If you have moved into an older property with dark, painted or tired-looking timber beams, you have probably wondered whether they can be brought back to life. The good news is that they almost always can. Sandblasting timber beams is one of the quickest ways to strip away decades of paint, stain and grime and reveal the natural wood underneath. This guide explains how beam sandblasting works, what affects the price, and how to get the best result.

What is beam sandblasting?

Beam sandblasting, sometimes called soft blasting or soda blasting, uses compressed air to fire a fine blast media at the surface of the wood. The media lifts away old paint, varnish, lime and dirt without the need for chemicals or hours of hand sanding. Because the process is cold and gentle when done correctly, it keeps the character of the wood while giving you a clean, natural finish.

Different timbers need different treatment. A delicate green oak frame is handled very differently to a painted softwood truss. Our team match the right media and pressure to your beams, which is exactly why experience matters. You can read more about our approach on our [timber sandblasting service page](https://alberny.co.uk/services/timber).

What affects the cost of beam sandblasting?

There is no single fixed price for beam restoration because every job is different. The main factors that influence the cost are:

The number and size of beams

A single inglenook lintel is a small job. A full room of ceiling beams, joists and a staircase is a much larger one. The more linear metres of timber, the longer the work takes.

How much coating needs removing

A few coats of old emulsion come off quickly. Thick layers of gloss paint, black bitumen-style stain or lime wash take longer and may need a coarser media. Beams that have been painted many times over the decades take more passes.

Access and protection

High ceilings, awkward corners and occupied rooms all add time. Blast cleaning creates dust, so careful sheeting, masking and extraction are part of the job. A professional team will protect your floors, windows and adjoining rooms before any blasting starts.

Location

As a mobile blast cleaning company based in Somerset, we cover Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and beyond. Travel distance can affect the quote, which is why we offer a free site visit to assess the work properly.

How long does beam sandblasting take?

For internal beams, most jobs take between one and three days depending on the size and placement of the timber. The work is messy while it happens, but with the right extraction systems the mess is contained and cleaned up afterwards. Our advice is always to move soft furnishings out of the room and cover anything you cannot remove.

Is sandblasting safe for old beams?

When carried out by an experienced team with the correct media and pressure, yes. The risk comes from inexperienced operators using the wrong settings, which can raise the grain too much or damage soft timber. We use specialist calcium silicate and soda crystal media specifically chosen to clean without harming the wood. Many of our customers comment that their beams keep all of their original character after blasting.

Why not just hand strip the beams?

Hand stripping painted beams is slow, exhausting and often gives poor results. Chemical strippers are messy and rarely reach into the grain. Sandblasting reaches every surface evenly and is far faster, which usually makes it better value despite the upfront cost.

Getting an accurate quote

The only way to get a true price is to have the beams assessed. We offer a free site visit where we look at the timber, test a small sample area if needed, and give you a written quote with no obligation. We will never be beaten on a like-for-like quote.

If you are ready to bring your timber beams back to life, [get in touch with our team](https://alberny.co.uk/contact-us) for a free quote and site visit. We would be glad to talk through your project and show you what is possible.