'Artex' (Textured Decorative Coating) removal service or DIY 'Artex' removal?

Artex is a trade name for a type of Decorative Textured Coating, usually applied to walls and ceilings.

Is there much asbestos in Artex?

The first thing to do before even thinking about removing Artex from your home, is there any much asbestos in Artex? The asbestos content usually between 1-4% average in Artex. 

Although not all Artex contain asbestos. We need to have a closer look at the date when Artex was painted on the wall or ceiling.

If the property was built before the '70s it is almost sure that Artex contains asbestos. There is more likely the ceiling or wall Artex coating may contain asbestos fibres in it if the property was built before 1999 when asbestos was eventually banned in the United Kingdom for the reason of safety and health protection.

Artex was a very popular choice in the housing market, because it was cheap and strengthen the context of the mass, plus it worked well against fire thanks to its fire-resistant properties. 
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But the clock is ticking and asbestos nowadays has a devaluation effect on homes when it comes to selling them. Is it worth to remove Artex from my home?

Why should you consider about Artex removal?

• Every single asbestos-containing material of the property is a pullback on the price tag. This is the main reason home builders and owners and even property management agencies want to get rid of asbestos to push the value up and most importantly keep the close surrounding area out of danger.
• It is almost impossible to repair Artex texture once it's damaged. 
• Apart of that, once damage happened it can happen again and it is a source of danger. 

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Asbestos and ACM's only dangerous when it disturbed or damaged.
For instance, when it comes to Artex ceiling and wall discharge, you need serious precaution and experience to execute this task to protect mainly yourself and people around you. This fibrous crystal has serious long term health-damaging lethal effect.

How do you know if Artex contains asbestos?

This is a very important question, and the answer is by looking at it is impossible to identify if the textured coatings contain any asbestos fibre or not. 
There are ways to find this out:​

• Asbestos survey and sampling by a professional asbestos removal company. Get in touch by calling  01253 366099
• You can use a mobile asbestos testing kit. (Do not do it without the necessary precautions) Asbestos kills.

Is it safe to remove Artex?

It is safe when you are 100% sure the textured coating on the walls and ceiling you want to remove doesn't contain asbestos fibres at all. Older Artex may contain asbestos. In this case, the following process requires a water based gel that loosen the surface in a short time.

​The best tool to remove the coating is a long bar scraper in the room's wall and ceiling. The other common way to remove fibres with the coating is to use water steamer to soften the dry coating. It takes longer time though, but then you can use the scraper just like it would be used the previous example. Be careful because Artex will liquefy quickly using a steamer and run everywhere on the floor.
But, once the survey or the home test sampling positive for this deadly mineral you should call an expert asbestos removal team who safely and precisely execute the dangerous task.  ​

How to remove Artex?

Artex ceiling removal and wall removal is a non-licensed activity. Although the person who executes the project has to have asbestos awareness training done. The safest solution is to hire an asbestos contractor for this type of asbestos removal work.
Lack of knowledge and experience may lead to severe health consequences. 
The following two approach does not require a professional service and quite secure when you keep the textured coatings wet prevent airborne mineral fibres. You need to notify the local council when you consider using any of these methods below. You will need to use some Artex removal tools.

1. Using wetting agents such as X-Tex or Fuse's prevent microscopic fibre dust and are perfect Artex removers. Any of these water-based liquids help to dissolve any wall or ceiling Artex and on the top of that makes scraping pretty easy. Please ensure to apply enough X-Tex chemical on the Artex surfaces to avoid any dusting during scraping off. With this method, Artex slowly softens does not damage the ceiling yet keep the plasterboard intact.  Removing Artex from a 5m2 ceiling with this technique won't take longer an hour and it needs around 3litre of x-tex or Fuse's.
2. Using a wallpaper steamer is another but slower method plus it requires more care. Especially Artex on ceilings can become very runny if the area heavily treated by it. Quickly Artex will liquefy, run everywhere and make a big mess. Unexperienced steaming can even damage the plasterboard and the wall behind. It is still a usable DIY method. Just make sure not oversteaming a certain area, just enough to loosen Artex on the wall and ceiling.
3. Full Artex ceiling removal basically means that Artex will be removed attached to the big plasterboards. There is no treating needed with x-tex or steam, but careful handling to avoid any damage that would lead to possible asbestos exposer. This type of job is not a DIY type. Call an expert if the decision is made on this method.

Can Artex be plastered over?

Plaster over Artex is a great solution and of course, you can do that. It is very cost-friendly and smooths the surface so you can use wallpaper or paint over it easily. Although make sure to have an asbestos survey done before plastering takes place. The asbestos survey tells you if the condition of Artex allows you to apply plastering over the surface. Because disturbing asbestos-containing material requires risk assessment that professional asbestos companies can provide.  Save money on those water-based chemicals like X Tex, and simply cover the texture coating on any ceiling and wall. Remove Artex is not the only solution to the problem. You'll need two coats on the surface. For the fine result leave the plastering to a professional due to this work require a high level of skills.
The cost of plastering over Artex approx: 20£/m2 ​(when you decide not to do it yourself)

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Do I need help for Artex removal?

