Laser Cleaning for Wood
in Switzerland.
We clean wood with the pulsed fibre laser. Paint, varnish, glaze, soot and the greyed outer layer vaporise, the grain stays visible, the edge stays sharp. Mobile across the whole of Switzerland, on timber beams, windows, doors, furniture and restoration pieces, without sandblasting and without aggressive chemicals.
- Mobile across the whole of Switzerland
- Reply within 24 h
- No chemicals, no sandblasting
Laser cleaning wood: before and after
Drag the slider across. The same pulsed fibre laser lifts the unwanted layer and leaves the material underneath intact, with parameters tuned to each job.
What is laser cleaning for wood
and how does it work?
Laser cleaning wood is a contactless, dry process. The layer that has to go, that is paint, varnish, glaze, soot or greyed outer patina, absorbs the laser light and is converted into vapour and fine particles within fractions of a second. The wood underneath reflects a large part of the same wavelength and stays cool. With correctly set parameters, no carbonisation occurs.
Compared with sandblasting or sanding, no material is removed from the wood. The fibre is not opened, the edge stays sharp, the grain keeps its character. That is the decisive point with old furniture, with historic timber beams, with profiled windows and with fine carvings, where every sanding pass alters the substance. When you clean wood with the laser, the substance stays just as it was after drying.
The working environment is also clearly different. An integrated extraction unit with a HEPA filter draws off dust and vapour right at the working point. The workshop, the living room or the restoration room stays clean, the floor is not covered with wet staining sludge, the air is not loaded with solvent. After the job the wood can be processed further straight away, with no drying pause.
Benefits of laser cleaning for wood over sanding and staining
Grain stays visible
The laser removes no wood. Oak, larch, walnut or spruce keep their natural figure. With sanding, exactly this depth is lost.
Without aggressive chemicals
No lyes, no acids, no solvents. Nothing that soaks into the wood fibre and later outgasses again.
Profiles and edges protected
Window profiles, furniture chamfers and carvings stay sharp. No rounding effect of the kind sandpaper inevitably produces.
Selective cleaning
Only the layer that has to go disappears. Original markings, branded stamps or patina in harmless spots can be deliberately left out.
Clean workplace
Extraction with a HEPA filter right at the focal point. Surrounding furniture and components stay clean, the hall stays dust-free.
Mobile on site
The system fits in a van. We come to the object with the equipment, fixed timber beams or heavy furniture do not need to be moved.
Where we clean wood with the laser
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Timber beams and exposed roof trussesStrip old finish and soot without touching the grain.
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Windows and exterior doorsRemove paint and varnish, the joinery stays intact.
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Furniture and antiquesGentle cleaning for veneers, carvings and patina.
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Wall and ceiling panellingEven removal across large panelled surfaces.
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Exterior timber, decks, facadesClear greyed wood and algae before refinishing.
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Restoration pieces and heritage monumentsCareful, reversible cleaning for protected pieces.
Suitable wood types
and coatings
| Material | Suitability | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oak | Very good | Hardwood, ideal for laser cleaning. Glaze, varnish, paint and soot disappear, the pore structure is preserved. |
| Larch and Douglas fir | Very good | Exterior timbers, often greyed. The laser takes off the oxidised outer layer and old glaze, the wood shows its original honey colour. |
| Spruce and fir | Good | Soft softwoods for ceilings, beams and panelling. With reduced pulse energy and higher feed speed, without visible carbonisation. |
| Walnut | Good | Fine wood of old furniture. Paint layers and clumsy reworks come off, the natural colour contrast of the wood remains. |
| Beech and ash | Conditional | Light woods, often varnished. The laser respects the fine figure, edges on stair treads and furniture panels stay sharp. |
| Teak and tropical woods | Very good | Weathered exterior surfaces. Always a test cleaning first, to match the pulse energy to the natural oils of the wood. |
How your job unfolds
Photos and context
You send us pictures of the object, the wood type if known, the kind of layer that has to go, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with a first assessment.
Written quote
You receive an offer with a fixed price or a clear hourly rate, plus travel and estimated job duration. Confirmation by email or WhatsApp.
Test cleaning on site
On site we start on a small, inconspicuous spot. You see the result, we fine-tune pulse energy and feed, then we begin with the main surface.
Cleaning and inspection
We work layer by layer, check the surface in raking light and adjust the parameters when layer thickness or wood type changes.
Handover
You check the result, we clear the work area, empty the filter and hand over the wood dry and ready for your next finish layer: wax, oil, glaze, paint or varnish.
Mobile laser cleaning for wood on site
Our system is transportable. Laser, control unit, extraction and cables fit in a panel van, a normal 230 V or 400 V socket is enough in most cases. For locations without power we bring a generator. We work across the whole of Switzerland: Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Aarau, Chur, Sion and all the cantons in between. The larger or more firmly built-in the wooden parts are, the more the on-site job pays off. Roof trusses, beams, windows or heavy cabinets do not need to be removed, dismantled or transported, we come straight to the object. You can find out more about the mobile service under Industrial Laser Cleaning.
What does laser cleaning of wood cost?
The price depends on the surface area, the number of layers, the wood type and accessibility. The following example values show the typical range. A binding quote follows after we have seen the photos or after a short on-site appointment. You can find a detailed overview of all factors under Laser cleaning costs.
| Example | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Small part, approx. 0.5 m² Carving, furniture part, panel | CHF 240 - 480 |
| Window, complete sash both sides, one sash | CHF 380 - 750 |
| Timber beam, per metre depending on height and layers | CHF 90 - 180/m |
What customers ask before the first
job
Ready to see the wood under the
old layer again?
Send us photos of the wooden parts, the wood type if known, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with a first assessment and a suggested appointment. You see straight away whether laser cleaning for wood suits your project, before anything is fixed.