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Telford's
Premier Plastering Service
​ Making a House into a Home
​(Commercial Premises too)

Artex Removal 

Artex doesn't really need an introduction. Its name and reputation goes before it. Throughout the country, on ceilings and even walls, in lounges, kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms, Artex is found everywhere. If you own a home built or renovated in the 1960's, through to the 1990's, look up now. What do you see ? Swirls and mountain ranges ? You're looking at Artex.  

There was a time when Artex was the height of fashion. Apparently. Artex was the brand name for a hard form of plaster, applied to cover the boring smooth ceilings of our homes. It became a craze. Every new home had to have Artex, and older properties were updated with Artex. People loved it

Then the 1980's arrived, and doubt started to creep in. Like any craze, it started to wane. By the 1990's, Artex was considered very bad taste. An interior design nightmare. But millions of homes are stuck with it. Well and truly stuck. As removing it is something of a horror story. 

Artex is very difficult to remove. It was designed to stay put. and it does that very effectively. Worse, Artex contains white asbestos. Asbestos is a serious health hazard, and although white asbestos is the least dangerous form, its still something to be taken very seriously. 

Asbestos was used because its light and strong, giving strength to the plaster. It was also fireproof. Artex removed asbestos from its products in 1985, but it can still be found in ceilings plastered as late as 1999. 

Asbestos must always be treated with respect. Any procedure, such as scraping, can potentially release asbestos into the environment. Always be cautious when dealing with Artex, and if in any doubt, don't hesitate to consult a professional. 

Please see the HSE website for further information.

If you want to search online, you'll find many techniques for removing Artex. YouTube is full of videos describing Artex removal. Everyone wants it gone. But all these methods have one thing in common. They are extremely hard work, very messy and time consuming, and have potential health implications. 

The HSE recommends any Artex removal is done by a trained person. This seems reasonable, considering the risks. However, there are some techniques of removal, using steaming or gelling, which legally requires the operative to notify the HSE, due to the health implications.  

On YouTube, you will find many videos giving instructions on how to remove Artex with a wallpaper steamer. This seems to be quite popular. We absolutely DO NOT recommend this technique, not least because you must notify the HSE. Its also very hard work, and incredibly messy.  Always employ a professional when removing Artex. You'll be glad you did.

When you call Plastering Telford, we have four options for removing your Artex

Plastering
Plastering would certainly seem to be the easiest method. Plaster over the Artex, and its gone forever. 

Unfortunately, that's not the case. Before any plastering, the receiving surface must be properly prepared. An Artex ceiling is no exception. This will involve hard scraping and sanding, to flatten or remove the thousands of peaks found on an Artex ceiling. Its a dirty, hard job, and creates a lot of dust. That dust will contain asbestos particles which will most likely be breathed into the lungs. 

This is the least preferred method. We are sure you can understand why. 

Bonding
This is a very popular method, and has been used for several decades. A bonding agent is spread over the Artex, to create a smooth surface to receive plaster. If the Artex peaks are high, and they can be up to 1cm, several bonding layers will need to be applied, letting each one dry fully before the next one. The bonding agent adheres very strongly to the Artex, building up the surface height until the Artex is completely covered. The final bonding layer is smoothed, and then a plaster skim is applied, giving you a whole new ceiling.

With this method, the Artex, and its asbestos are completely bonded into the ceiling. None is released, and there are no health worries. Plus you have a great new ceiling. 

Its a long process, however, and is hard work. Its definitely not a job for an amateur. It requires experience and skill to get a good result. 

Remove, Board and Skim
As the name suggests, this could be considered the nuclear option. The entire ceiling is removed. It is then replaced with ceiling boards, screwed into the joists. These are bonded, then plastered, giving you a whole new ceiling. The asbestos is gone forever.

This is obviously a very effective method to remove Artex. But its extremely messy and creates a lot of disturbance in the home. We only use it when the underlying ceiling is weak and would need replacing anyway. 

Over Boarding
This is similar to the method above, but is quicker and involves less mess and disruption. Ceiling boards are installed directly over the top of the Artex ceiling. Essentially you have a second ceiling installed over the first one. These boards are then plastered, giving you a new ceiling. The old Artex ceiling is entombed forever beneath your new ceiling. Safe and sound. 

This is our preferred option, in most cases. Its cost effective, time efficient and gives the right result. 

As you can see, removing an Artex ceiling is not a job for an amateur. If you want to try it, then go ahead. You can learn everything you need to know on YouTube. But we absolutely do not recommend you do so.  If you are in any doubt, always consult a trained professional. 

Give us a call at Plastering Telford and lets discuss your options. We are more than happy to give a free no obligation quote, and as much advice as you need to make the decision. We have removed hundreds of Artex ceilings over the last decade, and have learnt what works, what doesn't work, and the very best way to do the job.

​Health and safety considerations will also be foremost in our minds. We want a great result, and a safe result.

Give us a call, and lets get your Artex ceilings consigned to the 1970s, along with flares and Glam Rock

You know it makes sense

Local Plasterers in Telford

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01952 983025 

Plastering Telford
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Our Happy Customers

Artex

We decided to remove our Artex ceilings. We thought about doing it ourselves, but it looked a bit tricky. My wife was worried about the asbestos. Plastering Telford did the job for us. ​We are really happy with the result. 

Chris and Annie
​Telford

​Artex

I decided the Artex had to go. The swirls were driving us mad. We got a few quotes, and used Plastering Telford. They were friendly and reliable. The mess was minimal too. Now we have perfect new ceilings. Really chuffed. Thanks.

Barry P
Wellington

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Artex Testimonial

We went for boarding our Artex. It was recommended as the best option​, with the least mess and disruption. The result was perfect. We can't believe our new ceilings. We've even put photos on FaceBook. 

Mr Peter Johnson
Telford

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