Overview
Induscoat provides abrasive blasting (sandblasting) of steel, tanks, piping, equipment and concrete for plants, mines and industrial sites across Quebec and Ontario. Our mobile units travel to your site from LaSalle, Montreal. The surface is blasted to the specified grade, inspected, and left ready to receive its coating.
Induscoat provides industrial abrasive blasting (sandblasting) on site with mobile units, or off site when the part can be moved, across Quebec and Ontario from LaSalle, Montreal. The work is carried out by our crews and qualified subcontractors. The method is matched to the job: conventional dry blasting, dustless wet abrasive blasting, glass bead blasting, dry ice blasting, high-pressure water jetting, power tool cleaning or concrete shot blasting. The surface is prepared to the grade set by the coating data sheet and the project specification, then checked for cleanliness, profile, soluble salts and ambient conditions before the primer goes on. Blasting can be ordered alone or together with industrial painting under one contract.
What we blast
We blast industrial steel and concrete surfaces that must be cleaned before coating, inspection or repair. The work is done on site with mobile sandblasting units, or off site when the part can be moved. It is carried out by our crews and qualified subcontractors.
- Structural steel: frames, beams, walkways, pipe supports, conveyors.
- Tanks: shells, roofs and floors, outside and inside, ahead of an immersion lining.
- Piping: lines, fittings, flanges and field joints.
- Equipment and machinery: frames, hoppers, chutes, pump casings, truck boxes and mining equipment.
- Concrete: slabs, containment bunds, sumps and trenches, prepared before coating.
The service is for industrial and heavy commercial work. People still say "sandblasting", but silica sand has given way to abrasives chosen for the substrate and the target profile: garnet, slag, aluminum oxide, steel grit or glass bead.
Blasting and surface cleaning methods
The method is chosen for the substrate, the cleanliness grade required, the dust the site can tolerate and what has to stay in place nearby. No single method fits every job:
- Conventional dry abrasive blasting: the reference method for steel. It removes rust, mill scale and old coatings and cuts the anchor profile for the primer. Choose it when dust can be contained.
- Dustless (wet abrasive) blasting: water is mixed with the abrasive and knocks dust down at the source. Choose it near running equipment or sensitive neighbours. "Dustless" means far less dust, not none: a slurry remains to be collected, and flash rust has to be managed.
- Glass bead blasting: a uniform satin finish with no pronounced profile and no ferrous contamination. Choose it for stainless steel, aluminum and machined parts.
- Dry ice blasting: cleaning with no abrasive, no secondary residue and no water. Choose it to degrease and clean equipment in place. It does not create a profile or remove mill scale.
- High-pressure water jetting: removes coatings, deposits and salts with no abrasive and no dust. It exposes the existing profile; it does not create a new one.
- Power tools: for touch-ups, welds and areas where blasting is not allowed (power tool cleaning to SSPC-SP 3, SP 11, SP 15).
- Concrete shot blasting: a closed-circuit machine that opens the slab surface and recovers the dust, ahead of a floor or containment coating.
Preparation grades: which one to specify
The grade to specify is the one called for by the coating data sheet and the project specification, not the highest one by default. The more severe the service (immersion, chemicals), the higher the grade required. The four abrasive blast cleaning grades and their ISO 8501-1 equivalents:
- SSPC-SP 7 / NACE No. 4 (Sa 1), brush-off blast: removes what is no longer adherent. For mild exposures or a refresh.
- SSPC-SP 6 / NACE No. 3 (Sa 2), commercial blast: the usual minimum for systems in atmospheric exposure.
- SSPC-SP 10 / NACE No. 2 (Sa 2½), near-white blast: required by most high-performance systems and internal linings (NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10 surface preparation).
- SSPC-SP 5 / NACE No. 1 (Sa 3), white metal blast: for the most severe services, when the data sheet calls for it.
SSPC and ISO grades are close, not identical: the specification has to say which standard governs (ISO 8501 or SSPC). The former NACE and SSPC designations are now published by AMPP (NACE, SSPC and AMPP designation map).
