Artex ceilings containing asbestos - is it safer to remove or to cover up?

Hi, The Artex ceilings are completely safe as long as the are not damaged (cracked or flaking). It is safe to plaster over if you'd prefer not to see the artex. However, Asbestos would still show up as positive on a future survey as they would still take samples of the ceiling. If you'd prefer that your ceilings didn't contain asbestos then you would have to use a licensed asbestos removing company. Hope you find this information useful. Regards, Adam

It is safer to remove completely with a specialist company for asbestos removals, but you could just cover it with a tight coat of bonding and then skim over it you like.

Artex with asbestos in can be covered safely, but this involves no scraping. so you need to put it on thicker. Sometimes even use a boding backing coat. And then skim over the top. Obviously you need to pva twice before any plastering takes place. If there is coving you will probably lose the top lip of cove as it will be thicker than normal. So best to take coving down. And also there is always a risk factor that the artex will bubble and come of in a massive sheet. But I have only had this happen twice in 30 years. As you don’t know what the artex was put on to it’s always a gamble!! It is definetly a cheaper option to plaster rather than have an asbestos removal company in to take ceilings down. This is a costly affair

Personally specialist removal would be the area here to go for and be done with the stuff and be safe, although unless your planning on some major work in them areas to cause dust from that ceiling then id leave it in put a false MF ceiling underneath this one lower the room by about 1 inch reboard and skim the now new ceiling only fire or dust from this product is harmful living with the ceiling is fine 2nd option is also cheaper. ViP

Hello. It would need to be specialist removal, this is the safest option.

It was banned before 2000 so houses with artex before were used with asbestos more than likely and you can either get a plaster to re-plaster straight over the top of the artex or you would have to get a expert to remove it or if you would like to save money and feel comfortable doing it yourself you have to wet the artex with a wallpaper steamer and take it off slowly and seal it asap with a heavy duty rubble bag but I would advise wearing all the right Personal protective equipment as in gloves, Goggle’s , mask , and a overalls which covers your clothing and head and when disposing speak to council to make sure which tip is best to take it to mark as hazardous waste. In my own opinion if you don’t want the artex I would remove for your own piece of mind but plastering over it is just covering it up so it isn’t going to be any harm until someone was to remove or mishandle the ceiling in the future as in electrician to put in spot lights etc . Hope this helps :).

So long as the artex is still in good condition I'd advise to not remove. Its safer to seal it first then plaster.

Specialist company to remove

Personally I would negotiate in the price of the house to remove any asbestos professionally. Even over boarding and skimming doesn’t take away the fact it’s still there. Any body drilling into or screwing into will still create some dust which is what is harmful. It’s a big job but well worth it

Hi there is very small amounts of asbestos In artex have never heard of a surveyor picking that up artex would be sealed with paint minimizing the risk even more some artex looking finishes are done with plaster so a piece would have to be taken away and analized and a report given , depending on how heavy the texture artex can be plastered over or chiseled off sounds like a money making scam to me cheers

They contain minimal Asbestos compared to the higher grade of asbestos made. Depending on how thick the ceilings are with artex they can be plastered over without any scrape back needed, but this also depends wether there is coving up or not. A lot of plasterers will overboard old artex ceilings which is sometimes needed.

Hi guys If asbestos comes back with a higher level... yeah then would recommend to be removed with an asbestos company... If at a lower level fine yourselves a good plasterer... Simply board & skim finish or Bond & skim finish.. Regards Troweltradeplasterers 👍

Hi, Personally I always recommed when i take samples of Artex and the report showes that (CHRYSOTILE) white Asbestos is present in with the Artex it is all best to remove! Of course you could always put a coat of bonding and skim over, but in the future you may have a water leak, or any other damage and you still have the Asbestos present and will cost you more in the long run because it will need to be removed anyway! Hope this helps.

Best way would be to remove it completely