Kent · England
Artex Removal for Hicks Forstal
Artex removal in Hicks Forstal and across Kent: Artex removal, with testing first, with written paperwork.
- Damaged or cracked coatings
- Walls before tiling
- Extensions that cut into ceilings
Need Artex removal in Hicks Forstal?
About our artex removal in Hicks Forstal
Sometimes it’s simpler to take the ceiling boards down whole than to strip the coating. We will explain which suits your rooms. Whether it’s ceilings coming down and walls before a kitchen or bathroom refit, we deal with textured walls, Artex ceilings and coated plasterboard and more.
Rural homes near Hicks Forstal have often been altered over generations, so coatings may date from earlier work. Every quote is in writing and spells out what’s covered, so there are no surprises.
- Where
- Hicks Forstal (CT3)
- County
- Kent
- What we do
- Testing and removal of textured coatings
- Paperwork
- Test result and waste paperwork
- Quotes
- Quoted individually, in writing
- Call
- 07833 053 749
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Duty holders and landlords in Hicks Forstal
Duty holders for workplaces and the shared parts of flats in Hicks Forstal must manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. That means finding it, assessing it, recording it and planning how to manage it.
Landlords of single homes do not have the same duty to manage as non-domestic duty holders, but contractors still need to know about asbestos before they work.
Also near Hicks Forstal
What else we do in Hicks Forstal
Which option is right?
What are the options for Artex? Intact coatings with no work planned can often stay; if you want smooth ceilings or need to cut into it, removal is typically better. Our quotes are clear about VAT.
How we work in Hicks Forstal
- Jobs planned to HSE guidance
- Plain-English advice, including when to leave things alone
- Clear written quotes
- We identify first and remove only what needs removing
Read how we quote or the cost guide.
Should you do it yourself?
Sanding, drilling, cutting and jet-washing are the worst things you can do to asbestos materials, so avoid them completely.
Home testing kits exist, but you have to disturb the material to use one. HSE recommends a competent person takes samples.
What happens next
The ceiling or wall is left ready for your plasterer.
If asbestos stays in the building:
- Line up the plasterer for afterwards
- Plan around the closed rooms
- Test every different coating
- Keep the results and paperwork
Don’ts
Do not sand, scrape dry or wire-brush a textured coating before it’s been tested.
Plan testing before the renovation starts.
FAQs for Hicks Forstal
Do you cover Hicks Forstal and the area around Sturry station?
Yes. Sturry station is about 2.2 miles south of Hicks Forstal, and we cover both.
Is asbestos common in Hicks Forstal homes?
Any home in Hicks Forstal built or refurbished before 2000 can contain asbestos, but you can’t tell by looking. Garage roofs, Artex, floor tiles, soffits and flues are typical examples.
Does weather affect the work?
Indoor work isn’t affected. Outdoor roof work can be delayed by strong wind or heavy rain.
Do you give written quotes?
Yes, every quote is in writing and says what’s included, including whether VAT is included.
My builder has found asbestos. What now?
Work there should pause and the area be kept clear. We’ll identify it and advise on removal.
Is it better to remove the coating or the ceiling?
Both are options: the right choice depends on the room. We will recommend one for each room.
Can I plaster over Artex that contains asbestos?
Covering it is an option if it’s intact, but do not sand it first, and record that it’s there.
Does asbestos always have to come out?
Not always. Sound material that won’t be touched can often stay, as long as it’s recorded.
Artex in Hicks Forstal homes
Hicks Forstal is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. Properties in Hicks Forstal range from older houses to newer estates and commercial buildings, and anything from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
Non-domestic buildings like Spires Academy should already have records of any textured coatings. Hicks Forstal is within about 3 miles of the coast, though indoor coating work goes ahead whatever the weather.
This part of Kent takes in CT3. For properties just outside Hicks Forstal, we cover Calcott (1 mile south-west), Herne Common (1 mile north), Knave's Ash (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile north) and Bullockstone (1 mile north-west). We also cover nearby towns such as Canterbury (4 miles south-west), Margate (12 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include St Martins Hospital (3.9 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (4.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Step by step
The coating is softened with water, steam or gel and removed with hand tools, never sanded or scraped dry. At the end, we tell you what was done and what happens next.
- Tell us which rooms and surfaces
- We test the coating if it hasn’t been tested
- We plan the removal and send a quote
- We seal off the room and remove the coating wet
- The room is cleaned and you get the paperwork
Preparing for the visit
- Ensure we can get to the area
- Dig out previous surveys
- Mention any parking restrictions
Get a quote
Unsure whether you need a test, a survey or removal? Fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749, and we’ll recommend the right option.
Related guides
Good to know
So you know what to expect:
- Untested coatings are tested first, since a negative result changes everything
- The room being worked on has to be empty and sealed off
- Other materials may need their own approach
Not sure what you need? Send us photos and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Common materials
- Coated plasterboard
- Ceiling roses and cornices (coated)
- Textured walls
- Patched or painted coatings
- Swirl and stipple patterns
- Artex ceilings
What it costs
When we quote, we look at:
- Material and condition
- How easy it is to reach
- The category of work
- The size of the job
We don’t publish a price list, because jobs vary so much. Our cost guides show published ranges, with dates and sources.
Photos that help
To help us quote quickly, send:
- A clear close-up
- Approximate dimensions
- A photo of the whole area
- Any damage, cracks or broken pieces
For an accurate quote, tell us what you’ve found, where it is and what you are planning. Use our quote form or call 07833 053 749.
Where asbestos turns up
Most problems come during renovation: sanding to smooth a ceiling, scraping it off dry or drilling for lights.
These are the materials and situations that most often lead to Artex jobs:
- Loft conversions and extensions
- Damaged or cracked coatings
- Landlord refurbishments
- Coatings scraped during DIY
If you’re refurbishing flats near Sturry station, coatings can be tested while the flat is empty.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is included
- The documents you will receive
- Where the waste goes, with paperwork
- What isn’t included
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Done to the regulations: HSE guidance and CAR 2012
- Paperwork for your records: reports, lab results and consignment notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site