Plastering over Artex, safely and smoothly.

Does old Artex contain asbestos?

Some does. Textured coatings like Artex could contain a small amount of asbestos until it was banned in the UK in 1999, so any coating applied before 2000 should be treated as possibly containing it until a test says otherwise.

This is not a reason to panic. The Health and Safety Executive's view is that textured coatings in good condition, left undisturbed, pose very little risk. The risk comes from creating dust: sanding, scraping, wire-brushing or drilling it without precautions. Steamers and chemical strippers sold for removing texture can also release fibres as the coating breaks down. So if you have an Artex ceiling from the 1970s or 1980s, please do not start sanding it off yourself.

The sensible first step is a test. A small sample is taken carefully and sent to an accredited laboratory, and results usually come back within a few days. I arrange this as part of the job, and the result decides how we prepare the surface.

Skim over Artex or overboard it?

It depends on the pattern, the condition of the ceiling and the test result. Both give a smooth, flat finish ready to decorate.

Skimming is usually quicker and cheaper. Overboarding costs a little more but gives a truly flat ceiling and is often the better choice where the old ceiling has cracks, bulges or a deep, swirled pattern that would take several coats to lose.

Does Artex need removing before plastering?

Rarely. Covering Artex with plaster or plasterboard seals it in, and that is the normal approach for sound surfaces.

Removal makes sense only if the ceiling itself is failing or you are taking it down for other work. If the coating contains asbestos, removal is specialist work for a trained asbestos contractor following HSE guidance, and I can point you in the right direction. If Artex has been covered over and contains asbestos, keep a note of it for any future work, such as fitting downlights or new cabling, so the next trade knows.

How does plastering over Artex work?

Once the test result is in and the method agreed, the job follows a clear order.

1. Protect the room fully: floors, furniture and fittings covered, light fittings taken down safely.
2. Check the ceiling for loose areas, cracks and sagging.
3. If the test is clear, knock back the sharpest peaks; if not, leave the surface untouched.
4. Apply a bonding primer so the plaster grips the smooth, painted texture, or fix new boards.
5. Tape joints and cracks with scrim.
6. Skim in two coats, or more on deep patterns, to a smooth, flat finish.

An average ceiling usually takes one to two days, plus drying time before decorating. The finish is the same as any new skim, so the first coat of paint should be a mist coat.

What affects the cost of plastering over Artex?

Mainly the method and the size of the ceiling. Skimming a light pattern on a sound ceiling is the simplest job; overboarding a large, cracked ceiling with a deep pattern is the biggest.

• whether the coating needs testing, and the result
• how deep the pattern is, and so how many coats it needs
• cracks, sagging or loose areas to deal with first
• light fittings, coving and anything that needs taking down and refitting

I price after a free home visit, and the quote explains the method and why I have chosen it.

Can you plaster over Artex on walls too?

Yes. Textured walls are handled the same way as ceilings: test first if the coating is older, then skim or board. Walls are often easier because the work is at a comfortable height, though heavy patterns may still need two coats.

Many 1930s and post-war homes around Sutton Coldfield, Walsall and Great Barr still have at least one Artex ceiling, often in a hallway or living room. Getting rid of it is one of the quickest ways to make a room feel brighter and more modern. It is part of my wider plastering service, and I often combine it with repairs elsewhere in the house.