What we check after blasting
A blasted surface is judged on measurements, not on appearance alone. Four checks are made before the first can of primer is opened:
- Cleanliness grade: visual comparison with the reference standards of the governing norm.
- Surface profile: measured to ISO 8503 or ASTM D4417 and compared with the range on the data sheet. Too shallow and the coating anchors poorly; too deep and the peaks break through the film.
- Soluble salts and dust: measured to ISO 8502. Salts left under a coating cause blistering, especially in immersion.
- Ambient conditions: substrate temperature, relative humidity and dew point, recorded before and during application.
Then there is time. Freshly blasted steel re-oxidizes quickly, and faster in humid air: this is flash rust. The primer therefore goes on within the window set by the specification, or the area is blasted again. Readings are recorded and handed over with the work.
Dust, containment and safety
Blasting is planned around dust, spent abrasive and the people working nearby. These measures are set out in the quote, not improvised on site:
- Temporary containment: tarps, enclosures or partitions around the work area, with ventilation and dust collection when the volume calls for it.
- Abrasive recovery: spent abrasive and coating residue are collected and handled according to what they contain.
- Worker protection: supplied-air respiratory protection for the operator, a marked perimeter, hearing protection.
- Old lead-based paint: on an older structure, the presence of lead is assessed before quoting. If confirmed, containment, worker protection and waste handling follow specific measures.
- Operating plants: protection of nearby motors, bearings, instruments and electrical panels, work by zones and schedules coordinated with operations. This is often what tips the choice toward wet abrasive or dry ice blasting.
Blasting and painting under one contract
Giving abrasive blasting and industrial painting to the same applicator solves two problems. The first is time: the primer follows the blast without waiting for another crew, so there is no flash rust in between. The second is accountability: one party answers for the preparation, the application and the records, which avoids the argument over cause when a coating lifts.
Blasting is then planned with the coating system: grade, profile and blasting pace are set to what the crew can prime the same day. See our industrial painting and protective coatings services. We also do blasting alone, when your painter or maintenance crew takes over.
Pricing: on request
Abrasive blasting is priced on request, because the cost depends on the job far more than on surface area alone. The factors that matter:
- Area to treat and geometry (flat plate, open framing, tank interior).
- Access: height, scaffolding or lift, confined space.
- Surface condition, type and thickness of the existing coating.
- Preparation grade required.
- Method and abrasive selected.
- Containment, recovery and waste handling.
- Travel and any imposed work window.
Send photos, approximate dimensions and, if you have it, the specification or data sheet for the planned coating. You receive a quote within 24 business hours through the quote request page.
Where we work
Induscoat provides mobile sandblasting in industrial plants and sites across Quebec and Ontario, working from LaSalle, Montreal. Each regional page sets out the sectors and exposure conditions specific to that territory:
- Montreal and Montérégie
- Quebec, for the province as a whole
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Côte-Nord
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec
- Ontario
Typical Applications
- Structural steel, tanks and piping before coating
- Equipment and machinery: removal of rust, mill scale and old coatings
- Concrete surface preparation before floor and containment coatings
- Dustless wet abrasive and dry ice blasting in operating plants
Typical Problems We Solve
- Rust, mill scale and failed coatings that prevent a new system from bonding
- Insufficient surface profile or cleanliness behind premature coating failure
- Dust and spent abrasive that cannot be tolerated near running equipment
- Flash rust forming between blasting and priming when two contractors are involved
What You Receive
- Surface prepared to the specified grade (SSPC / NACE or ISO 8501-1)
- Surface profile, soluble salt and dust readings on record
- Ambient condition log: substrate temperature, relative humidity, dew point
- Containment, spent abrasive recovery and a clean work area at handover
Timeline
Depends on surface area, access, existing coating and required grade; the schedule is confirmed in the quote and coordinated with your shutdown or production window.
