A enhanced abradable friable graded insulator FGI results from the laser patterning of a coating where a series of top surfaces reside on a series of columns such that the walls of the columns are not significantly densified relative to the interior of the columns. Patterns can be generated where the columns are oriented independently normal to or at an acute angle to the top surfaces. The cross sections of the top surfaces are formed to conform to the average dimensions of the spheres of the FGI coating. The cross sections of the top surfaces can be more than 1.5 times the diameter of the spheres. Various patterns of top surfaces can be used including regular, random, quasiperiodic patterns. A gradient of abradability can be imposed on the coating.