Asbestos testing ceiling?

letsbetfair

I've got an artex ceiling, which I'd like to test for asbestos. Anyone tried/recommend a home testing kit? I was thinking about something like this, but I've no experience with the company https://pennington.org.uk/surveying/asbestos-consultancy/asbestos-testing-kits/
I want a test as - assuming it's not asbestos - I'll sand then patch up a couple of blemishes to tidy it up. I'm almost sure it's not asbestos, but would feel happier sanding it once I am sure!

theartfullodger

Such a shame someone didn't skim it flat 2 months ago &  repaint whole room.

letsbetfair

  Fair point, though I'm wanting to patch it as it should be less work than a full skim and repaint (and I've kind of got used to the artex now!)

Phil4432

letsbetfair said:

I've got an artex ceiling, which I'd like to test for asbestos. Anyone tried/recommend a home testing kit? I was thinking about something like this, but I've no experience with the company https://pennington.org.uk/surveying/asbestos-consultancy/asbestos-testing-kits/
I want a test as - assuming it's not asbestos - I'll sand then patch up a couple of blemishes to tidy it up. I'm almost sure it's not asbestos, but would feel happier sanding it once I am sure!

Don't touch it yourself.  Get it tested by an asbestos company, then if you decide to have it removes you'll need someone professionally qualified to do so.

letsbetfair

Thanks. I'm 99% sure it's not asbestos, so this is just belt and braces before I create dust by sanding. Unless I'm missing something, with Covid at the moment it'll be riskier to have someone in the house then get a sample myself (though both seem v low risk)

davidmcn

Even if it does contain asbestos, about 99% of it isn't asbestos. It's hardly the same risk as e.g. insulation made mainly out of asbestos.

letsbetfair

Yeah - doesn't seem high risk, but I'd be happier sanding it if I know for sure what it is.
Just realised - should I have posted this on the 'in the home' board?

dimbo61

Sanding an artex ceiling is alot of hard work.
So why do you want to sand it in the first place ?
Leave well alone and if necessary get a good  painter and decorator to repair any damaged patches and paint the whole ceiling.
You can be out of the room for a day or two. 

letsbetfair

It's just a couple of chipped bits where I think the neatest solution would be to sand, fill and paint. Only a few cm per patch, so not a big job (and I'd definitely not want to sand down the whole ceiling - that would be a pain!) I'd be happier testing the material first, though

AdrianC

Wouldn't you just be sanding the filler to match the artex, rather than sanding the artex...?

letsbetfair

Thanks, and sorry about the slow reply. I think I'd also end up sanding the artex a bit for a good match. On the other hand, it looks like I'd need to take around three small samples to reliably test the ceiling - so would be causing more flaws than I'm wanting to fill! Figure I'll take this as an excuse to leave this as it is until I eventually get around to having the ceiling skimmed