Was your home either built or decorated in the seventies or eighties? If so, then it’s a good chance at least one of your ceilings is an artex ceiling.This is basically a textured ceiling, usually with a rounded or dimpled pattern. Artex is actually the name of a product, but the term is used to describe a ceiling made with other, similar products.
Although many people keep their artex ceiling, many homeowners decide to remove or cover them, seeing them as not very fashionable anymore. To do this, you can plaster over it, take it out completely, or install a faux ceiling.
Here’s how to work out what the best option for you:
Find out if it contains asbestos
Prior to any work starting on the ceiling, you need to ascertain whether the artex contains asbestos. If you know that it was built after 1999, do not worry, it will not contain asbestos. But if it was built before this date, there is a great possibility that it might. This is because asbestos used to be an important part of artex before the British government banned it in 1999.
If you think your ceiling may contain asbestos, you need to get it tested. Make sure you find a professional who is accredited to do this – that way you’ll know they are safe and competent.
You don’t have to remove artex ceilings containing asbestos, as they are safe unless disturbed. You could find a way to cover it without damaging it. Scraping or weakening the artex in any way could expose the dangerous asbestos fibres, releasing them into the air, which is very dangerous. So, if you want to do work on your artex ceiling and know that it contains asbestos, it is best to get it removed by a licensed professional.
It’s also well worth remembering that if you do not want to pay for a professional to remove the asbestos ceiling, you do not need to. As long as it’s in good condition and you leave it alone then it should be safe. But you have to accept that the artex ceiling is there to stay.
What can you do if the ceiling doesn’t contain asbestos?
With artex ceiling’s that don’t contain asbestos, you are free to decide how best to address it. There are three main options to choose from:
- Scrape and skim
If your ceiling is not too thick textured, you can scrape the pattern that stands out as much as you can. Then cover it with several layers of PVA and skim plaster layer on top. For a Plasterer Gloucester, visit a site like Pure Plasterers, for the services of a Plasterer Gloucester.
- Create a fake ceiling
Another option is to create a false ceiling under the existing one and cover it with plasterboard. It is a good choice if your ceiling is too thick textured to skim over.
- Remove and replace
If skimming is not viable and there is no wish to lower the ceiling height, another method is to pull the artex ceiling out completely and install something else. It might be more expensive than other options, but can turn into a long-term solution.
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