Questions we get asked most.

Short, high-energy pulses are absorbed by the contamination sitting on the surface. It heats faster than it can conduct that heat away, expands and leaves as vapour and fine particulate. The clean substrate beneath reflects most of the beam, so it absorbs very little energy and is left intact.

No, when it is set up correctly. Material loss is measured in microns rather than the tenths of a millimetre grit blasting takes off, and there is no mechanical abrasion. That is precisely why it is used on thin panel, cast detail and dressed stone.

Yes. Because nothing physically has to reach the surface, the beam clears the bottom of pits, weld toes and inside corners that a blast nozzle or abrasive disc rides straight over.

Usually, yes. Selective removal is one of the method's real advantages — a topcoat can be lifted while sound primer stays, which matters for conservation work and for assessing what is underneath before committing.

Steel, stainless, cast iron, aluminium, brass, bronze, stone, brick and concrete, and some hardwoods. If you are unsure about a substrate, send a photograph and we will tell you — including when the answer is no.

Generally not. Most plastics and rubbers absorb the beam as readily as the contamination does, so there is no useful difference to work with. Dry-ice blasting is often the better answer there.

No. Marine work is on metal only — steel and alloy hulls, sterngear, masts, spars and deck ironwork. We do not use the laser on gel coat or GRP.

It can be removed, with fume and particulate captured at the head by HEPA-filtered extraction and the waste consigned appropriately. This is normally safer than abrasive methods, which put the same material into the air.

It is a Class 4 laser and treated as such. A temporary controlled area is set up with screening and signage, work is supervised by a nominated Laser Safety Officer, and a risk assessment and method statement is provided for every site before we arrive.

Yes. Public liability and equipment documentation are available on request, along with RAMS for your own site file.

No water at all. A 16A supply is ideal; where there is none we can run from our own generator, provided we know in advance.

Very little. The residue is a small quantity of dry particulate, captured at source. There is no spent abrasive to shovel, no slurry and nothing left on your hardstanding.

Not usually — the rig comes to you. Smaller panels, castings and trim are often quicker and cheaper brought to the workshop near Kingsbridge instead.

Typical rates are one to four square metres an hour depending on what is being removed and how thick it is. A test patch gives us a real figure for your surface, which is what the quote is then based on.

On-site work is charged by the half day or day, workshop items at a fixed price each, and regular work under agreed contract rates. Full detail is on the pricing page.

Per square metre, usually not. Across the whole job it often is, once media, masking, containment, clean-up, disposal and any rectification are counted in.

Yes — cleaned steel is bare and will flash rust in humid conditions. The surface comes back dry and free of residue, so it can be primed or passivated the same day, which we can arrange as part of the visit.

Assessment visits are usually within a week or two. Work is scheduled geographically, so being flexible on the date often gets you seen sooner.