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In 1935, Artex released its flagship product: a textured finish for walls and ceilings, meaning anyone could create patterned, decorative surfaces, not just skilled plasterers. For the next 50 years, Artex would be a widespread choice for homeowners and builders across the UK.
However, did you know there used to be asbestos in Artex? In this blog post, we are going to look at what Artex is, its asbestos content, when it was banned in the UK and how you can tell whether the Artex ceiling in your property contains asbestos.
Artex, or Asbestos Reinforced Textured coating, is a textured surface finish used to create patterned ceilings. Prior to its release in 1935, these kinds of finishes, that we now take for granted, required the hand of a skilled plasterer. Artex changed that, and made the process much easier, cheaper and more DIY-friendly.
Artex is the best known of these coatings, but there is a wide range of similar products including Wondertex, Pebblecoat, Marblecoat and Suretex. These products also used to feature asbestos.
Artex is still available today, but the modern product no longer contains the asbestos from which it derives its name. However, from when it was introduced until around the mid-80s, Artex featured about 1% to 4% white (chrysotile) asbestos fibres.
These were added to improve the drying speed and strength of the cured product. At the time, the health risks were not as apparent, but today we understand this is a dangerous mix. The asbestos in Artex meant that not only was the product hazardous to work with, but it was also harmful even when cured, especially if it was disturbed through drilling or hammering.
Asbestos in Artex was banned in the UK in 1992, and the use of asbestos was banned outright in 1999. Any textured coating in a building constructed prior to 2000 could contain asbestos.
Today, the control of materials such as Artex ceilings falls under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012. These regulations mandate that any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), such as the original formula of Artex, in commercial buildings or common areas of rented domestic properties must be regularly surveyed and managed to mitigate the potential harm to building occupants.
If your home has a textured ceiling or coating, you are probably wondering whether there is asbestos in your Artex. Unfortunately, asbestos Artex looks identical to non-asbestos Artex and other coatings, so the only indicator you can use safely, is sampling and testing for asbestos.
If it was applied pre-1984, then it very likely contains asbestos. If it dates from between 1984 and 1999, it may still contain asbestos, but the likelihood is much lower. This is because Artex stopped making asbestos-containing coatings in 1984, but stockists may have held onto supplies until the use of asbestos was banned for good in 1999.
The only way to be certain whether your Artex ceiling contains asbestos is to take samples and test them. While there are DIY methods for doing this, they all potentially put you and other building occupants at risk. Asbestos is a dangerous material and should ideally only be handled by professionals.
Expert asbestos surveyors will conduct an asbestos management survey, asbestos demolition survey or asbestos refurbishment survey, depending on your needs. They can also undertake targeted sampling of specific areas. In the process of the survey or sampling, they will safely take samples of any suspected ACMs and test these in a UKAS accredited laboratory to determine whether they contain asbestos.
If you suspect the presence of asbestos Artex in your property, contact the experts at EMS today. For more than 20 years, we have been conducting safe, reliable and accredited asbestos surveys in Worcester, Hereford, Cardiff, and across the UK. Call us today on 01432 263333, email us at info@emsgroupuk.com or fill out our contact form here.
If Artex is sealed with emulsion or behind new plaster, the risk of fibre release is low. However, if the Artex is disturbed through drilling, cutting or hammering or becomes exposed, damaged or cracked, can release harmful fibres. Always take care around Artex ceilings until the level of risk can be determined by a professional.
Attempting to remove Artex ceilings yourself is highly inadvisable. The risk of fibre inhalation is high and puts your health at risk unnecessarily. Always consult a professional for safe Artex removal.
No. Artex is still available, but the asbestos-containing formula was discontinued in 1984. Modern Artex achieves the same results with different materials.
The cost of Artex asbestos removal will vary depending on the scale, the condition and location. To get an accurate quote for the removal of your Artex ceiling, contact our team today.
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