Dry ice blasting
Mass timber
Exposed CLT, glulam and heavy timber cleaned and restored during construction and after occupancy, with pressure, chemistry and method matched to the wood instead of thrown at it.
In a mass timber building, the structure is the finish. There's no drywall to hide behind. Construction dust, water staining, grey weathering, scuffs and squeeze-out all land on a surface that's meant to be seen, and cleaning it takes someone who understands wood.
What we handle
From close-in to move-in, and after.
Construction
Pre-occupancy cleaning
Dust, footprints, marker, scuffs and site grime off exposed columns, beams and panels before the finishes go in and the tenant walks through.
Weathering
Stain and grey removal
Water staining and UV greying lifted from timber that spent a season exposed before the envelope closed, without raising the grain or scarring the surface.
Maintenance
Occupied buildings
Scheduled cleaning of exposed structure in occupied lobbies, offices and atria, with the method chosen for what's underneath and around it.
Also
- Glue squeeze-out and adhesive marks
- Sealing and protective coatings
Also
- Test patches before any full-area work
- Dry ice blasting where water can't be used
Also
- Soft-media dustless blasting for heavy weathering
- Coordination with the general contractor's schedule
Method
Three tools. The wood decides which.
Low-pressure washing
Controlled pressure and temperature with wood-safe detergents for dust, dirt and light staining. Water recovered, not left to soak the slab.
Dry ice blasting
For occupied spaces, finished interiors and anywhere water is off the table. Non-abrasive, no residue, nothing to dry.
Soft-media dustless blasting
Walnut shell or soda for heavy weathering and failed finishes, with water encapsulation keeping the dust on the ground.
Questions
From builders and owners.
Not when pressure, temperature and detergent are dialled to the species and the finish. We test a discreet area first, agree on the result with you, then do the full area the same way.
Yes. WSIB certification and proof of insurance are supplied before we start, we're ContractorCheck approved, and we coordinate with the general contractor's schedule and site rules.
Then water is usually off the table and dry ice blasting takes over. It's non-abrasive, leaves no residue and nothing needs to dry, so the space can be back in use quickly.
Sealing and protective coatings are part of what we do. Once the timber is clean, we can protect it so the next clean is a lighter one.
Other sectors
Where else we work.
Request service
Send us a photo of the timber.
Tell us the species, the finish and the stage of the build. We'll come and test a patch, then put the scope in writing.