Specialist Surface Preparation
Grit Blasting • Wet Blasting • Mechanical Prep • Coating Removal
If you want coating systems to last, it starts with surface preparation. Corroshield Industrial Services provides professional surface preparation services across the UK, delivering the correct surface cleanliness and profile to meet specification — and maximise coating adhesion, service life and inspection outcomes.
- SA1 / SA2 / SA2.5 / SA3 blasting standards
- Mechanical surface prep for restricted access areas
- Fully traceable QA & surface cleanliness verification
- Prepared for epoxy, polyurethane, intumescent and specialist coating systems
- Prepared for asset integrity inspection
Contact Us Today for a Surface Preparation Quote
We support asset owners, terminals, manufacturers and contractors with surface prep for:
Storage tanks (internal & external)
Bunds & containment areas
Pipelines & pipe racks
Structural steelwork
Concrete preparation
Industrial plant & infrastructure
What is Surface Preparation (and Why It Matters)
Surface preparation is the process of removing contaminants like rust, mill scale, salts, oils and degraded coatings — and creating the correct surface profile (anchor pattern) so the new coating bonds properly.
Poor surface preparation is the #1 reason coatings fail early. When prep is done right, you get:
- Longer coating life
- Reduced rework and downtime
- Better inspection results
- Improved safety and environmental compliance
- Lower whole-life cost of ownership
Our Surface Preparation Methods
Our experienced team specialise in a range of modern surface preparation techniques, optimising safety and results.
GRIT BLASTING
Grit blasting is the industry standard for achieving high cleanliness grades such as Sa 2½ (ISO 8501-1) or SP10 (SSPC).
Ideal for:
Severe corrosion removal
Full coating removal
Surface prep for immersion / splash zones
Heavy duty systems (C5 / offshore / chemical exposure)
Typical outputs:
High cleanliness level
Correct surface profile for paint adhesion
High outputs and efficiency
Dustless Blasting for sensitive environments
TOOL PREPARATION
Where blasting isn’t practical, we provide high quality mechanical prep using hand/power tools to achieve standards such as St2 / St3 (ISO 8501-1).
Ideal for:
Localised repairs
Maintenance campaigns
Coating breakdown areas
Confined or restricted access zones
Typical outputs:
Low site contamination
Ideal for localised repairs
Suitable for surface tolerant paints
Increased safety
CLEANING & COATING REMOVAL
We remove failed coatings safely, we clean contaminants and remove hazardous residues for safe working while supporting downstream coating or lining work.
Where required we also support:
Degreasing / cleaning
Salt contamination management
Surface washing and drying
Jet washing
Typical outputs:
Tank cleaning
Removal of unsound coatings
Removal of contaminants before painting
Hot washing / Chemical Washing
STANDARDS WE WORK TO
We routinely work to internationally recognised standards
If you already have a specification — we’ll deliver to it.
If you don’t — we’ll help you define one that gives the best value and service life (without over-specifying and wasting money).
- ISO8501-1 (Surface cleanliness grades Sa / St)
- ISO 8502 (surface tests e.g. salts, dust, contaminants)
- ISO 8503 (surface roughness / profile)
- SSPC / AMPP / NACE
Why Choose Corroshield?
Surface prep is not a commodity. The difference between “clean enough” and “built to last” is what separates short-life coatings from high-performance systems.
When you choose Corroshield, you get:
- Specialist operators with coatings industry expertise
- Surface prep aligned to coating system + exposure conditions
- Inspection-led approach (profile, cleanliness, environmental checks)
- Safe, compliant execution (RAMS, COSHH, confined space where required)
- UK-wide support for industrial, marine and energy assets
- Fast quotation and mobilisation
35+ YEARS INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Corroshield’s leadership team have decades of exeprience delivering complex grit blasting and shot blasting projects for local, national and international customers.
Based in Lancashire, we offer rapid mobilisation UK-wide and can undertake works globally.
Typical Applications
We provide surface preparation for:
- Tank external blasting and painting projects
- Tank internal lining preparation
- Bund lining and repair work
- Pipework blasting and coating
- Steelwork refurbishment and re-coating
- Concrete preparation for protective coatings
- Preparation for surface inspections
- Shutdown / turnaround campaigns
Our Process:
- Simple
- Fast
- Reliable
- Initial call / site information
- Scope review + spec alignment
- Site survey (where required)
- Method selection (grit blast / wet blast / captive blast / shot blast / jet wash / tool prep)
- Delivery with QA controls
- Handover with documentation and sign-off support
Request a quote for surface preparation
FAQs
Costs depend on access, containment requirements, surface condition, and the prep standard required (e.g., Sa2½ vs St3). We provide fast, competitive quotations based on scope and site constraints.
That depends on exposure and coating system. Immersion and aggressive environments often require Sa2½, while lower-exposure maintenance areas may be suitable for St3. We’ll advise based on whole-life value, not just initial cost.
Yes — Corroshield are based in Lancashire with regional offices in the North East, but we provide UK-wide surface preparation and corrosion protection support and have capability to undertake works globally.
“Sand blasting” is a common term people use, but most professional contractors use abrasive grit blasting with safer, controlled abrasives (e.g., garnet, aluminium oxide, chilled iron grit) because silica sand can create hazardous dust. Grit blasting delivers consistent cleanliness and surface profile for coating adhesion.
Grit blasting uses angular abrasive to create a sharper surface profile (good for coatings).
Shot blasting uses round media and is often used for peening/cleaning and may create a less aggressive profile. The best choice depends on the coating system and performance requirements.
It depends on the environment and coating system:
Sa2: Thorough blast-cleaning, some staining permitted
Sa2½: Very thorough blast-cleaning (common for industrial & high-performance systems)
Sa3: Blast-cleaning to visually clean steel (highest cleanliness, highest cost)
For most asset protection and long-life coatings, Sa2½ is the typical requirement.
Yes — Corroshield provides surface preparation and protective coating application, ensuring the prep is aligned to the coating system and inspected appropriately. This reduces the risk of premature coating failure and rework.
Yes. We provide surface preparation for internal tank work, including lining prep. Confined space requirements, ventilation, and safety management are built into planning.
We support clients across:
Oil & gas
Petrochemical
Power generation
Water & utilities
Manufacturing
Marine and port infrastructure
Industrial storage and logistics