Heritage brick, century-old limestone, painted masonry, fire-damaged mortar — dry ice blasting cleans all of it without changing the substrate. There is no abrasive, no water, no chemical. The brick goes back to looking like itself.
ODIB has handled brick restoration on commercial buildings, churches, residential facades and industrial chimneys across Southwestern Ontario. Every job starts with a free site review and a fixed-price quote.
What we remove
- Soot and smoke staining after a structural fire
- Decades of weathering, biological growth, algae and lichen
- Lead-based and modern paints from heritage facades
- Graffiti from sandstone, limestone and brick
- Mortar dust, efflorescence, and surface scaling
- Bitumen, tar, asphalt and roofing residue
Why dry ice on brick
Sandblasting eats the brick face. Pressure washing drives water deep into the mortar joints and freezes through the next winter. Chemical strippers stain and need a rinse-down. Dry ice sublimates to gas the instant it hits the surface — the contaminant lifts off, the brick stays brick.
For heritage and insurance work, that matters twice over. There’s no chance of altering the building’s character or its appraised value, and there’s a photographic record at every stage of the job that adjusters can sign off.
Where we work
Most of our brick work is in fire restoration — adjusters and restoration contractors call us in once the building is dry and stabilized. We also do heritage facades, paint removal, graffiti remediation, and pre-coating preparation. Typical site types:
- Commercial fire restoration — retail, restaurants, mixed-use
- Industrial chimneys and stack interiors
- Heritage churches, schools, and civic buildings
- Residential facades after a chimney or attached-garage fire
- Historic warehouses being converted to mixed-use
- Limestone and sandstone monuments
What the process looks like
A typical brick job runs 1–3 days depending on square footage, contamination depth, and access. The crew sets up containment to keep loosened material from spreading, runs an air-line from the diesel compressor, and works the surface section by section. There is no slurry to clean up — only the contaminant itself drops to the ground sheet.
Pricing
Brick restoration is typically quoted per square foot for well-defined scopes. Factors that move the number:
- Contamination type — soot lifts faster than 80-year-old paint
- Access — scaffolding, lifts, height, parking restrictions
- Square footage — bigger jobs price down per square foot
- Mortar condition — soft or eroded mortar may need a gentler nozzle setting
See our cost guide for ranges, or call 226-627-4878 for a quote.
FAQ
Will it damage the brick or mortar?
No. Dry ice is non-abrasive — the cleaning happens because the pellet sublimates on impact and the gas expansion lifts the contaminant. The brick itself is not eroded. For soft or eroded mortar we step the nozzle pressure down.
Is it safe near windows, signage and electrical?
Yes. The blast is contained and directional. Dry ice is non-conductive so it’s safe around exterior fixtures and signage. We mask anything sensitive before starting.
How does this compare to soda blasting or sandblasting?
Soda blasting works on brick but leaves a powdery residue you have to pressure-wash off, and the run-off needs containment. Sandblasting cuts into the brick face. Dry ice leaves nothing behind and doesn’t alter the substrate. For heritage and insurance work, that’s usually the decision-maker.
Can you work in winter?
Yes. Dry ice blasting doesn’t add moisture so there’s no freezing issue. We work outdoors year-round in Southwestern Ontario.
Get a free site review
Send us a few photos and the address. We’ll get back to you the same day with next steps and rough pricing. Call 226-627-4878 or email scott@ontariodryiceblasting.com.