitable.

Hiring workers to sand it by hand is not an incredibly feasible or economical choice either, since most people will charge $25 per hour and take about a week to do the job. You’re looking at shelling out $1,600 to $2,000 and more in compensation, insurance and other fees for two workers. That number could go higher if you assign your employees to scrub the bottom paint off the boat – it’s time they are not making money for your business.

Hiring a Soda Blast Systems Preferred Contractor – an experienced, qualified and insured worker – has its perks. For instance, take a 32-foot boat that needs to the bottom paint stripped. Our contractors can come in, tent up (to contain the dust), strip and clean the bottom, pack up and be out in one day and for less than $2,000.

You won’t be stuck with time-consuming, frustrating messes to clean (most of our contractors tent off projects with plastic to contain the dust and ensure quick and easy clean-up) and you can start on your boat project immediately.

December 4th, 2009 by rhondap

Recently a car buff called one of our soda blast contractors to strip his 1957 Ford Fairlane and was surprised when he discovered physical damage, dents and body filler under a layer of thick paint. Clearly the number one benefit to sodablasting his car was learning –and being able to fix- the damage to the car. It had already received two paint jobs since the damage occurred.

You may think you don’t miss what you don’t have or that ignorance is bliss but when it comes to your car, but there is nothing blissful about putting your head in the sand and ignoring the right way to do the job.

Large amounts of body filler can crack over time; cars that are not restored properly can also lead to rust, moisture and dirt collecting in unwanted areas. New paint applies and looks better on brushed metal compared to old paint and body filler.

By the time our contractor finished the job in five hours, the car looked factory-new – hence the slogan: Your car’s second chance at its first paint job. The customer was happy too because he had already wasted 4 hours trying to sand the roof by hand and only managed to remove a portion of the paint.

December 2nd, 2009 by rhondap

When a local restaurant in Hickory, North Carolina caught fire last January, the owners of Village Inn Pizza on U.S. 70 along with advisors from Arco Realty in Greensboro and insurance adjusters didn’t hesitate to call a SodaBlast Systems’ Preferred Contractor from our network.

The pungent odors, nasty soot and discoloring caused by smoke made this the kind of job that requires a professional to handle. The only structural damage to the property occurred when firefighters cut a hole through the roof. The brick walls and wood beams were covered in ash, soot and smoke and required extensive cleaning and restoration. Ten years ago contractors would have had to replace a significant portion of the building.

Today sodablasting can quickly restore a site to original condition and save property owners thousands of dollars in cleaning fees, labor time and materials. Our contractor completed the job in two days, charged a fraction of what an alternative restoration company would have and the only task anyone had to do was wash the excess baking soda away from the site.

The restaurant looked good as new when our contractor finished up and the owners are working quickly to reopen their business.

Quick Dos and Don’ts

DO

• Call for restoration services immediately following a fire.
• Wipe soot and residue from porcelain bath fixtures to help prevent etching.
• Discard any food as it could have been contaminated during the fire.

DON’T

• Don’t use electrical appliances from the fire until they are checked out.
• Don’ touch anything as soot will transfer to anything you touch.
• Don’ eat food exposed to the fire or smoke.

December 1st, 2009 by rhondap

Dealing with a fire is a devastating and overwhelming experience where recovery and restoration is often times an emotional, time-consuming and expensive process. Whether it’s a home or a business that catches fire, the physical and financial stress can have a damaging impact on families, careers and businesses.

Although a fire can wipe out all of a family’s belongings and personal items or destroy a business, restoring the property to new condition and eliminating damage caused by soot, smoke and odor is possible.

Restoring a property to pre-fire condition and removing damage caused by the fire and subsequently water used to put out the flames, is a job best left to the experts that have experience, resources and tools to handle the job.

Consider soot, a general term that refers to impure carbon particles resulting from incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon. The particles have electrical charges that cause them to stick together with grease and oil acting as adhesives. By using a standard blasting solution that is abrasive and harsh to the surface, you are actually adding to the level of dirty contaminates and caused by fire and soot.

Breathing soot is hazardous to the lungs and general health; in fact, a New England Journal of Medicine study published in 2007 found that breathing common urban air pollution, including soot, is much deadlier than previously thought.

At SodaBlast Systems, we are constantly amazed on a daily basis how well sodablasting works to repair properties, remove damage and restore lives touched by fire.

Sodablasting is ideal for removing smoke and soot damage from brick, concrete, stone, wood and more – the neutralizing properties tackle nasty smells, toxic residue and soot associated with fire, absorbing the lingering odors without causing further damage to the site.

Sodablasting is a non-abrasive, chemical- and toxin-free process that is friendly on the environment, contractor and property.

November 29th, 2009 by tgorse

Prepping a hull for fresh paint can be a time consuming job with the usual method of power washing.

This traditional method presents some specific problems including the inability to remove bilge-oil film, older paint or even blisters. To compliment the power washing, some choose to sand and use chemical treatments.

Not only does this take a huge toll in labor, but also can damage the boat’s very delicate gelcoat as well as the surrounding environment.

SodaBlast Systems offers a more effective, green solution to prepping the hull surface. In literally one-tenth of the time, SodaBlasting the surface removes multiple layers of old paint and antifoulant, opens up blisters for repair – all without disturbing the integrity of the hull. The result is a properly prepared surface that is ready for any necessary repairs and re-painting.

SodaBlasting is a high-pressure, air-driven and non-destructive method of cleaning and stripping paint from steel, fiberglass, aluminum, wood and other substrates using eco-friendly bicarbonate of soda. SodaBlast Systems will not warp or etch metal, scratch chrome or damage glass. No masking of glass or rubber is necessary.

Leading the blasting market for over six decades, each SodaBlast Systems SodaBlaster is proudly made in America. Generate more profits by owning a SodaBlast Systems profit center. To find out more or locate a Certified SodaBlast Systems Preferred Contractors, call 800-216-SODA or visit www.sodablastboats.com.