Almost everything you can think of comes in and out of popularity. While Artex was certainly popular in the 70s and 80s, it’s now considered a bit of an eyesore, and many homeowners will want to remove it.
Before you get the scraper out though, it’s important that you understand what Artex is, and some of the risks associated with getting rid of it.
What is artex?
Artex is a kind of wall and ceiling covering commonly used in UK homes in the 1970s. Marketed as an alternative to plaster, it has a textured look similar to a painted pebble dash, and was often applied leaving distinctive swirly patterns.
While the company Artex still exists, the product itself is hardly ever used anymore, and many homeowners find themselves wanting to remove it to achieve a different finish.
Asbestos
Up until around 1984, Artex was made using asbestos to strengthen it. While the asbestos is relatively safe if it’s left on the wall, under a layer of paint, as soon as you start to try to remove it, the highly carcinogenic material can enter into the air, presenting a serious health risk.
As it’s unlikely that you’ll know the exact date the Artex was applied to the wall or ceiling, you’ll need to take some extra precautions.
How To Remove Artex
If you’re going to remove Artex, you should follow these steps:
Test A Sample For Asbestos
Before you start chipping away, you need to test the Artex for asbestos. There are companies such as Asbestos Samples Direct that can quickly and safely test a sample of the coating, so that you know what precautions to take.
If Positive For Asbestos, Call In Professional Help
What you do next will depend on the results of the samples. If it comes back positive for asbestos, you should call in a professional service to take care of it for you.
You need to wear special protective gear to ensure you don’t inhale any of the dust, and you’ll need to make sure that you don’t contaminate the rest of your house. The risk is too high to just take care of this yourself.
If Negative For Asbestos, Carry On
If the test comes back negative for asbestos, you can relax a little bit. It’s still going to be a messy job, but if you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY, you should be fine.
If you do still decide to get a decorator round to do the job for you, you can show them the test results so that they know what it is they’re working with.
Asbestos really is horrible stuff, and you don’t want to mess around with it. If you’ve got Artex present in your home, it’s crucial that you get it tested before you try to remove it.
Whether you get a builder to help you or you decide to do it yourself, it’s important that you know exactly what it is that you’re working with, so you can take the necessary precautions.
