Why Artex Removal Matters
Artex textured coatings were enormously popular in UK homes from the 1960s through to the 1990s. Those swirled ceilings and stippled walls were the height of fashion for decades, but today they’re one of the most requested items for removal. If you’re considering getting rid of the Artex in your home, there are some important things you need to know - particularly about asbestos.
Lee on how common Artex jobs are
Artex covering is one of my most common ceiling jobs. Loads of East Kent homes from the 70s and 80s still have artex up there, and most people now want it gone or covered over. I’ll always recommend overboarding rather than scraping, because overboarding doesn’t disturb the artex at all and that takes the asbestos question off the table completely. The downside is overboarding costs more than just skimming over, so customers often choose the skim option, which is still safe as long as the artex isn’t sanded or scraped.
What Is Artex?
Artex is a brand name for a textured coating compound that was applied to ceilings and sometimes walls in millions of UK homes. Applied wet and then worked into patterns (fan shapes, stipple, swirls, bark, and various other textures), it set hard to create a decorative textured finish.
At the time, Artex was popular for several reasons:
- It covered up imperfect ceilings and walls without the need for expensive re-skimming
- It was relatively easy for DIY enthusiasts to apply
- The textured finish was considered fashionable
- It disguised movement cracks in older properties
Today, smooth, clean ceilings are strongly preferred by most homeowners, and Artex is widely seen as dated and undesirable. It can also reduce property values and make rooms feel smaller and darker due to the shadows created by the textured surface.
The Asbestos Question
Here’s the critical issue: Artex products manufactured before the mid-1980s commonly contained white asbestos (chrysotile).
Asbestos was added to Artex as a reinforcing fibre, making the product stronger and more fire-resistant. It was standard practice until 1984, when Artex Ltd voluntarily stopped using asbestos, and it was banned outright in all UK building products in 1999.
Why This Matters
Asbestos is a serious health hazard. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed - sanded, scraped, drilled, or broken - they release microscopic fibres into the air. These fibres, when inhaled, can cause:
- Asbestosis - scarring of the lungs, causing breathing difficulties
- Mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the lungs, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure
- Lung cancer - asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk
These diseases typically develop 15-50 years after exposure, and there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
Is Your Artex Safe If Left Alone?
If Artex is in good condition and not being disturbed, the risk is very low. The asbestos fibres are bound within the textured coating and won’t become airborne unless the material is damaged or worked on. However:
- Drilling into Artex ceilings (for light fittings, for example) releases fibres
- Sanding or scraping Artex is extremely dangerous if asbestos is present
- Painting over Artex is generally safe, as it doesn’t disturb the material
- Water damage or deterioration can loosen the material and release fibres
Lee on asbestos in East Kent homes
Anything that pre-dates 1990, I treat as potentially containing asbestos until it’s been tested. There are plenty of 70s and 80s East Kent properties where the artex on the ceiling was applied when asbestos was still standard, and you can’t tell by looking. I’d rather walk away from a job than scrape something that turns out to contain asbestos and put my health and the customer’s health at risk. So my position is straightforward: if it’s pre-1990 artex, get it tested or don’t disturb it. Skimming over is safe because nothing gets sanded or scraped.
Testing for Asbestos
Do You Need to Test?
If your property was built or decorated before 2000, and you want to remove Artex, testing is essential. You cannot tell whether Artex contains asbestos by looking at it. The only way to know is laboratory analysis.
How Testing Works
- Sample collection - a small sample of the Artex is carefully removed (using wet methods to minimise dust) and sealed in a labelled bag
- Laboratory analysis - the sample is sent to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis
- Results - typically returned within 2-5 working days, confirming whether asbestos is present and, if so, what type
Testing Costs
A professional asbestos test typically costs £30 to £50 per sample. Some plastering companies, including ourselves, can arrange testing as part of the project. DIY testing kits are also available for around £20-30, where you collect the sample yourself and post it to a laboratory.
Lee on how testing works
I’ll help customers arrange testing as part of the job. The testing itself is usually handled through the local council, which is straightforward and reasonably priced. The customer can take the sample themselves following the right precautions, dampen the area, wear a mask, seal the sample in a bag, or arrange a surveyor to come in. DIY kits are an option too. Whichever route, the rule is the same: don’t disturb pre-1990 artex without a result back from a lab. Once it’s confirmed safe, we can scrape or skim with confidence.
