Soda Blasting Cape Town uses sodium bicarbonate media to strip paint, grime, soot and some coatings with little effect on the surface underneath. Describe the job once and compare quotes from contractors who use soda.
- Used where grit would damage the surface or leave a profile you do not want.
- It is not right for everything. The substrate and coating decide.
Describe the surface once and compare soda blasting quotes.
Get Soda Blasting QuotesWhere Soda Blasting Suits
- Paint and grime on car bodies and boats, where the contractor agrees it is suitable.
- Soot and smoke damage on brick, stone and timber after a fire.
- Graffiti on suitable surfaces.
- Cleaning food-processing equipment, where it is approved for the plant.
- Delicate metal parts that should not be profiled.
Limitations
- Soda does not remove rust or mill scale well. Rusty steel usually needs grit.
- It leaves almost no profile, so some coatings will not grip without further preparation.
- Thick, hard coatings such as powder coat or epoxy can take a long time.
- Soda residue is alkaline. Runoff can harm plants and lawns, so sites need covering and rinsing control.
- Throughput is slower than grit blasting, which affects price.
Assessing the Substrate
A good contractor tests a small area first. They check how easily the coating comes off, whether the surface underneath is marked, and whether there is hidden rust, filler or damage that soda will not deal with.
Residue and Recoating
Soda residue left on the surface can stop paint from bonding. Ask how the surface will be rinsed or neutralised after blasting and what preparation is needed before the new coating. Confirm compatibility with the coating supplier.
Soda Blasting Prices
We could not find a published South African soda blasting rate. Soda is usually slower and the media is not recycled, so expect it to cost more per m² than grit blasting.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Soda blasting | Quoted per job - no reliable published rate |
| Grit sandblasting, for comparison | R80 - R150 per m² |
| Rust removal and sanding by hand, for comparison | R30 - R50 per m² |
| Brick paving cleaning (washing, not blasting) | R45 - R80 per m² |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Compiled from price guides and price lists published on South African websites (published between April 2025 and December 2025), checked 13 October 2026 and rounded. Most are national or Gauteng guides, so Cape Town quotes can differ. Unless a row says so, the sources do not state whether VAT is included, so confirm VAT on every quote. Photos, an inspection and a written quote set the actual price.
What Affects a Soda Blasting Quote
- Area and how thick and hard the coating is.
- Masking of glass, rubber, trim and nearby surfaces.
- Protection of plants and drains from runoff.
- Rinsing, neutralising and clean-up.
- Whether further preparation or recoating is included.
What to Send With Your Request
- Photos of the surface and the coating to be removed.
- What the surface is: steel, aluminium, fibreglass, timber, brick or stone.
- Size or square metres.
- Whether the item can be moved, and the finish that follows.
If soda is not suitable, other methods are on Sandblasting Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will soda blasting remove rust?
Not effectively. It removes paint and grime but leaves rust and mill scale. Rusty steel usually needs grit blasting.
Is soda blasting safe on fibreglass and aluminium?
It is often used on both, but gelcoat, filler and thin aluminium still need a test patch first.
Do I need to wash the surface after soda blasting?
Usually yes. Residue can affect paint adhesion. Ask the contractor and coating supplier what preparation is needed.
Is soda blasting dust-free?
No. It still creates dust and alkaline residue that needs containment, especially near gardens.
Is soda blasting cheaper than sandblasting?
Usually not. The media is used once and the process is slower. It is chosen because it is gentler, not cheaper.
Related Services
Sandblasting Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Work is assessed, quoted and carried out by independent contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written quote, what is and is not included, proof of insurance and the payment terms before paying anything.
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