Fire Escape Shot Blasting in Brentwood, Essex
Steel Staircase Restoration, Rust Removal & Repainting
The Sandblasting Company recently completed a fire escape shot blasting project in Brentwood, Essex, restoring a large external steel staircase at Becket Keys Church of England School.
The existing steelwork had been affected by weathering, corrosion and deteriorating paintwork. The project required much more than simply repainting the staircase. The existing coatings and rust needed to be removed, the exposed steel properly prepared and any necessary repairs addressed before a new protective coating system could be applied.
Our team provided the complete package, including scaffold access, protective containment, shot blasting, rust and paint removal, steel preparation, repairs, priming, repainting, cleanup and waste disposal.
Project Overview
Location: Brentwood, Essex
Site: Becket Keys Church of England School
Project: External steel fire escape restoration
Service: Shot blasting, steel preparation & repainting
Project Duration: Approximately 10 days
Team: Approximately 4–5 operatives per day
Blasting Teams: 2 teams working simultaneously
Blast Media: Coarse crushed glass & aluminium oxide
Primer: 2K etch primer
Finish: Two-coat high-traffic gloss system
Before & After: Fire Escape Restoration in Brentwood
The before and after photographs show the transformation achieved by professionally preparing and recoating the existing steel staircase.
Before work started, the fire escape showed areas of deteriorating paintwork, surface corrosion and weathering.
Rather than simply applying new paint over the existing coatings, the staircase was abrasive blasted to remove rust and old paint, allowing the underlying steelwork to be inspected and properly prepared before the new coating system was applied.
Before Shot Blasting
After Shot Blasting & Repainting
How We Restored the Steel Fire Escape
1. Scaffold Access, Sheeting & Containment
Before shot blasting could begin, a full scaffold access system was provided around the steel staircase.
The working area was then extensively sheeted and protected to create a contained environment around the fire escape.
Containment is an important consideration when carrying out abrasive blasting on existing structures, helping control spent blast media, rust, removed coatings and other debris produced during the preparation process.
It also allowed our blasting teams to work effectively across the different levels and sections of the staircase.
2. Shot Blasting the Steel Staircase
Once the access and containment systems were complete, our teams began removing the deteriorated coatings and corrosion from the steelwork.
Due to the size of the staircase, two shot blasting teams worked simultaneously to progress the project efficiently.
A mixture of coarse crushed glass and aluminium oxide was used during the abrasive blasting process.
The blasting removed layers of old paint, rust and corrosion while preparing the steel surface for the subsequent repair and coating stages.
3. Removing Rust & Old Paint
One of the main objectives of the project was to remove the existing deteriorated coatings and corrosion rather than simply covering them with another layer of paint.
Shot blasting allowed our teams to expose the underlying steelwork and identify areas requiring further attention.
This is particularly important when restoring external steel staircases and fire escapes, where years of exposure to rain, moisture and changing weather conditions can cause coatings to deteriorate and corrosion to develop beneath the painted surface.
4. Inspecting, Preparing & Repairing the Steel
With the existing coatings removed, the exposed steel could be properly inspected.
Any areas requiring repairs or additional preparation were addressed before the coating system was applied.
Thorough surface preparation is critical to achieving a durable result. Applying new coatings over poorly prepared or corroded steel can significantly reduce the service life of the new finish.
The blasting process provided a clean and appropriately prepared surface for the new protective coating system.
5. Applying a 2K Etch Primer
Once the steelwork had been blasted, inspected and prepared, a 2K etch primer was applied.
The primer formed the first stage of the new protective coating system, preparing the restored steelwork for its final finish.
Correct preparation and priming are particularly important on external steel structures where the coating system needs to withstand continued exposure to the elements.
6. Two-Coat High-Traffic Gloss Finish
Following the primer, the fire escape received a two-coat high-traffic gloss finish.
The new coating transformed the appearance of the staircase while providing a durable protective finish to the prepared steelwork beneath.
The completed staircase now has a clean, professional appearance and a renewed protective coating system designed for an external, frequently used steel structure.
Watch the Fire Escape Shot Blasting & Restoration
This Brentwood project was documented throughout its approximately 10-day duration, giving an excellent behind-the-scenes look at what is involved in professionally restoring a large external steel fire escape.
The videos follow the project from the condition of the original staircase through scaffold installation, containment and shot blasting to steel preparation, priming and the completed finish.
Fire Escape Before Restoration
See the condition of the steel staircase before shot blasting and restoration began.
Shot Blasting in Progress
Watch our blasting teams removing existing paint and corrosion from the steel fire escape.
Steel Preparation
See the staircase following abrasive blasting and during the preparation process.
Priming & Repainting
Mixing up the paint and getting ready to apply this protective coating system.
Completed Fire Escape
See the finished steel fire escape following shot blasting, preparation and repainting.
Project Gallery
A Complete Shot Blasting & Repainting Package
The project was completed in approximately 10 days, with around four to five operatives working on site each day.
The complete scope of work included:
Full scaffold access system
Protective sheeting and containment
Two shot blasting teams working simultaneously
Removal of old paint and coatings
Rust and corrosion removal
Coarse crushed glass abrasive blasting
Aluminium oxide abrasive blasting
Inspection of exposed steelwork
Steel preparation and necessary repairs
Application of 2K etch primer
Two-coat high-traffic gloss finish
Full site cleanup
Waste removal and disposal
This meant the project could be managed as a complete restoration package, from initial access and preparation through to the final painted finish and site cleanup.
What our customer said
Been working with Matt and the sandblasting company for over 10 years now, Very reliable, always on time and does a great job five stars from us👍
The Completed Fire Escape Restoration
After approximately 10 days of work, the steel staircase had been shot blasted, prepared, repaired where necessary, primed and completely repainted.
The project demonstrates why proper preparation is so important when restoring existing external steelwork.
The result at Becket Keys Church of England School was a professionally restored external fire escape with a clean, durable new protective finish.
Commercial Shot Blasting in Brentwood & Essex
The Sandblasting Company provides professional shot blasting in Brentwood, Essex and across the surrounding areas, helping commercial, industrial and public-sector clients restore and prepare existing steelwork.
Our shot blasting and steel preparation services can be used for:
Steel fire escapes
External steel staircases
Structural steelwork
Steel frames
Railings and balustrades
Industrial machinery
Steel beams and columns
Painted steel structures
Rusted and corroded steelwork
Projects can include access, containment, abrasive blasting, rust and coating removal, steel preparation and protective coating systems depending on the requirements of the job.
Need Steelwork Shot Blasted in Essex?
If you have a steel fire escape, staircase or structural steelwork that requires shot blasting, rust removal or preparation for repainting, speak to The Sandblasting Company about your project.
We undertake commercial shot blasting projects throughout the South East of England, providing professional surface preparation for existing steel structures.
