About Media Blasting
Media blasting is the most effective way to strip failed stain and coatings from log homes. We use crushed corn cob, walnut shell, and glass media to prep your logs without damage.
What Is Media Blasting?
Media blasting (also called cob blasting) uses compressed air to propel soft abrasive media — crushed corn cob, ground walnut shell, or recycled glass — against the log surface. It strips away old stain, dirt, mildew, and weathered wood fibers without damaging the underlying logs. It's the preferred method for removing failed coatings on log homes because it's thorough, controllable, and much faster than sanding or chemical stripping alone.
When Media Blasting Is Needed
If your stain has failed — peeling, flaking, graying, or no longer repelling water — it needs to come off before new stain can properly bond. Applying new stain over failed old stain is the most common mistake we see on log homes. Media blasting takes the surface back to clean, bare wood so the new coating system can penetrate and adhere correctly.
Media Types We Use
Crushed corn cob is the most common choice for log homes — it's aggressive enough to remove coatings but soft enough not to damage wood fibers. Ground walnut shell is slightly gentler and works well for lighter stripping. Recycled glass media is more aggressive and useful for heavy buildup or very hard coatings. We select the right media and pressure for your specific situation.
Containment & Cleanup
Media blasting generates dust and debris. We use ground tarps for containment and cleanup, protect windows, landscaping, and adjacent surfaces, and clean up thoroughly when we're done. If you have close neighbors or environmental sensitivities, we plan accordingly.
Media Blasting Gallery
Recent media blasting projects in Oregon.
Media Blasting — Frequently Asked Questions
- Will media blasting damage my logs?
- Not when done correctly. We control pressure, media type, distance, and angle to strip coatings without damaging the wood. Corn cob and walnut shell are specifically chosen because they're softer than the wood itself.
- How long does media blasting take?
- A typical home can be blasted in 2–5 days depending on size, number of coats to remove, and accessibility. It's significantly faster than sanding or chemical stripping.
- Is media blasting the same as sandblasting?
- No. Traditional sandblasting uses hard silica sand that will damage wood. Media blasting uses softer organic or recycled media at lower pressures. We never use silica sand on log homes.