Asbestos Artex Removal: Textured Ceilings & Walls Removed Safely
First, confirm it actually contains asbestos
Not all textured coatings contain asbestos, and appearance cannot identify the material. Where confirmation is required, use an appropriate Artex sampling and laboratory-analysis route; the provider, scope and turnaround are confirmed for the individual instruction. The coating condition and planned task then help determine whether management, non-licensed/NNLW work or another contractor route is appropriate.
How we remove asbestos Artex
Method one: wet or steam stripping in place
Where the assessed job is suitable for our non-licensed or NNLW scope, the method is selected to minimise disturbance and fibre release. The exact controls depend on the coating, substrate, condition and work plan; the written quotation sets out the agreed method for that job.
Method two: removing the board with the coating attached
For some plasterboard ceilings, removing the board with its coating attached may be an option. Suitability and controls depend on the material, condition and assessed task; this is not a DIY dismantling method. Which method suits your room depends on the substrate, the condition of the coating, and what you plan to do with the ceiling afterwards: we recommend one in the written quote and explain why.
What the law requires
The legal work category depends on the material condition and the task. Textured-coating work may be non-licensed or notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW); if an assessed job is licensable, it must be carried out by an HSE-licensed contractor. The job-specific risk assessment and plan define the controls, waste route and any notification duties. You can read the three classes in plain English in our guide to UK asbestos regulations.
Sometimes the right answer is not to remove it
A sound, undamaged Artex ceiling that nobody is going to drill, sand or disturb can legitimately stay in place and be managed. A suitable encapsulation system may be an alternative, subject to assessment of the material, substrate, condition and future work. The asbestos remains in place and must be managed. It stops being the right answer when you plan downlights, a loft conversion, a wall removal or any work that breaks the surface, or when the coating is cracked, flaking or water damaged. We will tell you honestly which side of that line your ceiling sits on; our encapsulation-versus-removal guide sets out the trade-offs in detail.
Where we remove Artex
We remove asbestos Artex from homes and commercial premises across Surrey, London, Berkshire, West Sussex and the wider South East, working from our base in South Croydon. Contact us to confirm availability for your location.
County pages: London · Surrey · Berkshire · West Sussex · all areas
What affects the price of Artex removal
Area is the biggest driver: a single ceiling and a whole house of textured walls are different jobs: followed by the method (stripping in place versus reboarding), the condition of the coating, ceiling height and access, and how much furniture and flooring needs protecting or clearing. Whether the room is occupied or empty matters too. For current UK market ranges per square metre and against other job types, see our asbestos removal cost guide; for your ceiling, the only accurate figure is a written quote, which we provide free and without obligation.
What you get at the end
The handover depends on the agreed work. Asbestos waste follows the applicable hazardous-waste route, and customers receive the legally required paperwork applicable to the work and waste movement. Any laboratory, analyst or licensed-contractor documentation remains separate where those routes are used.
Common Questions
Does my Artex contain asbestos?
Possibly. Textured coatings applied before 2000 may contain asbestos, but appearance and age alone cannot confirm it. Where confirmation is needed, use an appropriate sampling and laboratory-analysis route rather than assuming the coating is asbestos-free.
Is asbestos Artex dangerous if I leave it alone?
A coating in good condition may be suitable for management in place if it will remain undisturbed. The risk arises when it is sanded, scraped dry, drilled or damaged. If you are not planning work that disturbs it and it is in good condition, managing it in place is a legitimate option.
Can I remove asbestos Artex myself?
Some textured-coating work can be non-licensed or NNLW, depending on the material condition and the task. Do not assume that a DIY method is suitable simply because an HSE asbestos-removal licence is not required; competence, risk assessment, controls and waste duties still apply.
Is Artex removal licensed asbestos work?
Textured-coating work is not automatically licensable. The classification depends on the material condition and task, so it may be non-licensed or NNLW. If the assessed work is licensable for another material or task, it must be carried out by an HSE-licensed contractor.
Can I just plaster over asbestos Artex?
A suitable encapsulation system may be considered after assessing the coating, substrate, condition and future work. Ordinary replastering is not automatically suitable. Encapsulation leaves asbestos in place, so remaining materials still need appropriate management.
What happens to the waste?
Asbestos waste is packaged, transported and disposed of through the appropriate hazardous-waste route. Customers receive the legally required paperwork applicable to the work and waste movement; the exact document set depends on the job.
Further Guidance
Request a Quote
Free site assessment for a no-obligation quotation. Licensable work must be handled by an HSE-licensed contractor.