Bye Bye Asbestos
Artex removal
Textured coatings such as Artex can contain asbestos. We test first, then remove the coating with controlled wet methods, or take the boards down, before your renovation starts.
- Ceilings before plastering or skimming
- Walls before a kitchen or bathroom refit
- Before rewiring or new downlights
Artex removal in London and the South East
Textured coatings like Artex were used on ceilings and walls for decades, and those applied before 2000 can contain asbestos, usually a small percentage of white asbestos (chrysotile). In good condition, a coating like this is low risk if it’s left alone. The problem comes when it’s sanded, scraped dry, drilled or knocked through during a renovation.
HSE’s code of practice says work on textured coatings will not normally be licensable, but larger-scale removal using steam or gel is notifiable non-licensed work. Either way it needs wet methods, a segregated, protected work area and proper protective equipment, and it should never be dry-scraped or sanded.
Typical jobs
- Ceilings before plastering or skimming
- Walls before a kitchen or bathroom refit
- Before rewiring or new downlights
- Damaged or cracked coatings
- Coatings scraped during DIY
- Landlords refurbishing between tenants
- Before knocking through or removing a ceiling
- Loft conversions and extensions
Materials
- Artex ceilings
- Textured walls
- Swirl and stipple patterns
- Coated plasterboard
- Ceiling roses and cornices (coated)
- Patched or painted coatings
- Covering
- London and the South East
- Price
- Written quote for your job
- Phone
- 07833 053 749
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
How it works
- Tell us which rooms and surfaces, and roughly how big they are
- We test a sample of the coating if it hasn’t been tested
- If it contains asbestos, we agree the method: wet or gel removal of the coating, or taking the boards down whole, and send a quote
- The room is sealed off and protected, and the coating is softened and removed without dry scraping or sanding
- The waste is bagged, the room is cleaned, and the waste goes to a permitted site with a consignment note
Test before you touch it
A small sample tells you whether the coating contains asbestos. If it doesn’t, your plasterer can carry on as normal. See Artex and asbestos: test, leave or remove.
Removing the coating or the ceiling
Sometimes it’s simpler to take the plasterboard down whole than to strip the coating. We’ll talk you through the options for your rooms.
Your options compared
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Test it | Knowing whether the coating contains asbestos | Needs a small sample taken with controls |
| Leave, skim or board over | Intact coatings with no work planned through them | The asbestos stays; record it for future work |
| Remove the coating | Smooth ceilings, renovation | Wet or gel methods only; larger-scale steam or gel removal is notifiable |
| Take the ceiling down | Damaged boards or full renovation | Boards removed whole; more waste |
What your quote should include
- What’s included: the areas, materials or samples
- The method and controls
- Waste disposal and the consignment note
- What you’ll receive afterwards
- Anything excluded, such as making good
- Whether VAT is included
Artex removal: questions
Does all Artex contain asbestos?
No. Many textured coatings don’t. Those applied before 2000 can, usually in small amounts. The only way to know is to test a sample.
Can I plaster over Artex that contains asbestos?
Skimming or boarding over an intact coating avoids disturbing it, but the asbestos is still there and needs recording for any future work. Don’t sand it smooth first.
Is Artex removal licensed?
Normally not, according to HSE. Larger-scale removal using steam or gel is notifiable non-licensed work, which has to be notified to the enforcing authority before it starts.
Do I need to move out?
The work area has to be cleared, segregated and protected while the work is done. You may be able to stay in the rest of the house; we’ll tell you when we plan the job.
Where do you work?
Across London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight. Find your area.
How do I get a quote?
Send us the postcode, what the material is and where, and photos if you can, through our quote form or call 07833 053 749.
Towns we cover
- London
- Brighton
- Guildford
- Canterbury
- Maidstone
- Tunbridge Wells
- Oxford
- Reading
- Southampton
- Crawley
- Redhill
- Croydon
- All areas
Every county page lists all the towns and villages we cover, listed A to Z.
Artex removal: ask for a quote
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Work planned to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE guidance
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Asbestos waste double-bagged or wrapped and taken to a permitted site