How to Sandblast Paint From a Porch

Cover any surface adjacent to the porch with a tarp held in place by the edges with construction tape. Hang a second tarp behind you if possible to stop any abrasive that bounces off the porch in your direction.

Cover your skin with thick clothing and place a pair of safety goggles over your eyes and a face mask over your mouth. Put on work gloves and a safety helmet, as well.

Open the abrasive container for the sandblaster. Slide the narrow end of a funnel into the container opening and use the funnel to pour sandblasting abrasive into the container up to the container's fill line. Check the abrasive before purchase to ensure that it's safe to use with whatever material used to construct your porch. Close the container after filling.

Connect the air hose between the air compressor and the abrasive container. Open the air hose's air valve and open the sandblaster's air valve. Switch on the compressor and follow the sandblaster manufacturer's directions for setting the pressure for the sandblaster to a safe level. Allow a few minutes for the pressure in the sandblaster to reach its set level.

Hold the sandblaster nozzle about 10 inches from the porch, aimed at a porch corner. Open the abrasive valve and press the sandblaster's trigger. Spray the abrasive over the porch, moving the nozzle so the spray advances along a straight line across the porch's length. Watch the effects of the abrasive to make certain it removes only the paint and does not damage the porch material beneath. If damage does occur, immediately release the trigger and cut the air pressure until it removes paint only.

Repeat the process, moving row by row until you've stripped all paint from the porch surface.

Close the abrasive valve and turn off the air compressor. Sweep the paint dust and abrasive from the area surrounding and on the porch with a push broom into a pile for disposal according to local waste regulations.