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Artex is it safe

(34 Posts)
hulahoop Mon 25-Feb-19 16:23:38

Dd is thinking of renting a house which she reall y likes but it has a lot of artex in kitchen which is painted ,a colleague has told her it isn't safe due to some artex having asbestos in obviously she can't alter this does anyone have any advice on this .

notanan2 Tue 26-Feb-19 16:00:05

Quite honestly I’m amazed anyone is alive and well these days.

hmm Lots of people arent/werent because of Asbestos.... mainly those who worked with it or disturbed it though

But it is fine if undisturbed. And its in so many buildings that you would really struggle to avoid it completely!

newnanny Tue 26-Feb-19 11:55:01

I must say skimming hardly made any mess and plasterer cleaned it all up and swept over floor too. I just had to steam mop it after. Much easier if nothing in room, them plasterer can put down large dust sheets to catch any bits of wet plaster that fall.

newnanny Tue 26-Feb-19 11:48:22

I bought a new buy to let in December. It had Artex on all of downstairs ceilings. I was not sure if it contained asbestos or not but took the safest option of having it re-skimmed by plasterer. It is always easier if empty and cheaper to get it all done at once. To do large lounge, good sized kitchen/diner and all of hall and corridor and to plaster over a patch of wall where there used to be a storage heater on top of stairs I was charged £540 so cheaper than you might think. Plasterer has done a fab job. It was ready to paint white after 4 or 5 days. Plasterer told us only way to know for sure if it contains asbestos is to have it tested but completely skimming over makes it safe as it is completely sealed.

lemongrove Tue 26-Feb-19 10:10:34

??Thanks marydoll for the info.

Marydoll Tue 26-Feb-19 10:07:51

Until the mid-1980s, the Artex coating was made with white asbestos to strengthen it. Therefore old Artex manufactured by Artex Ltd. will contain asbestos while Artex coatings applied after 2000 may or may not contain asbestos.
How are you to know? Better to be safe than sorry.

lemongrove Tue 26-Feb-19 10:03:16

Does Artex really contain something toxic ( when disturbed)
As I thought it was just decorated for effect plaster?

Marydoll Tue 26-Feb-19 07:55:28

The school I worked in had artex ceilings and specialists were brought in to remove it, as the ceilings were crumbling. The whole place was covered in plastic, whilst they were working.

In our own home, we had a burst pipe a couple of years ago and part of the ceiling came down. When we tried to get it repaired, we were told that the best thing was to skim the ceiling, as Artex should not be disturbed. Our home is only 25 years old.

Auntieflo Tue 26-Feb-19 07:49:19

We moved into oour house in 1968, and all the ceilings are stippled artex. I'm sure that as we have decorated over the years, the effect has lessened with all the applied paint smile
It's probably a Marmite thing, Love or Loathe. A bit like woodchip wallpaper.

Vonners Tue 26-Feb-19 01:44:17

The house we moved into 2 years ago, 1970s property, has artex on all the ceilings which I didn't like. I looked into having it removed and was told it contained asbestos so there would be problems removing it as its ok until disturbed. I too couldn't face the upheaval at the time of skimming. Have kinda got used to it now but will gradually have the ceilings skimmed as I redecorate.

notanan2 Mon 25-Feb-19 22:40:19

Its fine so long as she is careful about what she does DIY wise

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 22:10:05

It's only recently that I've realised that our ceilings are a bit different from most others.

lemongrove Mon 25-Feb-19 22:07:48

Have no Artex here, but had some in many houses in the past, and must say I liked it ( unfashionable of me I know )
Have never heard of it not being safe.

annodomini Mon 25-Feb-19 22:04:39

I didn't have it removed when I moved into this house. I just hoped that Artex would come back into fashion someday! I hasn't yet.

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 21:51:49

Daughter's present house has artex in a swirly pattern in the bedroom. She hates it (so do I).

PamelaJ1 Mon 25-Feb-19 21:19:29

I’ve lived in houses with artex and been happy about it.
However when we walked into this one the artex was awful.
Each room a different pattern. We didn’t move in until about 2 months after we bought it so had it all removed. The plasterer didn’t mention anything about asbestos when he did it or seem to take any special precautions.
The rooms feel so much bigger.
We’ve only been here 12years so it appears that we’re safe. Thank goodness we don’t need to worry about that.
Quite honestly I’m amazed anyone is alive and well these days.

MissAdventure Mon 25-Feb-19 20:46:10

A lot of people can't stand artex, but I don't mind it too much.
I quite like a bit of texture.
That said, a change would be lovely.

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 20:40:58

Mine are just stippled. They are painted every time we decorate.

MissAdventure Mon 25-Feb-19 20:36:30

Are they patterned?
Mine are just stippled.
The walls though..
It look like 20 or so toddlers spent an afternoon finger painting.

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 20:33:16

No one's skimming over my nice ceilings.

Jalima1108 Mon 25-Feb-19 19:28:14

They don't remove it, just skim over it with plaster.

BlueBelle Mon 25-Feb-19 19:12:59

I ve got some Artex in my hallway from about 25+ years ago I hate it but like Kittye I can’t go through the process of having it removed, so will live with it I never knew it was dangerous, anyway I m still alive after 25 years so guess I m ok

MissAdventure Mon 25-Feb-19 19:12:17

As long as it's intact, it's safe.
My whole flat is artexed (badly!)
Its probably somewhere on my to-do list, to have it skimmed over.

hulahoop Mon 25-Feb-19 19:06:19

Thanks for replies I will get her to check when it was done I think she said it was painted over .

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 18:50:42

Should I be careful when I put the paper chains up at Christmas? shock

Gonegirl Mon 25-Feb-19 18:49:00

DH put smoke alarms in some years back. He seems alright.