Stripping Work in Construction

Stripping work represents a crucial step in the renovation of various spaces, whether it be residential buildings, public infrastructure, road structures, or even industrial facilities. In this article, we will explore different stripping methods, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each, while also providing practical advice on choosing the best approach depending on the material to be treated.

What is the Purpose of Stripping?

The principle of stripping is to remove a layer of material from a surface in order to maintain or renovate it. This step is very important and indispensable before treating, protecting, painting, or varnishing a surface. Surfaces and substrates regain their original appearance.

What is Facade Sandblasting?

It is a relatively strong cleaning method that cannot be applied to all surfaces. Sandblasting is a very precise stripping technique. It is applied to a necessarily hard surface without adding water.

For this reason, there is a trend towards gradually replacing this method with other cleaning treatments such as hydrogommage or aerogommage.

The Advantages of Sandblasting :

• • Strips surfaces

• • Cleans

• • Deoxidizes

• • Degreases

• • Wide range of applications

• • Effective for facade cleaning

• • Creates a roughness that enhances adhesion

The Disadvantages of Sandblasting:

• • Aggressive technique: can damage the material

• • Removes limestone, the natural protective layer of stone

• • Produces dust

• • Leaves a rough surface

• • High abrasive consumption

• • Causes silicosis due to the presence of silica

What is the Difference Between Hydrogommage and Aerogommage?

Aerogommage is a surface treatment method similar to sandblasting. It involves projecting an abrasive with the help of an aerogommeuse for dry cleaning on all types of surfaces. This system only uses eco-friendly abrasives that are not harmful to health!

It allows for delicate stripping of all materials by adjusting the air pressure and determining the distribution of abrasive grains. This is why it is recommended to hire professionals.

Hydrogommage is similar to aerogommage, but what differentiates them is that hydrogommage, as the name suggests, uses water in addition to air and abrasive. This prevents dust, making it a gentle and precise stripping method like aerogommage.

In conclusion, the difference lies in the use of water, which is essential in hydrogommage but unnecessary in aerogommage. In terms of cost efficiency, aerogommage will therefore consume less.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of These Two Techniques

Aerogommage and Its Advantages:

• • Innovative stripping technique

• • Natural abrasive

• • Adjustable air pressure

• • Fast and precise treatment

• • Perfectly adapts to the surfaces being treated

• • No rinsing

• • Real-time work results

Aerogommage and Its Disadvantages:

• • Generates a large amount of dust

• • Strips with gentle precision

• • Low-pressure projection

• • One of the best techniques

• • Limits dust during the operation

• • Multiple applications: cleaning marble, facade restoration, roof cleaning, graffiti removal, paint stripping, rust removal, cleaning after a fire

Hydrogommage and Its Disadvantages:

• • Added weight due to the water and residue

• • Water consumption

How to Choose a Chemical Stripper ?

Chemical strippers do not damage surfaces like stone or iron. If you want to renovate your painted facade, redo the joints of your dirty brick facade, or restore your plastered facade, it is essential to start with stripping before any other operation.

The stripper softens the coating to be removed using solvents and other active ingredients. Therefore, the choice should be based on the surface to be treated, such as wood, plastic, or stone, as well as the type of paint to be removed.

Gel-based strippers are more suitable for smooth or impermeable surfaces. They work slowly and without dripping.

Important Reminder! Before any renovation or stripping work, it is crucial to take necessary safety measures, as chemical strippers remain extremely aggressive and harmful to the user.

Explore our full range of stripping products for these surfaces:

• • SCALPEX SD

• • SCALPEX SD+

• • SCALPEX EKO’R

• • SCALPEX AQUA 50

There are other types of stripping, such as thermal stripping and mechanical stripping. Thermal stripping requires the use of appropriate tools equipped with a nozzle to heat and burn the coating, which can then be easily removed. Mechanical stripping, on the other hand, does not require any specific product but rather physical force, involving rubbing the treated surface to remove the paint. This technique is suitable for small surfaces.

It is essential to once again hire a professional for this type of intervention.

Stripping Work for Iron and Metal

Objects or other structures made of iron and metal are prone to oxidation and corrosion. If they are painted, they may lose their paint, such as shutters, gates, balconies, and doors that may require renovation.

Stripping is the most recommended technique for restoring them to their original appearance before applying a new treatment or painting.

This process is intended to remove layers of material from metal surfaces such as zinc, aluminum, and brass, as well as iron surfaces like steel, cast iron, wrought iron, and others. It also improves the adhesion of new coatings and paints.

Stripping Work for Wood

For wood stripping, there are several methods. Thermal stripping is favored for its speed and clean finish, achieved through scraping or sanding.

Chemical stripping should be done outdoors due to the pollutants it releases. Sanding can be effective as long as the paint layers are not too thick. This method is often confused with stripping in general.

Finally, mechanical stripping is often done using abrasives applied with machines or by hand to remove several layers of material.

Explore our full range of stripping products for these surfaces:

• • SCALPEX AE NW

• • SCALPEX NW

• • SCALPIK Décap’sec NW