Sandblasting in Flint, Saginaw & Tri-Cities

What's typical in the Flint and Tri-Cities area

Auto heritage

General Motors was founded in Flint in 1908, and the region's car culture runs deep, from the Back to the Bricks car events to home garages full of restoration projects. Frames, bodies, and parts stripping are frequent requests. Thin panels call for gentler media and an experienced operator.

Industrial and chemical

Midland and the Saginaw Valley have a large chemical and manufacturing presence, and Saginaw has major automotive component plants. Industrial blasting there is often done to strict site safety programs and coating specifications. Contractors should expect site-specific orientation and exposure-control requirements.

Farm equipment

The Saginaw Valley and the Thumb grow sugar beets, dry beans, corn, and soybeans, and Michigan Sugar Company is headquartered in Bay City. Harvest and handling equipment takes a beating from soil, moisture, and road salt, so off-season rust removal and recoating is common work.

Older housing

Flint and Saginaw have large stocks of older homes. Under EPA's RRP rule, paid work disturbing paint in pre-1978 housing requires certified firms and lead-safe practices, and open blasting of painted surfaces is prohibited without HEPA-shrouded or contained equipment. Details.

Saginaw Bay boats

Boaters around Saginaw Bay and the Thumb's harbors ask about bottom-paint removal, which is usually done with soda or wet methods plus debris containment.

Sources: EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program; 40 CFR 745.85 (RRP work practice standards).

Other regions: Detroit Metro · Grand Rapids & West Michigan · Lansing & Mid-Michigan · Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan · Ann Arbor · Traverse City & Northern Michigan