Artex ... but not??

onedayiwill

rhubarb cottage - it's interesting, when we moved in here we expected (in the rooms with wallpaper) that we would have to peel off layer after layer as you say ... in actual fact, in the rooms with wallpaper there has been only one layer (looking distinctly 1970s!!), and below that, chipped & scratched, the orginal 1930's art deco paintwork.

There have only been two occupants before us - a family with 4 daughters from the time the house was built until the mid 1950's, and then a married couple with no children - so I guess they never got in the habit of paper over paper over paper. Which makes me wonder even more why they would put artex over expensive hessian! I love finding out things about this house and imagining the folk who lived here before!

Tucker

I'd go for it and rip it off myself.

rhubarbcottage

Hmmmm,

This requires a good nights sleep and a chat with a family pal who knows more about hessian than me

I'll check in tomorrow and look at those photos again after a chat with said pal.

---

" Curiouser and curiouser" cried Alice.........

---

wallbash

So everyone, if it were you would you just rip it off the wall or would you apply more caution?

If its paint no danger ( even if its lead paint , you are unlikely to chew it )

If its artex , dont sand , wear a mask rip it off , extra peace of mind keep it damp .

I wonder when you get behind the hessian , it will peel off ???

Edinburghlass_2

All my ceilings are papered with a heavy textured wallpaper that has a similarity to artex along with the fact there is not a joint to be seen. From your pictures I'd say its hessian, then paper and a few coats of paint so I'd strip it off but as you'll probably find parts of the wall will come off with the hessian so I'd get the walls skimmed after removal for a good finish.

Yorkshire_Bred

Yes I would go with what others have mentioned, it definately looks like a textured finish over hessian.

Hessian was usually applied using quite strong adhesive (which went on direct to the wall before hanging) so the use of a steam stripper may be needed - this will also serve to keep dust to a minimum if you susspect it contains asbestos.

There is some good advice regarding the self removal of asbestos related products on the directgov site

ormus

there are many other textured paint finishes besides artex powder. it could be any of those.
my action would be to just strip it all off, down to bare plaster. use a steamer if required. (dont sand it).
then assess the situation.