Really worried about Artex

I thinks its generaly older Artex that contains asbestos, remember there are different types of asbestos, not all are considered dangerous. Many people will skim over the Artex to get a smooth ceiling, its easier than trying to chip the stuff off.

The GARAGE????!!

I honestly thought we had it bad in that most of our house had it everywhere. It had even been used on the "lie ins" of the upstairs bedrooms. The trouble was that it had been a DIY botch by the previous owners. It hung irregularly and some peaks were as long as six inches!

Luckily, if you can say that, we had a leak on our top landing so, being an insurance job, specimens were taken off to be analysed. It was all clear and they were able to do the work quite quickly.

The point I'm trying to make is that it is possible your ceilings were artexed more recently than when the place was built and, by the sounds of it, by an over enthusiastic DIYer. It's quite likely it doesn't contain asbestos but if you try your local authority website they may have details for environmental health that will do the test for about thirty quid.

In 1988 Asbestos was a well known hazard, so I doubt if yours will contain it. There were many Artex copies too, together with own-brand vesions.

Grinding/sanding it off can be very dusty, and soul destroying. The best method I have used, was to use a heat gun (paint remover type) and scraper as the version used in our house, became very plasticky when heated. The next not so dusty method is to chop off the largest points and then skim it, to smooth it off. I believe even Artex sell a smoothing compound to do just that. Usually artex is used to cover up all sorts of nasties.
Another alternative is to rip it all out together with the sub plaster or plasterboard, and replace it. Plasterboard is quite cheap, plastering an art.

HTHs dc

Genenerally buildings artexed since 1985 are not tested for asbestos but there have been cases where artexed used after this has been found to contain chrysotile fibres, the risk is minimal whilst the artex is in situ, it is only when the fibres become airborne that a risk is posed and then again very small, but to be safe you should have it tested, the cost can vary depending on where you are in the country but should be under £100, £65-£75 is about average for a single sample with a nominal fee for further samples around £12-£18 per additional sample, if positive then controlled removal is advised which is very expensive, around £1,100 for an average 15sqm room, more if it is applied to walls and stair bulkheads etc, as a previous poster has said in the event you had cause to claim for escape of water or accidental damage to the decor the insurance company would arrange and bear the costs of testing any and all artex coated surfaces they would be working on, this is to comply with their "duty of care" even if your claim is invalid they still have a duty to advise you of the results at no cost to yourself.
HTH

I would say it is unwise to remove such material yourself unless you can be positive it is free from asbestos which you obviosly cannot in this case, these fibres if they become airborne will hang around for years for you and your family to inhale, if you have a positive test the air will be tested before the environmental removal company leave when doing the removal.