What’s the deal with asbestos in Artex?
Asbestos was once seen as the wonder material of the construction industry: strong, flexible, durable, and highly fire-resistant. It quickly became a go to product and was used in everything from cement garage roofs, drainpipes and gutters, to vinyl floor tiles, adhesives, soffits, and insulation. It was even famously used as “snow” in The Wizard of Oz….mad when you think about it.
The thing is, asbestos comes in different forms, and each carries its own level of risk depending on the material and how it’s handled.
So where does textured coating finishes fit into all of this?
For years, Artex became the go to decorative finish in homes across the UK (we can save the “why?” for another blog). But as a general rule, if your Artex was applied pre 2000, there’s a possibility it could contain asbestos meaning, we need to approach it more cautiously.
A lot of people assume asbestos was banned in one go, but it wasn’t that simple. In the UK:
1985 — blue and brown asbestos were banned
1992 — stricter regulations came in for handling and exposure
1999 — a full ban was introduced, including white asbestos (chrysotile), which is the type most commonly found in textured coatings (artex)
So for me, anything pre-2000 gets a closer look.
Now, asbestos-containing materials don’t usually release fibres unless they’re damaged, disturbed, or deteriorating. That’s why drilling into it, scraping it back, sanding it, or removing it needs proper care and control.
From a plastering point of view, this matters. People often ask, “Can’t you just skim over it?” Sometimes yes it can be sealed and skimmed but, not always.
To plaster over Artex properly, it may need preparation first. That could mean scraping back high spots, repairing damage, or dealing with issues like leaks that may have weakened the plasterboard underneath. If asbestos is present, that prep work can disturb fibres and turn a simple skim into something much more complicated.
In short, if you suspect asbestos, don’t take the chance. Get it tested and assessed by a professional.
