OMG I did not know this!!!! Did you?

[Treegle]

I've just discovered that it's possible for artex to contain asbestos!! I never knew this! And my dad worked as a painter and decorator for many years!! Is this common knowledge?!!!

"I think it used to, but anything artexed in the last few decades surely wouldn't have it in?"

Surely nothing has been artexed in the last few decades?

Yeah I knew this, because I've watched far too much homes under the hammer in my life. I'd hope any decorator would know as well.

Yes, I knew this. The house I currently live in had artex everywhere so got a plasterer to skim fresh plaster over it. Worked amazingly well, I’m not sure why anyone would go to the trouble of scraping it off when it’s easier and safer to cover cover it with new plaster.

So, am a bit of an armchair expert on this (thanks 1950s house).

Yes, artex commonly contained asbestos for a time. However, it was being variously banned from use from the early 80s, so late 80s people you might well just have artex without it.

As many people on here have pointed out it's fine if unbroken/undisturbed, also artex commonly had a very low level of asbestos in it anyway.

@duplocupcake I had a very similar experience before I did a lot of research, I've come to peace mostly with the fact that I can't undo it and a couple of low level exposures is less likely to be be a problem.

Asbestos use was totally banned in the 2000s so anything after then is fine.

On the not knowing note, it's worth educating yourself on the other places it could be in your house, as there are lots worse versions of it you could have, eg. flaking lagging on pipes, floor tiles, as then if you're aware you can just get it tested and removed if needed.

Sorry should say floor tiles actually usually have quite low levels, lagging on pipes/other insulation a much worse version.

@CadburysTastesVileNow You'd think that wouldn't you. In laws may like artex and have new stuff done!

Oh, god, my first flat had an artex ceiling in the bedroom - with a big crack running along it. I got some rather unskilled plasterers to come and bond it back up and then skim the ceiling with plaster.

Exposure has to be prolonged, apparently. www.nhs.uk/conditions/asbestosis/

Also worth remembering that even if you are exposed to it, it doesn’t mean that your body will turn it into anything. My Nan died from asbestos exposure from washing my granddads work clothes. Grandad would have been breathing it in all day long but lived a long and healthy life.

Thank you LeatherFace :)

Asbestos is only dangerous if disturbed. If left in situ and no damage occurs then it is OK.

As others have suggested, it can often be plastered over.

My uncle has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma ( lung cancer only caused by asbestos) he spent the whole of the 80s artexing ceilings! It's such an aggressive disease that lies dormant for over 20 years then comes at you with a vengeance. Poor guy has worked hard for his family his whole life and this is what he gets for it
Talcum powder also contains asbestos we have found out from his consultant and Johnson's and Johnson's have recently been fined millions

Whaaaaa talcum powder?? That's it, I'm fucked.

I'm very sorry to hear about your uncle

It was finally banned in 1999.

It has been found in buildings as new as 2002 as materials have been used up.

It is in a lot more than just artex.

No-one scrapes off Artex, you'd take half the way away with you or die trying (not of Abestos poisoning, just losing the will to live.) It's always skim plastered over.

Yeah we looked at sorting out the artex in our house. It was really spikey which couldn't just be skimmed. One person we got in to quote would have had it tested etc which I expected. Another was happy to merrily scrape all the points off before skimming it. We ended up selling the house so it's not our problem now but I was amazed at the guy who was happy to fill my house with asbestos dust!

I knew because I work in construction. Wouldn't have a clue otherwise!

God I wish I hadn't read this thread, as we have artex (we've been tested a few times and when we were rewired a few years ago they made a fuss about not going through the ceilings after their report).

Our stairs/hall at top of stairs, has paint coming peeling off, and I'm now terrified for DC that the prolonged exposure to peeling paint that's over the artex will harm them.

When our kitchen ceiling fell in I went out with baby DD as men with suits came, large plastic tunnel to the front door etc. The man doing it said it was protocol, but realisitically there wasn't enough asbestos to harm us even in the all the ceilings. But now terrified!

Very sorry to hear about your uncle Donnadon :(

I was told by our plasterer that if it’s painted & not disturbed it’s safe. He painted a sealer over the emulsioned walls & ceiling then plastered. That was 20 years ago.

It has also historically been in the pad under the draining board, and also on ironing boards. (Old ones)

We've just had a home lift installed, and they had to send experts round to check the ceiling before they cut the hole for the lift.

Eeek didn't know this and we pulled down a lot of Artek ceilings in our old house

@Babyfoal - I know I inherited my nan's ironing board, and was happy using till someone told me.

Used to be in brake linings, clutches etc of old cars.

My old neighbour took the asbestos off his shed roof (they all had asbestos rooves), by sawing it! Lots of dust!

Still panicking about the flaking paint in the hall (I can't reach to paint it, and scared if I do I will get covered in the stuff).

My neighbours moved a couple of weeks ago and they had asbestos removal people there, no poly tunnels though, and I of course panicked about dust particles coming through our loft, or through the wall (maybe a bit panicky/anxious right now).