Hey I ripped down a false ceiling last night which had a artex style pattern on it, walls are covered in it as well and have just found out some artex contains asbestos. Anyway I'm worried now but is it artex or not? Basically looked at a lump that came down which has hair in it, so I'm assuming thats horsehair plaster and the textured pattern has just been put over the top but it's very thin, because I'm a total amateur I don't know what artex is like when it comes down and I'd really like if I didn't need to worry. House is over a hundred years old but no idea when that pattern crap was put up but assuming a long time ago. Plaster was applied over thin strips of wood.
Is it artex or not? Help in identifying artex
- Thread starter Spoonaltap
- Start date
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The ceiling is probably lath and plaster, which as you say, has had artex applied over it.
It is true that the Artex brand contained asbestos until 1985 and other brands and old stock may have contained it until it's use was banned 1999. However, there is little risk of it causing you any health problems if you are only removing it as a one-off. If it was an everyday job then the risks would have to be taken far more seriously.
I have removed dozens of similar ceilings over the years and I'm sure there are many others who have done thousands without even thinking about it.
Remember, you can't even be sure there is asbestos in your artex so I wouldn't worry. Consider those who worked with the artex in it's raw powder form for many years and you have little to worry about.
If it concerns you that much, you could damp it down to minimise the dust particles or even get specialists in, but IMO it is unnecessary.
It is true that the Artex brand contained asbestos until 1985 and other brands and old stock may have contained it until it's use was banned 1999. However, there is little risk of it causing you any health problems if you are only removing it as a one-off. If it was an everyday job then the risks would have to be taken far more seriously.
I have removed dozens of similar ceilings over the years and I'm sure there are many others who have done thousands without even thinking about it.
Remember, you can't even be sure there is asbestos in your artex so I wouldn't worry. Consider those who worked with the artex in it's raw powder form for many years and you have little to worry about.
If it concerns you that much, you could damp it down to minimise the dust particles or even get specialists in, but IMO it is unnecessary.
More concerned for my mate as she was round, I'm hoping it's just textured paint actually because the only thing making the dust is the plaster. The textured stuff is only about a mm thick and is very brittle. I don't know what artex is like, is it like plaster and then you just put a pattern into it while it's wet? I've looked through google loads of times trying to work out if I've actually got artex up? The false ceiling covered up a section which must still have the original plaster and since removing it the wall sections match up. How thick is artex?
Cheers for the reply
Cheers for the reply
could just be textured paint if its only 1mm thick, but if it is artex you needent worry artex contains white asbestos trace and was recently declassified from the dangerous list but buildinng regs, if you are still worried about it steam it off then pull down the flat ceilin after. as has been said i wouldnt worry bout it you can open the windows to let it filter out and wear a dust mask to stop anymore crap from being breathed in.
good luck, and more questions you know where we are
good luck, and more questions you know where we are
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Cheers I'll steam the rest off anyway to stop the dust as its a right pain, it was a spur of the moment thing where I wanted to see what was behind it so started ripping it down 
Will have lots more questions, got lots to do.
Will have lots more questions, got lots to do.
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