During the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s builders and decorators looked to keep costs low, whilst producing a safe and aesthetically pleasing end product – this is where the likes of Artex, Wondertex, Newtex, Suretex, Pebblecoat and Marblecoat came to fruition. Although these textured coatings had many benefits, there was a major health issue with Artex.
In this guide, we explain what Artex is, whether Artex contains asbestos and how you can get your Artex ceiling tested.
What is Artex?
The term ‘Artex’ has come to be widely used in reference to a popular type of textured coating for interior decorating and design, but this name actually originates from the name of the company that produces the coating – Artex Ltd, who have recently had a rebrand at the beginning of 2024 and now have changed their name to Okarno.
Artex coating differs from plaster in that it was promoted as a material intended to receive a textured finish, which meant a ceiling could have a textured finish without plastering skills. It was widely used throughout the UK in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, but as times moved on its popularity declined due to health concerns. Artex can still be bought in 2022.
Does Artex contain asbestos?
Contrary to belief, not all Artex contains asbestos. Asbestos-free Artex was made available in 1976, however, some builders and decorators were still using Artex that contained asbestos (asbestos-containing Artex was discontinued in 1984). Although Artex and other products that created popcorn and other textured ceilings were banned in the 1980s, the installation of asbestos-contained Artex continued well into the 1990s.
All asbestos-containing materials (ACM) have been banned in the UK since November 1999, meaning any domestic or commercial buildings built or renovated before this time could contain asbestos. To the naked eye, humans can’t tell if Artex or popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, but you can get your Artex ceiling or wall tested by a professional.
How to tell if Artex contains asbestos?
Anyone (including asbestos surveyors), cannot be 100% sure whether any Artex decorative coating contains white asbestos just by looking at it with the naked eye. The reason for this is that asbestos was always mixed with other non-asbestos materials to create Artex and because the fibres are so minuscule, they cannot be seen or smelled. Asbestos would act as a strengthening and binding agent varying in amounts from product to product, but the average amount of asbestos in Artex was 3%.
Knowing this information, if you suspect your property was built or renovated before 2000 you should get the building surveyed and any Artex tested for asbestos. This will help reduce the risk of exposure to any ACMs.
How to get Artex tested for asbestos
If you have any Artex ceilings, walls or other areas containing textured finishes in a commercial property or your home, you should get an asbestos survey and potentially an asbestos test urgently.
At Blue Star Asbestos, we offer a complete range of asbestos services, providing all the information and guidance needed to locate and manage asbestos on your premises. Our licensed contractors, consultants and asbestos surveyors are all fully qualified to British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) nationally recognised standards for working with asbestos. Getting Artex tested in UKAS accredited laboratory is the only way to get a definitive answer as to whether your property contains asbestos.
