Sand Blasting?

[Keebler Elf]

So I was watching an episode of Holmes on Homes and someone mentioned that you can't sandblast brick in Toronto anymore as it's now illegal.

What would happen if someone were to rent/buy a sandblasting machine, go out on a Saturday morning, sandblast their front facade by noon, and then pack everything up? By the time the authorities were alerted and arrived, you'd be finished and could just claim ignorance.

Are we talking a fine? A warning?

 

[gar]

The outer surface of the brick is the protective layer, sandblasting might remove this layer and open your bricks to water damage.

 

[papasmerf]

you acid wash bricks not sandblast them

 

[MuffinMuncher]

As others have pointed out, its not a smart move, legal or not. Powerwashing is legal and more than sufficient to brighten an aging brick facade.

However, should you be determined to sandblast, I doubt that 3% of the population knows about this law, so even if the Sandblasting Police happen to catch you, just plead ignorance and promise never to do it again.

 

[baci2004]

You can still do it but instead of silica sand you use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

 

[Keebler Elf]

I'm not doing it and I'm not really interested in whether it is good for bricks or not; I'm more interested in the "Sandblasting Police" aspect of it.

 

[baci2004]

I'm not doing it and I'm not really interested in whether it is good for bricks or not; I'm more interested in the "Sandblasting Police" aspect of it.

So what your saying is that you are bored.

 

[Asterix]

So I was watching an episode of Holmes on Homes and someone mentioned that you can't sandblast brick in Toronto anymore as it's now illegal.

Don't know about Toronto, but it is illegal in many states to sandblast older brick buildings that are on the historic registry, because it basically destroys them, the brick itself anyway. An effort by the government to keep any dumbass contractors who don't know what they're doing in check.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Hmmm, interesting. See, you learn something new every day.

 

[gibsomstreet]

Go to someplace plagued by 70s sandblasting like Cabbagetown; observe the present state of the homes. It's like watching an industrial film on the effects of syphilis

 

[tboy]

I think the sandblasting police would actually be a part of bylaw enforcement officers which I believe is an arm of the building inspection division of city hall.

As for you being able to do it and get away with it, I don't think you'd have a problem at all. Though if you got the crap all over your neighbour's homes and property and they complained you'd be up shit's creek.

I remember seeing this done on This Old House and they'd basically wrap the whole house in plastic before starting. I think seeing a whole house wrapped in a big baggie would alert the powers that be that something was going on worth taking a closer look at lol.

 

[hunter001]

If you rent a sandblaster the party renting it to you should be aware of the bylaws and should be obligated to warn you in advance.

If you are caught it would be unlikely that you could plead stupid.

Try calling and couple of rental places and see what they say.