DIY artex removal?

last year

I’m in the process of buying a house that has artex in the ceilings. It was built in 1999 so it’s pretty likely there’s asbestos in it. I want to get rid of it but I’m concerned about the cost of hiring somebody. My question is, would you DIY artex removal? (With the right PPE of course and using a wet method)

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Comments (9)

Tricia G
last year
I would recommend you get it tested before attempting to remove. It is relatively inexpensive to test. If it is from 1999 it is unlikely to have asbestos in it. The practice of using asbestos in artex stopped in the mid 80s with it mostly phased out by 1990.
Sonia
last year
Mine wasn’t artex but it was swirly so I had it skimmed by a plasterer. I think removing it would be an incredibly difficult task.
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https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/artex.htm
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tamp75
last year
We started removing artex from a small area of a bathroom wall before but gave up and had it replastered. I’d imagine on a ceiling it would be even more difficult. I agree with Sonia - get it plastered over.
I
last year
I agree with Sonia, we had the same swirly pattern and had it skimmed over. Much easier and less messy than having it removed.
Marion Sense
Original Author
last year
But if it has asbestos I’d want it out of my house, not plastered over… every time we drill in the ceilings we could put our family in danger, no?
Sonia
last year
I suppose your only option is get it tested to see whether the artex contains asbestos.
Rosie G
last year
There are different types of asbestos, and the sort that was used in artex is the ‘least bad’. It wasn’t used much after the 90’s but a test would put your mind at rest.
I know it sounds worrying but asbestos only needs to be encapsulated or contained to be safe. It doesn’t always need to be removed by folk in hazmat suits and lots of drama! Skimming over it would indeed encapsulate it and solve your aesthetic problem of it looking ugly. Your testing company will give you specific instructions. Good luck!
Donna
last year
@Marion, how often would you be drilling into your ceilings?
I have Artex and had it tested before it was plastered over, to only some small success as the plasterer left the skim too thin in places and some of the pattern can still be seen. Some rooms had asbestos and some had none.
In the future, when I decorate again, I’ll be using a lot of filler I suspect
PRO
Vivid Doors
last year
If you have determined that the Artex does not contain asbestos, you may be able to remove it yourself by following these general steps:
1. Wear protective clothing, including a dust mask, goggles, and gloves, to protect yourself from dust and debris.
2. Use a utility knife or scraper to score the Artex coating, which will help the water or solution penetrate and soften the material.
3. Wet the surface with a mixture of warm water and a wallpaper stripping solution, following the manufacturer's instructions. Alternatively, you can use a steamer to soften the Artex.
4. Once the Artex has softened, use a scraper to carefully scrape it off the surface, working in small sections.
5. Dispose of the removed Artex material in accordance with your local regulations. In some areas, it may need to be disposed of as hazardous waste.
It's important to note that removing Artex can be a messy and time-consuming task, and the process may cause damage to the underlying surface.

DIY artex removal?

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Tricia G

Sonia

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DIY artex removal?

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