Is this Artex?

[TheEasterBunny]

Hi! We are buying a house and we believe this is artex but I'm kind of hoping someone can tell me its textured paint or something! Its flaking away in places. We'll have an asbestos check done when we get the keys anyway but I'm getting impatient and doing as much research as I can beforehand!

 

[Odds]

It's ARTex for ART's sake.
And that carpet is gopping.

 

[TheEasterBunny]

It's ARTex for ART's sake.
And that carpet is gopping.

We were being hopeful!

Yes, the carpet is... present... and will be gone as soon as we're done stripping walls etc!

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Hello. We have a house that was tarted up in the 1980s with lots of artex on the ceilings. I had asbestos tests done on some samples after moving in.

I found that the really spiky stuff in some rooms did have asbestos, the stuff with more rounded spikes in a couple of rooms did not. This tallies with what a retired builder told me, that the artexer blokes were all cursing when the asbestos was taken out, as it wouldn't stand up in peaks as well as it used to. Basically the asbestos fibres acted as reinforcement to hold the shape. The same blokes are probably cursing the older stuff now, if they were regularly whisking it up as powder and breathing it in.

I'm not sure from your photo, but my guess is that this does have asbestos in. The later stuff without it was more like thick paint than spiky.

My opinion is that it's best left where it is. Just plaster over it. It's not crumbling so it's not getting airborne so it won't do any harm to anyone. If taking samples then carefully snap chunks off, wearing a mask. Don't scrape and crumble it.

The really dangerous asbestos is in crumbly sheets or fluffy insulation. Artex is probably near the bottom of the risk scale. The only way to make it airborne would be to remove it.

We also have 1950s lino tiles under the carpet. These also contain asbestos fibres, again their purpose was to reinforce the tiles for strength. Also these have little real risk as they're not flaking and are not getting airborne.

P.S. We had identical carpets when we moved in, it was a very popular 1980s(?) pattern. I think it also comes in red or beige, possibly blue too.

 

[Wayners]

Yes artex.

Bark pattern.
Probably no asbestos looking at it

 

[TheEasterBunny]

Hello. We have a house that was tarted up in the 1980s with lots of artex on the ceilings. I had asbestos tests done on some samples after moving in.

I found that the really spiky stuff in some rooms did have asbestos, the stuff with more rounded spikes in a couple of rooms did not. This tallies with what a retired builder told me, that the artexer blokes were all cursing when the asbestos was taken out, as it wouldn't stand up in peaks as well as it used to. Basically the asbestos fibres acted as reinforcement to hold the shape. The same blokes are probably cursing the older stuff now, if they were regularly whisking it up as powder and breathing it in.

I'm not sure from your photo, but my guess is that this does have asbestos in. The later stuff without it was more like thick paint than spiky.

My opinion is that it's best left where it is. Just plaster over it. It's not crumbling so it's not getting airborne so it won't do any harm to anyone. If taking samples then carefully snap chunks off, wearing a mask. Don't scrape and crumble it.

The really dangerous asbestos is in crumbly sheets or fluffy insulation. Artex is probably near the bottom of the risk scale.

We also have lino tiles under the carpet. These also contain asbestos fibres, again their purpose was to reinforce the tiles for strength. Also these have little real risk as they're not flaking and are not getting airborne.

We've got lots of patches that have just fallen off or been scraped off when removing furniture so my guess is that it's not in the best condition. I've been advised not to plaster over it as it will just crumble off and to board over it but we can't really afford to lose those precious milimetres! I'm desperate to get in there and get going!

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

You're right, it's no good for plastering over. But this is just a bit of plasterboard that spans the window reveal. You'd be better off levering off the whole board, including the artex. Then replace with new plasterboard.

From your photo I'm wondering if the rest of the artex is fairly well stuck? If so then perhaps the board was the issue, not the artex? Could you replace the board and get the rest skimmed over?

Also if you get the board off then you may be able to get wall insulation and/or an insulated cavity closer into the end of the cavity before re-boarding. You then won't get the condensation issues that may well have been the cause of the peeling. Plus you'll save money on heating too.

Definitely pause and think before getting in there. Definitely lots of decent PPE needed. If you got a company in they'd probably wrap the place in a giant polythene tent and use breathing apparatus. Mainly total overkill but good theatre and a way of charging £1000s. But it's definitely potentially harmful, definitely worth spending some money on decent masks, bunny suit etc.

From a safety point of view you'll be much better off removing the plasterboard than scratting all the artex off it, which would be extremely hazardous if it does contain asbestos.

I'd start with an asbestos test.

 

[securespark]

I've seen a heck of a lot of textured finishes on ceilings and walls over the decades that were done with finish plaster.

 

[Brigadier]

If you got a company in they'd probably wrap the place in a giant polythene tent and use breathing apparatus. Mainly total overkill but good theatre and a way of charging £1000s.

No need to worry then. All a theatrical scam.

But, on the other hand............

Definitely pause and think before getting in there.

Definitely lots of decent PPE needed.

But it's definitely potentially harmful, definitely worth spending some money on decent masks, bunny suit etc.

From a safety point of view you'll be much better off removing the plasterboard than scratting all the artex off it, which would be extremely hazardous if it does contain asbestos.

A pretty quick volte-face there, IW

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Do you have anything useful to contribute that might help anyone? Do you have any experience that you can share?

Do you understand the concept of "degree" of risk? Or does your world neatly divide into "safe" and "deadly".

My point is to treat with care, but don't run in panic to the companies that will make a big show of it and charge £1000s for essentially a load of theatre.

If it was fluffy lagging around a pipe then don't go near it and get the specialists in. But for some fibres tightly bound in artex, just use lots of care and PPE.

All IMO of course. Discussing is a good thing, only if people can handle grey areas of course.

 

[Wayners]

Lime plaster too

 

[Brigadier]

My point is to treat with care,

A point clearly made, too, if I might be so bold

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Actually, looking at the angled wall next to the window... is this a loft conversion?

If so then you may be better off taking a very deep breath and seeing what the whole wall is made of and how good the insulation is. Possibly the ceiling too - those polystyrene tiles were a favourite botch for trying to improve uninsulated ceilings. The best option may well be to pull all the plasterboard off and start again, after adding lots of insulation behind it.

The artex may well be the tip of an iceberg. But with some extra work you should be able to vastly improve the energy efficiency. Think of it as an opportunity!

 

[Tigercubrider]

Is the place occupied? and you are considering? Have bought?
If you could get the keys and take a couple of samples, it might put your mind at rest or put you off.

I used a mail in service when removing bitumen that might have contained asbestos.
They email the results back very quickly as a pdf.

I'd ask if I could take some bits off where there is damage, at least wear a mask and a wooly hat/shower cap and gloves.
When I did my samples I collected from 6 places and mixed it all up.

If it isn't artex, you can steam it off with a wall paper stripper. I am told that it also works with art as well, but is obviously risky. However the steam keeps everything stuck together.