Artex - Asbestos

[bilton_2]

Hi,

myself and my family moved into a property 3 years ago. it was a do a uppa!
My wife read online that some Artex contains asbestos
So she paid for a company who detects asbestos to come out and check.
They said we had asbestos in our ceilings and would take them all out for 10k!!

It didn't state what percentage was asbestos and when i asked some builders they didn't think it was an issue and work in those environments weekly, removing similar ceilings, skimming over them etc.

We are getting the house renovated and I wanted to see what others thought about living in the house whilst works are happening.
We are fine with living on site, but my partner is particularly worried about the Asbestos. Obviously Google and NHS state how bad Asbestos can be, but am i right in thinking that is mainly in industrial sites / older buildings and not the type found in Artex?

Basically we will need to pay thousands in separate accommodation whilst works are happening if this is a major threat.
We wouldn't be living in that specific room, but i expect dust to travel still around other parts of the home due to the works

I don't want you to advise me! rather would you personality live in that environment and consider it a dangerous place due to inhaling asbestos!

any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wayners]

How old is the house?
Can you post a picture of the artex?
Normally you take a sample and send off to a lab for testing. Was that done?

 

[bilton_2]

House is from 1930’s. Not sure how old the artex is. The company went away and then sent a certificate stating it has asbestos. But if it is 0.1% it would still show positive. I believe there are two different kinds of asbestos also. I personally think it will be fine but wanted to check if you would risk living in a house whilst works are happening.

Thanks

 

[pete01]

Ooppss, read whole post now

 

[pete01]

If you dont disturb it theres no problem, otherwise just overboard and re-plaster....

10k, cheek

 

[fillyboy]

I used to regularly 'scrape' artexed ceilings to remove high spots prior to skimming, I'm not sure how many I did before discovering they contained a small amount of asbestos and thereafter wore a mask which probably wouldn't have been a great help.
Please don't take this as me saying it's safe, it only takes a single fibre on the lung to become fatal.

The pattern you have could be skimmed without scraping and once skimmed asbestos is effectively sealed in and will only become an issue if drilling or cutting at a later date.

Alternatively over board the ceiling then skim although the same applies if drilling cutting at a later date.

 

[bilton_2]

thanks both. overboarding or skimming - would that then be safe to live in?

 

[fillyboy]

thanks both. overboarding or skimming - would that then be safe to live in?

Yes, it only becomes an issue if drilling or cutting holes at a later date, otherwise it's safe. Asbestos is everywhere, it's only in fairly recent years that brake linings and clutches have been asbestos free, that was a lot of 'dust' being released into the air.

 

[Brigadier]

My two penneth.

Even if you skim or overboard it, your wife will still worry about it.

Especially when you come to install lights etc, at any point in the future.

Point being, you might spend thousands skimming it, only for her to declare she's still not comfortable with it being there.




Search for asbestos essentials on the HSE website for further official guidance.

 

[pete01]

thanks both. overboarding or skimming - would that then be safe to live in?

Yes that will be fine.

Amazon do a test/sample kit for about 40 quid, might be worth it, the asbestos company seem to be making up work or wanting some work...maybe.

 

[Wayners]

Get that tested again.
I don't think is has asbestos in it.
That's scroll pattern and that was not being done in 1984 ish when asbestos was take out of artex. Last company to have take asbestos out of the material was suretex in 1986.
Asbestos in artex looks sugary and sharp. That looks creamy. Don't mean I'm right I know. I've been told it can be trace amounts still in factory for a few years. Hum?
I'd be very surprised if that had asbestos in.

I've had this before. Ceilings I artexed after the 2000 ban on asbestos were tested and has has come back either trace or inconclusive. That's over 10 years after asbestos was taken out the material.
Then I got phone call to ask what I used and did it have asbestos In.

I would get another company to test.
I would also get two different companies to test two different ceilings in your house then decide how to proceed.

One theory I have is there is old artex under a new asbestos free layer. It was dug through new layer to old layer for testing. That would explain it

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I agree with the above. We have both varieties, I've had samples from all rooms tested. The stuff with asbestos has sharp peaks, the stuff without just looks like thick paint, as yours does.

My father-in-law was a builder on newbuild sites in the 1980s. He told me he remembers all the artexers moaning continually when they took the asbestos out, that they couldn't shape it any more and it was crap. I'm sure many saw the point of removing it later in life.

Asbestos is fibrous, its purpose was to give structure to it and allow it to hold in shape even while wet.

Don't rely on my or anyone else's opinions as proof that it doesn't contain it. Find a reputable online testing service, take samples (safely), send them off and get the results.

The advice you've been given to remove the ceilings is scam advice even if it is asbestos based. It's absolutely fine to cover it, it's of zero risk as the stuff is tightly bound. It's only hazardous if you grind it to powder and breathe it in - e.g. if you decide to flatten it with a power-sander. It's not poisonous, it's just a rock, the particle shape is the issue if it gets trapped in your lungs.

Given that you've been given scam advice, I'd also assume their testing is a scam too.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Some samples I've had tested from my house...

Definitely contains asbestos:

Walls (swirly pattern) definitely DON'T contain it, can't remember if the spikey ceiling was tested but it was all artexed at the same time so hopefully not:

DISCLAIMER: Definitely DO NOT rely on the appearance as proof of not being asbestos. But I'd say it indicates that you may have had scam advice so get some proper testing done.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Bradley Environmental Asbestos Sample Testing

Bradley Environmental offer UK-wide asbestos sample testing services. Contact us today for more information.

www.bradley-enviro.co.uk

Among others. Check accreditations first.

If it's asbestos you may see some tiny fibrous sparkly bits in the sample as you bag it. Way smaller than a human hair, almost glittery.

Wear a mask while sampling, perhaps a disposable coverall for the sake of a few quid. Cover the floor beneath. Clean after with a wet cloth, not a hoover. Gather your cover into the centre after and throw away, with the cloth.