The first step to outfitting a restoration professional with the right type of blasting equipment is first determining the demands of the job they’re working. In other words, you need to match the right equipment to the right application. For instance, fire losses with heavy soot damage on otherwise structurally sound building materials (Image 1 and 2) just scream baking soda blasting based on its ability to quickly and effectively clean most materials with minimal damage - and the added benefit of odor neutralization. Fire losses, and the application of baking soda, may seem like a no-brainer to those with years of experience, but to a contractor anticipating a significant investment in a new process, it still requires a degree of discussion and, sometimes, convincing. 

Firstly, consider that fire losses are generally larger in scope than many other types of restoration projects, due in large part to the pervasive nature of the damage. Flames, heat and soot penetrate the cracks and crevices of a structure, moving into attics, wall cavities - literally everywhere inside - and sometimes even outside the structure (Image 3). What this means is that fire losses can create a great deal of revenue due simply to the overall square footage affected and the cleaning it requires. While there may not be a “typical” fire loss, the average that I’ve seen usually involves between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet of surface area, depending largely on the structure itself and the nature of the fire, of course. Couple this with the revenue generated by baking soda blasting and the fire damage - usually between $1.50 and $2.25 per square foot of blasting – and the resulting outcome averages from $3,500 up to over $11,000 for the blasting alone. When you consider that most new contractors spend between $7,000 and $10,000 for new media blasting equipment (Image 4), it’s easy to see why the investment is easy to justify. If you have these types of jobs coming to you, this should be a very simple decision.