Artex

[Bazile]

We Just had to force a mattress up the stairs , which was rubbing against a lower ceiling ; which has artex on it , causing some of the artex to rub/flake off .

Sitting here now i've just remembered that artex contains asbestos .

How worried should we be ?

[gingejbee]

Not at all.

[The Builder]

Artex hasn't contained asbestos since the mid 80s Baz. Do you think yours is older than that?

[gingejbee]

....compare it with thick toilet bleach, which contains toxic chlorine gas. Do you worry about using it?

[Zacs-Master]

bleach only gives off chlorine gas when mixed with other acids I believe.

[gingejbee]

...sodium hypochlorite solution releases chlorine QUICKER when acidified, but still releases it at other times....hence the smell!

[2sp_]

I wouldn't worry about it any more than breathing in car exhaust fumes, eating fruit sprayed with pesticides or eating mackerel.

In other words, I wouldn't worry at all.

:-)

[Bazile]

Thanks for your replies .

The Builder - i really cant remember i think it was in the 1980's , when it was applied to the ceiling .

I just got a bit worried , because our hands was covered with the dust form the Artex and it was all over the carpet - so we must have breathed the dust in as well ; and obviously the artex on the celing has been disturbed .

[The Builder]

Minimal risk Baz..... especially compared to ones the others have mentioned.

Hoover up the dust including the ceiling. If you fancy painting the ceiling, that's the usual way of isolating it safely.

[Bazile]

The Builder - thanks .

While i'm on the subject , we have also got artex on the living room and bathroom ceilings .

We are going to re-decorate the two rooms soon and would like to do something about the artex to get a smooth surface .
Would covering it with plaster board be the usual route to take , or what else would you suggest ?

[The Builder]

Sorry Baz... only just noticed your reply...

Over-boarding is fine, but there is no need.
Usual course is to skim over the Artex with standard finishing plaster. (The pink stuff.)
That works well if the stipple/pattern is not too "raised". If it is a bit deep, then a first coat of "Carlite Bonding Coat" is applied first............ then the skim.

[Alex_Higham]

Do as The Builder says and skim over at this stage with plaster. If you overlay with plasterboard you would, in my opinion, still need a top dressing of plaster; unless you cover the joints with tape and then paper over everything before finally painting.

[Bazile]

thanks