Greater London · England
Artex Removal for Southwark
Need Artex removal in Southwark? We work across Southwark and the towns around it, with plain-English advice and a written quote.
- Loft conversions
- Coatings already disturbed
- Coatings damaged by leaks
Need Artex removal in Southwark?
What’s included, and what is not
So you know what to expect:
- Big jobs need notifying in advance, which affects the start date
- We test before removal, since a negative result changes everything
- We need the room cleared
If you are unsure, describe the job and send photos, and we’ll advise before booking.
Materials in Southwark
- Patched or painted coatings
- Ceiling roses and cornices (coated)
- Textured walls
- Swirl and stipple patterns
- Coated plasterboard
- Artex ceilings
Artex removal for Southwark properties
Artex and similar coatings are common on ceilings in Southwark, and older ones can contain a little asbestos. We test first, then remove the coating with controlled wet methods if needed. Typical materials include stipple finishes, coated ceiling roses and coated plasterboard, and people generally contact us about structural work through coated ceilings and ceilings due for plastering or skimming.
Textured ceilings are a common find in renovations in towns and villages like Southwark, sometimes hidden under later layers of paint. We start with a clear answer: what the material is, and what that means for your plans.
- Area
- Southwark (SE1, SE11)
- Region
- Greater London
- What we do
- Textured ceilings and walls
- You receive
- Lab result and consignment note
- Quotes
- A written quote before work starts
- Telephone
- 07833 053 749
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Typical Artex jobs in Southwark
Textured coatings were popular for decades because they hid cracks and uneven plaster, and some contained a small amount of white asbestos (chrysotile) for strength.
Buildings from before 2000 can hide asbestos in many places. Typical situations are:
- Coatings damaged by DIY
- Structural work through coated ceilings
- Coatings in the way of electrical work
- Ceilings due for plastering or skimming
For rented flats close to Elephant & Castle station, textured ceilings can be tested between tenancies.
What your quote should include
- What you will receive afterwards: a report, results or waste paperwork
- Whether the job needs notifying
- How the waste will be disposed of, and whether you will get a consignment note
- VAT, clearly stated
Towns and villages near Southwark
After the job
Tell your plasterer and electrician what was done.
Once you know what’s there, a few simple habits help:
- File the test result and waste note
- Plan where you’ll stay or work while rooms are closed off
- Keep pets away
- Book your plasterer after removal
Don’ts
Do not use a steamer or chemical stripper on an untested coating.
Plan testing before the renovation starts.
FAQs for Southwark
Do textured ceilings in Southwark homes contain asbestos?
Some older coatings do, and many do not. Only a test will tell you.
Do you cover Southwark and the area around Elephant & Castle station?
Yes. Elephant & Castle station is about 0.5 miles south of Southwark, and we cover both.
Do I get anything in writing afterwards?
It depends on what we do: a report for a survey, a lab result for a test, or waste paperwork for removal.
When can you start?
We agree a date when you accept the quote. Notifiable jobs can’t start until they’ve been notified.
Can I sand my Artex ceiling smooth?
Not until it’s been tested. Sanding or dry scraping an asbestos coating releases fibres.
What if asbestos is found during building work?
Work there should pause and the area be kept clear. We’ll identify it and advise on removal.
Can I put asbestos in a skip?
No: asbestos waste is hazardous and cannot go in skips, bins or recycling. It must go to a permitted site.
Could my home contain asbestos?
You can’t tell by eye. Laboratory analysis of a sample gives the answer, and anything from before 2000 is worth checking.
DIY and asbestos
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.
Working on a fragile asbestos cement roof is dangerous in itself, as well as an asbestos risk, so never climb onto one.
A closer look at the materials
Ceiling roses and cornices
Decorative mouldings are sometimes coated too.
Textured walls
Walls are treated like ceilings.
Weighing up your options
Skimming over Artex is an option, but never sand it first, and it remains in place. How easy the material is to reach affects the price, so tell us about access.
Why us?
- We identify first and remove only what needs removing
- Homes, rented property and workplaces
- Reports and results you can share
- Work planned to HSE guidance and the regulations
See how we quote and published price ranges.
What affects the price in Southwark
Every quote reflects:
- Access to the area
- Whether the work is non-licensed, notifiable or licensed
- The survey scope
- How much there is
Dealing with asbestos before building work is typically cheaper than finding it mid-job, when the whole project can be held up.
Helping us quote
Before you send photos, a few tips:
- Street parking nearby
- A rough size or measurement
- Damaged areas
- Labels, if any
Photos taken from a safe distance are fine: don’t touch the material, just send them through our quote form.
Artex removal around Southwark
Southwark is about 0 miles north-west of London, in Greater London. Anywhere in Southwark, just send the postcode, and we will quote. We cover all 764 towns and villages in Greater London.
Older homes across Southwark may have coatings added during past renovations. Non-domestic buildings like Charles Dickens Primary School should already have records of any textured coatings.
We handle Artex jobs in every part of the SE1 and SE11 postcode area. Local streets include Borough Square, Trinity Church Square and Merrick Square; we cover every one. Southwark is on the A300 and B240, which makes it simple to get to. Neighbouring places we cover include Tower Hill (1 mile north-east), City of London (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile north-east), Bishopsgate (1 mile north-east) and Barbican Estate (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles west).
Southwark 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.
Other landmarks nearby include County of London (1.1 miles north) and Baynard's Castle (0.8 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Ludgate Hill and Bellenden Road Nature Garden.
- Nearby schools include London School of Musical Theatre (within half a mile south-west) and Ark Globe Academy (within half a mile south-east)
- Places of worship nearby include St Mary-at-Hill (0.9 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Gladstone Arms (less than half a mile north-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include The BFI Reuben Library (0.9 miles north-west)
The process
We soften the coating and take it off by hand, with no sanding or dry scraping. We keep the work area clear of other people while we work, so children and pets should be kept elsewhere.
- Tell us which rooms and surfaces
- We test the coating if it hasn’t been tested
- 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
- Let us know where we can park
- Mention any damage before we arrive
- Clear belongings, but leave the material alone
Getting a price
You will get a written quote. Just call 07833 053 749 or use our quote form with the details, including any survey or test you already have.
Helpful guides
- 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