Asbestos in Artex

[Nick67GT]

Son #2 has just bought his first house which was built in 1985.

He wants the original stippled Artex ceilings skimmed over to make them smooth.

The last time I watched a plasterer doing this, he used the edge of a trowel to remove any large nibs before starting to smooth over with the new finish.

In this particular case though, the guy who applied the Artex couldn’t have used much less to achieve the stippled finish, so I could ask him not to disturb the original surface.

Browsing the interweb suggests that all (?) Artex finishes have asbestos in their make up.

So does anyone have a view or definitive information on the risk of fibres being released into the atmosphere during this process or am I being over cautious?

 

[Parm]

PM me

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Tests are available
Why not overboard it.

 

[8ob]

I had a plasterer in to skim over Artex in an old house, he sealed it with PVA and skimmed over the whole lot.

Bob

 

[Nick67GT]

Tests are available

Just noticed those. Might be a good investment.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Yes it does contain Asbestos.
All the H&S we get bashed into us warn us about it.

@Parm Wil be able to give you detail information.
Last time I had my ceiling repaired, my mate sealed it with a sealer, as said may of been PVA based. Then he used modern stuff and made good the repair.

 

[chunkolini]

I have been ging to ask about this one.
I have a variety of artex surfaces in my place, kitchen looks like a cave statactites and all and the hallway has 'beautiful' scallops that look to be thin enough to be plastered over

 

[Shedendman]

Tests are available
Why not overboard it.

Exactly,done quite a few many yrs ago,long as you dont upset the artex(ie beat the carp out of it) you're fine

 

[mart]

@Nick67GT
I share your concern Nick, justified or otherwise. I artexed the ceiling in two rooms in 1992 and emulsioned. I had no idea at the time, but am sure many people must have known about the hazards, especially the retailers. Of course, if I had know about artex containing asbestos I would have avoided it like the plague.

@8ob
When you say sealed with PVA, is that the white glue or a specific sealant?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

@Nick67GT
I share your concern Nick, justified or otherwise. I artexed the ceiling in two rooms in 1992 and emulsioned. I had no idea at the time, but am sure many people must have known about the hazards, especially the retailers. Of course, if I had know about artex containing asbestos I would have avoided it like the plague.

@8ob
When you say sealed with PVA, is that the white glue or a specific sealant?

Used this in the past.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Febond-Blu...06&hvtargid=pla-430246666209&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Well the British gypsum equivalent of it.

 

[Shedendman]

Not all artex had asbestos
@mart this stuff,many other variety's are available
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FEBOND-P...842526&hash=item4b34f2f1d1:g:NCcAAOSwVLRaYJCg

 

[mtt.tr]

Personally id overboard easier and more reliable as some textures delaminate.
I put on 3 bag hit on my own final trowel whole ceiling came off. Atleast the reskim was easy


Everywhere was textured

 

[mtt.tr]

Ps i nearly always end skimming them

 

[brightspark]

if you re skim ceiling over artex knock the snots off and seal with one coat of sbr bonding agent not pva then you can coat it with pva .reason being the pva re emulsifies and when you skim it blows the skim coat off and wont stick sbr stops that only the early artex has asbestos in it if you remove it yourself theres no regulation but if you get a building firm in you have to get it tested before work commences

 

[mtt.tr]

if you re skim ceiling over artex knock the snots off and seal with one coat of sbr bonding agent not pva then you can coat it with pva .reason being the pva re emulsifies and when you skim it blows the skim coat off and wont stick sbr stops that only the early artex has asbestos in it if you remove it yourself theres no regulation but if you get a building firm in you have to get it tested before work commences

Blue grit is the way forward. Seals well even on lime

 

[brightspark]

Blue grit is the way forward. Seals well even on lime

and costs a packet

 

[mtt.tr]

and costs a packet

https://www.toolstation.com/febond-...mGOo5qRm6p-cumvp3lVApLQ5cp5PfGahoCxpsQAvD_BwE


Not so much this one

 

[brightspark]

still 2 heavy in price sbr will cover a fair few ceilings for 20 quid and quick to slap on with a roller

 

[mtt.tr]

still 2 heavy in price sbr will cover a fair few ceilings for 20 quid and quick to slap on with a roller

With plaster stick to what works for you never been beside 2 that can agree on troweling up let alone the rest

 

[indy4x]

I try not to think about some of the jobs I've done over the years.

Current house we live in had Artex everywhere over black plaster walls. Gutted the whole house from top to bottom and had no idea there was potentially asbestos in the Artex.

This was late 90's, know better now but ship has sailed, same for brake pads/shoes and clutches back in the 80's