Removing Artex by yourself can be a difficult task to do compare to pro artexers who do these jobs at a high level and skills. The technical part of the job is just one thing, but you need to take care of the environment and have to be familiar with the UK legislation, permissions, and building regulations including risk assessment on site.

Give us a call for a quick free quote to receive a custom price of your project. Call us on 01253 366099 

DO's and DONT's when you remove Artex.

• Always keep safety in priority
• Wear PPE (personal protective equipment)
• Contact local council about your project
• Dispose the Artex waste according to the local authorities guide
• Use wetting agent eg.: X-Tex to avoid Artex dust
• Use high quality scraper with long handle
• ​Do NOT sand or scrape Artex dry - no dust
• Do NOT leave any trace of Artex behind
• Do Not do it if you have questions unanswered

How to cover Artex with no plastering?

This technique requires two coats of sheet and wallpaper to cover the unwanted textured coating. Probably this is the cleanest way to go either on the ceiling or wall without the use of plaster.  In order to get the smooth finish and at the same time cover the textured coatings please find the guidelines and apply into the process.

In the first steps, cover Artex with PVA for better adhesion results. Then lining paper has to applied on the surface of Artex so that the textured wallpaper can be easily pasted upon it.
If you decide to call someone, home decorators or painters finish up the job on the £100-150 daily rate.

​Do not forget to pass information to a new homeowner about the existing Artex on the walls and ceilings when it comes to selling your home.

What is Artex anyway?

Back in a day when homes were built in big numbers, some of the professionally skilled people like plasterers were not enough and the industry was thirsty for a quick solution. This is when Artex came in to practice for several reason:​
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• It didn't need the perfectly flat and smooth surface
• It required less skill
• It dried up slower
• It was cheaper
• It was stronger

Eventually, contractors, decorators took over a major part of the qualified plasterers work due to lower price offer and the ACM's material had good parameters, like strengthen the mass, prevent cracking and isolated from electricity and fire. Why people would have said no to it right?

​ Well, in the 1980s' case by case the doctors discover the core relevance between this fibre and lung diseases. The final decision was made in 1999 when finally banned asbestos in the UK. This type of texture coating was not able to follow up with the interior designers neither. It went out of fashion.

The said thing amongst of all is some companies still have this killer mineral mixed with other elements and it means asbestos can possibly still used in special cases accidentally. 

Artex ceiling from the early '70s

Call us to remove 01253 366099

How to dispose Artex waste? 

Removing Artex is just half of the project. It has to be disposed safely and legally. It has to be double-bagged and labelled with asbestos warning sticker and close the bags tight. 

Get in touch with the local council for the best advice. Let them know what type of mineral elimination are you planning to do and they provide you with the best information. 

If you want to have the job done quickly and effortlessly get in touch with us and we'll take care of it while you can spend time as you want

01253 366099

Artex related Q&A

Is Artex dangerous?
Artex is dangerous only if it is containing the deadly silicate fibre and if it disturbed or damaged. Small fibrous sharp crystals are able to float in the air for a long time. Inhaling those can lead you an irreversible fatal disease, cancer, lung fibrosis, asbestosis.

How long does the texture coating removal take?
It depends on the method you choose. ​Definitely not days. ​The preferred and time friendly process is applying X tex gel on the dry surface you can remove it in a short time. If this is the way you go after a 4m2 surface takes around 30-40 minutes.

Does Artex contain asbestos?
Not all of them contain asbestos fibres. It mainly depends on the age of it. The older the coating is the more chance the surface contain asbestos. In general manufacture, companies stopped using asbestos in the famous texture coatings even though Artex was still on the market but used without the crystal dust. 

Does the popcorn ceiling contain Chrysotile? 
The well-known popcorn ceiling is an ugly version of the decorative Artex, and it also contains asbestos.

Can I sand or scrape the Artex surface? Is it safe?
Sanding and dry scraping is extremely toxic and dangerous. Never use that removing method because it creates a lot of toxic exposure. Try to finish the work with the x-tex gel that doesn't allow dust production. Never consider using power tools for domestic artex removal. Asbestos removal in general release asbestos dust without power tools.

What is the price tag on Artex removal?
It may be tricky to say a fixed guide here because it depends on the followings:

• Size of the work - total size of the surface and it follows the removed & disposal amount too
• The way of Artex is removed (dry or wet, or completely discharge Artex with the plasterboard)
• Location - London and the south area more expensive, but here in Blackpool prices are lower
• Learn more about more precise cost of Asbestos removal.

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