Artex applied before the year 2000 often contains white asbestos (chrysotile), which was added to textured coatings to help them set and hold their pattern. Artex made after about 2000 does not. You cannot tell by looking, because the asbestos content is mixed into the coating. The only reliable way to know is to have a small sample tested in a laboratory.
Quick facts about Artex and asbestos:
- Artex made before 2000 may contain white asbestos; later Artex does not
- The asbestos is bonded into the coating, so it is low risk while undisturbed
- Sanding, scraping, or drilling Artex is what releases fibres
- A lab test on a small sample is the only way to confirm it
- Most textured coating removal is non-licensed work
Why was asbestos added to Artex?
Artex is a brand name that became the everyday word for textured decorative coatings, the swirled, stippled and combed finishes on ceilings and sometimes walls in millions of UK homes from the 1960s to the 1990s. Manufacturers added a small percentage of white asbestos because it strengthened the coating and helped it hold those patterns while it dried.
The amount of asbestos was usually low, and because it is locked into a hard coating, it is bonded rather than friable. That means it is low risk while it is left alone, painted over, and intact. It is not something to panic about if your ceiling is in good condition. The risk only appears when the surface is disturbed in a way that releases fibres.
How can you tell if your Artex contains asbestos?
You cannot tell by sight, age alone, or pattern. A swirled ceiling from 1975 and one from 2010 can look identical, and the asbestos is invisible inside the mix. Anyone who tells you they can identify asbestos Artex just by looking is guessing.
The age of the property is a useful clue but not proof. If the coating was applied before 2000, treat it as if it may contain asbestos until a test says otherwise. The definitive answer comes from sampling. A small piece is taken under controlled conditions and analysed under a polarised light microscope at a UKAS-accredited laboratory, the same process we use for any suspected material. Our asbestos sampling, testing and surveys page explains how testing works and what the results tell you.
What should you do if your Artex contains asbestos?
You have three sensible options, and the right one depends on what you want to do with the room.
If the coating is in good condition and you are happy to leave it, you can. Asbestos Artex that is intact and painted is low risk where it is. Many people simply leave it in place and avoid disturbing it.
If you want a smooth ceiling but want to keep the asbestos contained, the coating can sometimes be overboarded, with new plasterboard fixed over the top, or skimmed over by a specialist. This covers it without breaking it up.
If you want it gone, it should be removed properly rather than sanded or scraped off, which is the one thing that actually releases fibres. Removing textured coatings is usually non-licensed work, but it is still controlled work that needs the right equipment and safe disposal. We handle this on our Artex, ceiling and floor tile removal service, which also covers asbestos floor tiles like the ones in our floor tile removal in Surbiton. Whatever you do, never dry-sand or use a heat gun on Artex you have not had tested.
Have your Artex tested before you touch it
The single most useful thing you can do with a textured ceiling you are unsure about is get it tested before any work starts. A small sample, taken safely and analysed at a UKAS-accredited lab, turns guesswork into a clear answer, and it usually costs far less than people expect.
If the result is positive, we will talk you through whether to leave it, cover it, or remove it, based on what you actually want from the room rather than pushing you toward the biggest job. If the result is negative, you can crack on with your decorating with no further worry. We cover homes across London, Surrey, Sussex and the South East.