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brightspark
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no problem steaming it off as there is no dust 
Artex does not always contain asbestos. Friend was flooded a while ago due to burst pipes in loft. Insurance company tested before any work could be done to replace ceilings. No asbestos was found. I spoke with the guy who came to do the test, as friend was at work. He said sometimes they found asbestos sometimes they didn't. Depends on what brand they used and when it was done. If you are unsure or worried, get it tested. Only problem with skimming is that if you have asbestos you must not drill it.
Identically, about fifteen years ago one of my staff sanded off all the Artex on his ceilings. I retired a few years later, don't know if he suffered any ill effects.
Identically, about fifteen years ago one of my staff sanded off all the Artex on his ceilings. I retired a few years later, don't know if he suffered any ill effects.
Pete.
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My house has artex on several ceilings. When the time comes to remove it I'll steam it off and clean up wearing disposable overalls and a FFP3 mask. When I do decide to do it it'll co-incide with fitting new carpets. I could get it sampled, and might do if we're doing a job at work that needs surveys done.
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
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Exactly my experience(s). I am not dead.
angellonewolf
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a plastermate said he only puts 2 coats on 1 thicker 1 thin and play with it as little as possable if theres 1small air gap the lot will peal off
oh and plenty of good pva more coats the better
mtt.tr
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Handful of bonding in first mix works really well only problem is it slows the set down
brightspark
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that's why I use sbr bonding agent. it seals the artex with a waterproof plastic skin that does not re emulsify then you coat with a sticky coat of pva and then plaster . never fails . even some plasterers don't know about it
mike os
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Safest bet is assume artex contains asbestos ... if it's pre 2000 it almost certainly does (it was discontinued prior to this but gives a decent safety margin)
Best way to deal with it yourself is to overboard, don't scrape other remove.
If you have to remove do it wet.... steamer is good.
It is unlikely you can contain the dust adequately in a diy operation, ... if you see the lengths they go to professionally you would understand
The risk is low, but the consequences serious, if you are under 40 I would suggest getting someone to deal with it for you , older you are unlikely to reduce your lifespan significantly
Best way to deal with it yourself is to overboard, don't scrape other remove.
If you have to remove do it wet.... steamer is good.
It is unlikely you can contain the dust adequately in a diy operation, ... if you see the lengths they go to professionally you would understand
The risk is low, but the consequences serious, if you are under 40 I would suggest getting someone to deal with it for you , older you are unlikely to reduce your lifespan significantly
The problem with plastering/overboarding it is it's hidden for the next unsuspecting homeowner/workman who thinks it's ordinary plaster and goes through it for any future works releasing a load of dust.
I did some work in a basement with encapsulated asbestos and it had warning signs something like every meter to warn of what was behind it.
I did some work in a basement with encapsulated asbestos and it had warning signs something like every meter to warn of what was behind it.
I thought they stopped putting asbestos into artex by the early to mid 80’s, though some will have been used after that using up old stock, if your house was built mid 80’s it’s unlikely to have asbestos in the artex, though it’s still a possibility, I would test it just to make sure, but would not expect it to contain it.
That’s because it was quite common to have artex ceilings in the mid 90’s which didn’t contain asbestos, pre mid 80’s was when it stopped being put in, and some even before then,
But worth finding out, just in case.
Hi Al,
I asked My plaster for a price to skim over the Artex in My hall, he told Me he’d refuse to skim over because the same happened to him, he now boards overs the top of Artex...
Alf98
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My ceiling was the same in the new house, me and the other just bought. Plasterer used browning (called something else now) to bulk it to level then skimmed over the top, didn’t disturb anything and after a light sand of any lumpy bits it’s good and smooth
mike os
just a little insane.....
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usually it works ok as long as it is sealed properly
brightspark
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he has never heard of sbr then and if used it wouldn't happen. I dunno why some plasterers have to be told by an electrician what to use
only one room in daughters house blew off till I told plasterer to stop. scraped it back off and re sealed along with all rooms in the rest of the house and all done fine 