Artex Removal Methods
The removal method depends on whether the Artex contains asbestos:
If the Artex Does NOT Contain Asbestos
Non-asbestos Artex can be removed using standard methods:
Scraping - the texture is soaked with water or a steam stripper to soften it, then scraped off with a wide scraper. This is messy, physical work but effective for lighter textures.
Skimming over - rather than removing the Artex, a bonding agent is applied and a new skim coat of plaster is applied directly over the texture. This is often the most efficient and cost-effective approach, provided the existing Artex is firmly bonded to the ceiling.
Overboarding - for heavily textured or multiple-layer Artex, plasterboard can be fixed over the existing ceiling and then skimmed. This adds a small amount to the ceiling depth but provides a perfect, smooth surface.
If the Artex DOES Contain Asbestos
Asbestos-containing Artex requires more careful handling:
Encapsulation (skimming over) - if the Artex is in good condition and firmly bonded, it can be safely encapsulated by skimming over it. The Artex is not disturbed, and the asbestos fibres remain sealed within the coating. A PVA or bonding agent is applied first, followed by a standard plaster skim. This is the most common and cost-effective approach.
Controlled removal - if the Artex must be removed (for example, if it’s loose, damaged, or being disturbed by other work), it should be done using controlled methods: wetting to suppress dust, careful scraping, appropriate PPE (respiratory protection, disposable coveralls), and proper disposal of waste as asbestos-contaminated material at a licensed facility.
Licensed removal - for large-scale removal or particularly hazardous situations, a licensed asbestos removal contractor may be required.
Lee on his preferred method
Overboarding is what I’d recommend if cost isn’t the deciding factor, because it leaves the existing artex completely undisturbed and gives you a brand new flat ceiling to finish. Skimming over the artex is the more popular choice on cost grounds, and that’s perfectly safe too, because the artex isn’t being sanded or scraped. Grit grip PVA goes on first to give the plaster something to bite onto, then two thin coats of finishing plaster to build up a flat surface. Either way, the customer ends up with a smooth ceiling. The only method I’d avoid is scraping pre-1990 artex without testing first.
The Removal Process Step by Step
Here’s what to expect from a typical Artex removal and replastering job:
Preparation
- Furniture removed or covered and the room sealed off with dust sheets
- If testing hasn’t been done, a sample is taken and sent for analysis
- Adjacent areas are protected from dust
Removal or Encapsulation
- For removal: the Artex is wetted and carefully scraped away, with dust control measures in place
- For encapsulation: the Artex surface is cleaned, a bonding agent applied, and left to become tacky
Replastering
- Two coats of finishing plaster are applied over the prepared surface
- The surface is trowelled to a smooth finish
- Edges are cut in neatly around coving, walls, and light fittings
Clean-Up
- All waste is bagged and removed (asbestos waste to a licensed facility)
- The room is cleaned and dust sheets removed
- The new plaster is left to dry for 2-4 weeks before painting
Costs for Artex Removal
Typical costs for Artex removal and replastering in Kent:
- Standard ceiling skim over Artex (no asbestos) - £300 to £600 per ceiling
- Artex removal and replaster (no asbestos) - £400 to £700 per ceiling
- Skim over asbestos-containing Artex - £350 to £650 per ceiling
- Asbestos Artex removal - £500 to £1,000 per ceiling (including safe disposal)
- Asbestos testing - £30 to £50 per sample
Modern Alternatives to Artex
Once the Artex is gone, you have a clean slate. Most homeowners choose a smooth plaster finish, which can be:
- Painted in any colour - the most popular option, giving a clean, contemporary look
- Wallpapered - smooth plaster provides the perfect surface for wallpaper
- Left as a feature - new plaster has its own attractive, warm tone while drying
Some homeowners choose to keep a textured ceiling but in a more subtle way, such as a fine stipple or rolled texture applied with modern, asbestos-free products.
Lee on the transformation
The change from a textured artex ceiling to a clean smooth one transforms how a room feels. The room looks bigger, brighter, more modern, and customers often say it’s like a different house. The most dramatic before-and-afters are in living rooms and bedrooms where the artex was particularly heavy and the room was relatively dark. Once it’s painted, you’d never know there was artex up there. Customers usually wish they’d done it years earlier.
Don’t DIY Artex Removal
We strongly advise against removing Artex as a DIY project, particularly if you haven’t had it tested for asbestos. Even non-asbestos Artex removal creates significant dust and mess, and achieving a smooth finish afterwards requires professional plastering skills.
If your Kent home has Artex that you’d like removed, contact Perfect Plastering. We’ll advise on testing, recommend the best removal method, and leave you with smooth, modern ceilings you’ll love.