Over the years at ECS, we’ve tackled some of the most demanding traditional restorations, focusing on preserving the structural and historical integrity of old buildings. Soon, we’ll be opening up our professional wood laser cleaning service to the public.

Until now, we’ve kept this technology exclusively in-house. We have been experimenting with laser cleaning for two years now, driven by the frustrations of traditional sandblasting. Sandblasting is simply too aggressive for historic timber, leaves behind a massive clean-up job, and requires far too much time spent sanding and preparing the wood afterwards just to make it look reasonable again.

Recently, the cost of laser technology has dropped enough to let us upgrade. We’ve moved from our existing smaller machine to a new, high-production unit capable of tackling much larger jobs. We initially purchased this upgraded machine for a specific ongoing project, but once that is finished, it will move into mainstream service. With this upgrade to a faster, high-capacity unit, the whole process is now highly cost-effective for both us and our clients.

Updating our primary timber cleaning method to laser technology has been a remarkably smooth transition. With our extensive background in demanding historic restorations, we already have the heavy-duty extraction units, advanced PPE, and strict fire-safety equipment needed to operate these powerful lasers safely on-site.

Please note: For the first six months of operation, this new service will only be available for projects located in Northern areas.

The Challenge of Traditional Spanish Roofs

In many parts of Spain, people historically used the upper roof spaces and eaves of traditional homes to smoke and cure meats. While this constant exposure to wood smoke naturally preserved the chestnut timber from rot and wood-boring insects, it left a monumental restoration challenge.

Decades—or even centuries—of curing have coated these structural beams in a thick, stubborn, and often greasy layer of hardened soot. Removing this historical buildup without damaging the antique timber underneath is incredibly difficult using conventional cleaning methods.

How Laser Cleaning Works

Laser ablation may sound overly technical, but it’s one of the most sympathetic ways to treat old timber, especially heavily soot-stained beams.

The machinery pulses high-intensity laser light at the wood’s surface. Darker contaminants—like that rock-hard soot, dirt, old paint, or stubborn varnishes—absorb the energy. This instantly vaporises the grime into a gas, which our existing on-site extraction systems safely pull away.

The clever part is how it treats the wood underneath. Once the dark layer is gone, the lighter, natural timber reflects the laser rather than absorbing it. This means the cleaning process stops dead at the original wood surface, leaving the beam entirely untouched.

Why We Moved Away from Traditional Methods

When you’re working with historic timber, the goal is always to preserve its original character. Here is why laser cleaning beats the older methods hands down:

• Sand and Glass Blasting: As mentioned, firing abrasive media at wood relies on sheer force. While fine for heavy steelwork, it’s far too aggressive for timber. It rips out the softer winter grain, leaving a heavily pitted surface. You then have to spend hours re-sanding and prepping the wood just to make it look acceptable again. Plus, blasting leaves you with a massive clean-up job. Laser cleaning is non-contact, doesn’t use abrasives, and creates zero secondary waste.

• Dry Ice Blasting: Dry ice is much gentler and doesn’t leave spent grit behind, but it brings its own headaches. You need huge, deafening industrial compressors, and firing it in enclosed roof spaces creates serious CO2 ventilation risks. On top of that, dry ice is simply not available in many places. The laser, on the other hand, runs quietly on standard electricity and gives us pinpoint accuracy without the logistical nightmare of sourcing and hauling dry ice up a scaffold.

• Grinding and Sanding: Mechanical grinding is slow, kicks up plumes of hazardous dust, and literally shaves the wood away. Sanding destroys the historic patina and erases the original adze marks left by the craftsmen who shaped the chestnut centuries ago. Because the laser only targets the surface muck, the antique patina, tooling marks, and the beam’s structural integrity stay exactly as they were.

Bookings for 2027

We are now officially taking bookings from May 2027, when the service will be fully operational in the North. Whether you need a single room of historic beams cleaned or a full structural restoration, get in touch.

Contact us to discuss your project and get a quote.