Standards & Certifications
- SSPC-SP 7, SP 6, SP 10, SP 5 (NACE No. 4, 3, 2, 1): abrasive blast cleaning grades
- ISO 8501-1: Sa 1, Sa 2, Sa 2½ and Sa 3 preparation grades
- ISO 8503 and ASTM D4417: surface profile measurement
- ISO 8502: soluble salts and dust on prepared surfaces
Industries We Serve
- Mining: mobile equipment, chutes, hoppers, concentrator structures
- Energy: tanks, penstocks, structures, piping
- Manufacturing and processing: frames, process equipment, floors
- Chemical and petrochemical: storage tanks, containment areas, pipe racks
Service FAQ
What is the difference between sandblasting and abrasive blasting?
They describe the same process: an abrasive propelled by compressed air to clean a surface and give it a profile. "Sandblasting" is the everyday word; "abrasive blasting" is the technical term, and the more accurate one, since silica sand has been replaced by abrasives such as garnet, slag, aluminum oxide, steel grit and glass bead, chosen for the substrate and the profile required.
Is dustless blasting really dust-free?
No. Dustless (wet abrasive) blasting mixes water with the abrasive, which knocks dust down at the source and cuts it sharply compared with dry blasting. It does not eliminate it. A wet slurry remains to be collected, nearby equipment still needs protection, and flash rust on steel has to be managed before priming.
Which surface preparation grade should I ask for?
The one required by the data sheet of the coating you plan to apply and by your project specification. As a guide, commercial blast (SSPC-SP 6, Sa 2) is common for atmospheric exposure, and near-white blast (SSPC-SP 10, Sa 2½) for high-performance systems and immersion linings. If you have no specification, send us the service conditions and the coating planned, and we will state the grade in the quote.
Can you blast on site while the plant is running?
Yes, in most cases. Our mobile units work on site, zone by zone, with temporary containment, protection of nearby motors, bearings and instruments, and schedules coordinated with operations. Where dry blasting is not acceptable, wet abrasive blasting, dry ice blasting or power tool cleaning are the usual alternatives.
How much does sandblasting cost?
Pricing is on request. It depends on the area and geometry, access, the condition and thickness of the existing coating, the grade required, the method, and the containment and waste handling needed. Send photos and approximate dimensions and you will receive a quote within 24 business hours.
Technical guides
Related applications
Concrete industrial use cases where this service is applied.
Other Services
Areas we serve
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Quebec
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Montreal
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Ontario
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Industrial coatings and maintenance on the Côte-Nord
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Montérégie
Go deeper
Our technical notes on the subject — applicable standards, selection criteria and implementation traps.
Tank interior abrasive blasting: how do you get it right?
Blasting the inside of a tank means working in a confined space with dust, noise and a surface that must stay dry until coating. This guide covers confined space safety, ventilation, lighting, dehumidification, abrasive recovery and inspection before lining.
7 minMobile on-site blasting: how do you prepare the site?
A mobile blasting job is won or lost before the truck arrives. This guide covers what the client prepares (access, power, water, work zone, permits, equipment protection), what the blasting crew brings and how a typical job runs, from site visit to handover.
7 minWet vs dry abrasive blasting: which one for an industrial job?
Dry blasting remains the reference for profile and production; wet blasting cuts dust and helps remove salts, at the cost of flash rust to manage. This guide compares both methods and high-pressure water jetting for an industrial job.
7 minSandblasting cost: what sets the price of an industrial blasting job
The price of an industrial abrasive blasting job depends mostly on the required cleanliness grade, what has to come off, containment and access. This guide explains each factor, compares hourly rate and lump sum, and lists what to send for an accurate quote.
7 minIndustrial paint stripping: which method should you choose?
Six methods are used to remove industrial paint: abrasive blasting, high-pressure water, chemical strippers, induction, power tools and dry ice. This guide compares what each one removes, the profile it leaves, the waste it creates and where it fits, with a pointer to the specific precautions for lead-based paint.
8 minFlash rust after blasting: causes, acceptable grades and prevention
Flash rust appears when freshly blasted steel is exposed to moisture or contaminated with salts. This guide explains its causes, the ISO 8501-4 grades, what is acceptable before priming and how to prevent it on site.
7 min