3 Questions

GDB2222

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

For the Artex, do as clutton has advised and get a platerer to skim over it, though try and scrape some of the layers off as it'll be easier for the plasterer if the artex has been levelled off a little.

No, don't scrape it! Artex normally contains asbestos. It's quite safe if untouched, so either paint over it or plaster over it, but don't scrape it off.

BallandChain

I was going to ask why people are so anti-artex. Is that true that artex really does contain asbestos? I remember it being all the rage of the 80s.

Dithering_Dad

GDB2222 wrote: »

No, don't scrape it! Artex normally contains asbestos. It's quite safe if untouched, so either paint over it or plaster over it, but don't scrape it off.

Cheers GDB, I didn't realise that artex contained asbestos. I found this excellent info using google:

"Artex is a trade name for a 'stipple finish surface'.
Lots of local companies will remove it for you at cost. In the industry we assume it is dangerous and don't touch it at all, we test it. The test takes around 10 days to be discovered clear or not.

All 'Artex' has been free of asbestos for around 20-30 years now, so if it is new-ish then it will be clear. If you don't know how old it is, then you can get it tested. So use your judgement, if your house was built in 1990, then it will be clear!

Take caution if you suspect it has been there a long time. Asbestos generaly kills around 25-40 years after exposure, and it is the small dust particals that go deepest into the lung, that can cause a mesothelioma cancer, or lung function problems. There are different colours of asbestos, under a microscope the particles are either brown white or blue, all are fatal, all must be treated respectfully. Exposure will not harm you next week! But it is something you must bare in mind.

Tests cost around £30 per room, and local companies will test it for you. If you own your property and want to get rid of the stuff cheaply, I suggest you do the following.

Use a wallpaper steamer, steam it off carefully, get it very wet. Whilst it is wet it is harmless, and 'Artex' contains low levels of asbestos dust anyway, but still dangerous amounts.

As it is the dust that causes ill health, I would remove it wet, and steam it gently. Take your time and bag it up and seal the bags closed. Take them to the local tip and tell them they may be asbestos.
Red asbestos bags are available from GOOD suppliers of construction equipment, they will have 'asbestos do not open' written on them.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this in your home, then call an expert in.

At the moment there is nothing stopping you from removing it should you wish from a point of law. Never dump the substance rubbish though.

If the 'Artex' is in good condition, and not cracking up or flaking off, I would leave it.

If you really want to remove it, do it in such a way as not to create any dust. Bag it up whilst it is still damp, and add a small amount of water to each bag and seal the bag."

karenb31

Thanks DD!!
Its been like this for quite sometime, is it something I should get sorted straightaway sounds like I could get damp by leaving it?
I have a three bed semi detached house, do you know roughly what it costs to get pebbledash replaced?

Thanks again!

poppysarah

karenb31 wrote: »

Thanks DD!!
Its been like this for quite sometime, is it something I should get sorted straightaway sounds like I could get damp by leaving it?
I have a three bed semi detached house, do you know roughly what it costs to get pebbledash replaced?

Thanks again!

Ring round and get some quotes! And be prepared for horrors underneath

karenb31

Really???!!! OMG, does anyone know of any contacts in the Middlesex area?

Thanks!

poppysarah

Ring the council and see if they have a tradesafe list of workers

karenb31

thanks poppysarah, I dread stuff like this.....

npa

:mad:

This post has been reported for abuse. You cannot take images from my website and place them on here, all text and images on our website are copy protected, which is how we traced you by the way

REMOVE THIS IMAGE IMMEDIATELY.

G Bell
Owner

GDB2222

npa wrote: »

:mad:

This post has been reported for abuse. You cannot take images from my website and place them on here, all text and images on our website are copy protected, which is how we traced you by the way

REMOVE THIS IMAGE IMMEDIATELY.

G Bell
Owner

Are you talking about the before/after photo above? If so, you may not have a point on copyright. If you check the location of the photo, you'll find that it is actually at http://www.neverpaintagain.co.uk/articleimage.php?id=68

All this website does is include a link at the right place in the page to the photo which is on your website. Then the user's web browser goes and grabs the image and displays it as if it were part of this site. However, the image is never 'used' by this website, just a link to it is used.

I imagine the mods will do something about it for you, anyway, though.