Greater London · England
Artex Removal in Barbican Estate
Any pre-2000 building in Barbican Estate may contain asbestos. We offer Artex removal, with testing first.
- Ceilings due to be knocked through or removed
- Ceilings before downlights go in
- Coatings damaged by DIY
Artex removal near Barbican Estate
How we work
If we are taking the boards down instead, they’re removed whole where possible. When we are done, we explain what happens next and what paperwork follows.
- Describe the coatings and rooms
- We sample each coating
- We plan the removal and send a quote
- The coating is removed with controls
- We clean up and send the waste paperwork
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions
- Mention any damage before we arrive
- Leave the suspect material alone until we arrive
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need? Send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749 and describe the problem, and we will advise.
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Artex removal in Barbican Estate
Left undisturbed, an intact textured coating is low risk. Trouble starts when it’s sanded, dry-scraped, drilled or knocked through, which is why testing first matters in Barbican Estate. Typical jobs include coatings damaged by leaks and ceilings before downlights go in, including coated plasterboard, coated ceiling roses and stipple finishes.
Textured ceilings are a common find in renovations in areas like Barbican Estate, sometimes hidden under later layers of paint. Small jobs get the same care as big ones, with the same attention to the regulations.
- Location
- Barbican Estate (EC1V, EC2A, EC1Y)
- Region
- Greater London
- What we do
- Testing and removal of textured coatings
- Afterwards
- Result and waste note
- Quote
- A written quote before work starts
- Phone
- 07833 053 749
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Artex in Barbican Estate homes
Barbican Estate is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. Barbican Estate is within our Greater London area, for Artex jobs of every size. We work in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London.
In older homes in Barbican Estate, textured ceilings were often added in later decades. If you’re refurbishing flats near Moorgate station, coatings can be tested while the flat is empty.
Wherever your property is in EC1V, EC2A and EC1Y, we can help with Artex removal. That could mean a property on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane. Main roads around Barbican Estate include the A1 and A40, so mention parking if the property is on one. Neighbouring places we cover include Finsbury (1 mile north), City of London (1 mile south), St Luke's (1 mile north), Bishopsgate (1 mile east) and Aldgate (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also work in City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles south-west).
Barbican Estate is in London, inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, where parking and loading can be restricted: let us know about parking and access when you get in touch.
A little further out are Gabriel's Wharf (1 mile south-west) and County of London (under half a mile south). Within reach you will find Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
- Schools near Barbican Estate include Charterhouse Square School (under half a mile north-west) and Central Foundation Boys' School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Places of worship nearby include St Mary-at-Hill (0.8 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Jugged Hare pub (under half a mile north-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Barts Health Archives (within half a mile south-west)
Should you do it yourself?
If you do find something during DIY, stop: leave the area, don’t clean it up, and ask for advice.
HSE’s advice to the public is not to try to repair or remove asbestos yourself. Higher-risk materials such as lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board must only be dealt with by an HSE-licensed contractor.
Responsibilities for owners
If you manage or own a block in Barbican Estate, the asbestos register for common parts should be kept up to date and shared with contractors, and condition checked regularly.
The duty to manage applies to non-domestic premises and common parts, not to single private homes, but anyone working on the property still needs to know about asbestos.
What it might be made of
Painted coatings
Paint often hides the coating, but the coating underneath is the same.
Ceiling roses and cornices
They’re included in the test if they’re coated.
Your options compared
Remove the coating, or the whole ceiling? Stripping keeps the ceiling; taking boards down whole can be quicker and cleaner in some rooms. Dealing with asbestos before building work is normally cheaper than finding it mid-job, when the whole project can be held up.
Why choose us
- Work done to the regulations
- Records for your files
- Waste paperwork for every removal
- Domestic and commercial work
Read our prices page and published price ranges.
Barbican Estate: your questions answered
Do textured ceilings in Barbican Estate homes contain asbestos?
Some older coatings do, and many don’t. Only a test will tell you.
Do you work near Moorgate station?
Yes, we cover Barbican Estate, including the streets around Moorgate station.
Can I sand my Artex ceiling smooth?
Not until it’s been tested. Sanding or dry scraping an asbestos coating releases fibres.
What’s the difference between a test and a survey?
A test answers the question for the materials sampled; a survey inspects the whole building or work area and records everything it finds.
Can you come if the asbestos is damaged?
Keep people away from damaged material and do not clean it up yourself. Then contact us for advice.
Do you work in flats?
Yes, of course. For shared areas, ask the managing agent about the asbestos register.
What if my house is newer?
Homes built after 2000 shouldn’t contain asbestos, as it was banned in 1999, though older parts, reused materials or earlier outbuildings can.
Can asbestos go in my bin?
Never: it’s hazardous waste. When we remove it, it’s taken to a permitted site with a consignment note.
The scope of Artex removal
We’re upfront about what’s included:
- Other materials may need their own approach
- Plastering and making good are generally separate jobs
- Untested coatings are tested first, because a clear result means ordinary methods can be used
If in doubt, ask: we’ll recommend a test, a survey or removal.
Materials we see
- Textured walls
- Ceiling roses and cornices (coated)
- Coated plasterboard
- Patched or painted coatings
- Artex ceilings
- Swirl and stipple patterns
How we price Artex removal
We base our quote on:
- The category of work
- The survey scope
- How easy it is to reach
- The size of the job
The cost of Artex removal depends on the job: the materials, the amount, access and what paperwork is needed. We quote each job individually.
Photos that help
Photos help us understand the job before we visit. Take them without disturbing anything:
- The access route
- Visible markings
- Street parking nearby
- A wide shot showing where the material is
Every job is quoted in writing. Fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749 with the details, including any survey or test you already have.
After the job
The ceiling or wall is left ready for your plasterer.
A few practical points:
- Keep the results and paperwork
- Each different coating needs testing
- Plan where you will stay or work while rooms are closed off
- Line up the plasterer for afterwards
What to avoid
Test before the builders arrive.
Never sand or dry-scrape Artex before testing.
Nearby places to Barbican Estate
Other services in Barbican Estate
- Identify it first: we test or survey before planning removal
- Planned to HSE guidance and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Asbestos waste double-bagged or wrapped and taken to a permitted site