Artex Removal and Overboarding

Artex ceilings were fitted in enormous numbers of British homes from the 1970s through to the 1990s, and a lot of it is still up there today, usually looking dated, sometimes cracked, and often disliked by whoever’s now decorating around it. Dealing with it properly starts with one question that has to come before anything else: could it contain asbestos.

The asbestos question, addressed properly

Some artex coatings and textured ceiling products made before white asbestos was banned from such uses in the UK in 1999 contain small amounts of it, bound into the material. Not every artex ceiling does, and there’s no way to tell just by looking. The only responsible approach is to have a sample tested by an accredited laboratory before any sanding, scraping, drilling or removal takes place, since disturbing asbestos-containing material is what creates a health risk, not simply having it on the ceiling in an undisturbed state.

Multi Skim Plastering does not hold an asbestos removal licence and does not carry out licensed asbestos removal work. Where testing confirms asbestos is present, that removal has to be handled by a licensed asbestos specialist, following the relevant health and safety regulations. This isn’t a technicality. It’s the law, and it’s there for good reason.

What happens once a ceiling is known to be safe

Where testing confirms no asbestos is present, or once a licensed specialist has removed asbestos-containing material and cleared the area, the ceiling can be worked on in the normal way. That generally means one of two approaches: removing the remaining artex texture and replastering the ceiling to a smooth finish, or overboarding, which means fixing new plasterboard directly over the existing surface and avoiding the need to disturb it at all, provided the structure can take the additional weight.

Removal versus overboarding

Removal gives a completely fresh surface and can be the better option where a ceiling also has other problems, like sagging or damage that boarding over wouldn’t solve. Overboarding is quicker in many cases and avoids disturbing what’s underneath, which is one reason it’s often the preferred route on a ceiling that’s already been tested and confirmed safe, or where asbestos has already been professionally cleared.

What to expect

Whichever route is right for a particular ceiling, expect the room to be cleared and protected, some dust from boarding and finishing work, and a drying period once new plaster goes on. The safety step, meaning testing and bringing in a licensed specialist if needed, always comes first and shouldn’t be skipped to save time.

Coverage

Artex overboarding, removal and replastering are carried out across Bradford and the surrounding towns, always with the asbestos question addressed properly before any ceiling work begins.