Step 02 · Strip
Media Blasting
Strips failed stain, paint and gray UV damage off logs with a crushed media, without the gouging and fuzzing that harsh methods leave behind.
What it is
Media blasting uses compressed air to drive a fine media, typically crushed glass, corncob or walnut shell, against the log surface. It breaks up old stain, paint and the gray layer of UV-damaged wood fibers and knocks them away, leaving clean wood that can take a new finish.
It’s the right tool when the old finish has to come off completely: multiple coats, film-forming products that peel, painted logs, or finish that’s failed so unevenly that a fresh coat would never look uniform. Compared with chemical strippers there’s nothing to neutralize or rinse. Compared with heavy pressure washing, it puts far less water into the logs right before they need to be dry.
Media blasting is part of the Strip step. It’s what makes every later step possible, because repairs, borate and new stain all need clean, bare, dry wood to work.
Signs you need it
When to call about media blasting
- Stain is peeling, flaking or lifting in sheets
- Several layers of old finish, or a painted or film-forming finish
- Logs are gray and fuzzy from years of sun
- Water soaks straight in even after a recent coat
- Patchy color where old repairs or touch-ups don’t match
How Cardi does it
Our method
- 01
Protect the house first
Windows, doors, roofing, lights, vents, decks and plantings are masked or covered. We confirm the plan for pets, vehicles and anything that can’t move.
- 02
Match media to the wood
We test a small section to set media type, pressure and nozzle distance. The goal is to remove finish and dead fibers while leaving the log’s texture and character.
- 03
Strip wall by wall
Each elevation is blasted to clean, bare wood, with extra attention to corners, notches and the top edges of logs where finish hides.
- 04
Clean up and dry
Media is swept, blown and collected. Logs are then left to dry until moisture readings are under 19% before any repair or finish work starts.
Where it fits
Media blasting is part of step 02: Strip
New stain over old, failing stain fails with it. Getting to clean, bare wood is what lets everything after this step last.
FAQ
Media blasting questions
Is media blasting safe for my logs?
Done correctly, yes. Pressure and media are set by test patch on your logs, and we stop at bare wood, not below it. The result is cleaner and less fuzzy than aggressive sanding or pressure washing.
Will it damage my windows?
Glass, trim and anything else that shouldn’t be blasted is masked first. Masking is part of the scope and gets checked before we start each wall.
How messy is it?
Media goes on the ground around the house. We lay down tarps where we can and clean up each day, with a final cleanup at the end. Expect some dust in the area while the work is underway.
Do I have to stain right away after blasting?
Bare wood shouldn’t sit exposed for long, but it does need to dry first. We schedule repairs, borate and sealing for the drying window so finish goes on as soon as readings allow.
Related services
Usually done alongside
Power Washing & Sanding
Low-pressure washing with log-safe cleaners, followed by sanding, for homes with lighter finish wear or where blasting isn’t the right fit.
Learn more Step 03 · RepairInsect & Rot Treatment (Borate)
A borate preservative applied to bare logs to guard against rot fungi and wood-boring insects, including carpenter bees, beetles and ants.
Learn more Step 05 · ProtectStaining & Topcoats
Breathable, log-specific stain and topcoat systems, color-tested on your logs and applied to the right film thickness.
Learn moreBook an inspection
Book a media blasting inspection
That’s what the inspection is for. It’s free, it’s in writing, and it breaks the house down wall by wall, so you can decide what to do now and what can wait.