Asbestos in Artex ceiling

[Molly22]

Hi has anyone had artex ceilings with asbestos removed if so how much did it cost.
Im in the NE.
Thanks

Do you definitely want them removed, OP? Because it’s perfectly safe, and much cheaper, to just put a plaster skim over them and paint it. The asbestos remains sealed inside.

We haven't had ours removed yet but were quoted about £400 per room

i did lot of research on this topic and the safest option is to seal to by skimming over it.

I work with asbestos. Definitely consider getting it skimmed and sealed in as you first option before looking at removal. If undamaged it is perfectly safe.

They did stop using asbestos in artex though not sure what year but a fair while ago. Skimming is safe.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
We want to take a wall down between kitchen n dining room which would affect the artex ceiling.
Also concerned about issues if I want to sell it.

Can't remember how much ours cost to be removed but it was worth it for us. Didn't like the thought of the asbestos in the house "sealed" or not.

If you seal it you can't drill into it later .
We had ours removed and the ceiling replaced £800 each room

Thank you I feel the same dont like the idea of it in the house sealed or not.
Just concerned about the cost of removing it.
One national company has quoted £9000 eek.

Fear having it in the house is quite frankly ridiculous. It’s everywhere, there will be some in all sorts of bits and pieces in a house built pre 1970s and I say that as someone with a close relative who died of mesothelioma after spending years stripping asbestos with no safety equipment.

Seal it and don’t drill into it. We knocked down a wall between the kitchen and dining room, it will probably need a lintel so you just skim either side.

@Molly22 are they assuming your ceiling is AIB which is usually amosite and licensed work? As opposed to artex which is usually 1-4% chrysotile and non-licensed work....

What does the quote state?

Licensed work is on much nastier versions of asbestos and requires extremely high standards of work and protection such as negative air pressure enclosures where they seal the area into a massive plastic sheeted room. It can only be done by a licensed company with specially trained operatives, requires a site supervisor who doesn't go into the enclosure and a host of other rules including notification of the work to the HSE in advance. And it costs a fortune.

Non-licensed work is on the less evil version of asbestos (although it's all horrible) and although it has set standards for the work it doesn't require the full enclosure. Most of this will require trained staff, but it's not to anything like the onerous requirements for licensed work. The companies don't need a license, they just need to r competent. No notification required for HSE unless the work is enormous which is not likely in a normal home. This has a cost attached, especially for disposal, but isn't megabucks.

The quote is for just artex ceilings, freaked me out a bit too say the least.

Has it definitely got asbestos? They stopped using it back in the late 70s I think??
If it hasn’t, you can also plasterboard over it which might be cheaper. It just needs taping the joints and then painted.

I wont know for def re asbestos in artex until I can get a survey done which is probally going to be after we have bought the house.
Nearly pulled out when I got the quote.
Ive spoken to a local company who have quoted £2000 for the two ceilings.

9k is crazy! Look to small local reputable companies that specialize in this. They will be much cheaper.

Op you'd also need to move out of your house for several days whilst it's removed 😬 x

Well only if there is asbestos in it, they'd take a sample first to test it x

I hadnt thought about moving out as well.
Think its all becoming too much, need to get the survey done before I exchange contracts.
Should have done all this much sooner.
Thanks again everyone

Ours was done in a day. Asbestos ceilings removed, then lived with the open ceilings until the people turned up to replace them.

OneFrenchEgg
That wouldnt be as bad. Didnt fancy having to move out again.
Thanks again for everyones replies.

Survey doesn't cost much - 5 min to take small sample scrape to get results. We had 2 ceilings removed 1.5k. Took one day to do. Very clean. I stayed out the area till finished.

Asbestos wasn’t completely banned in the UK until 1999, and 2005 in Europe, so millions of houses contain it. It shouldn’t affect resale, as it’s so common.

the samples didn't take long, we suspected asbestos ceiling tiles in outbuilding so took 3 samples from different areas, 2 came back positive and it cost about £150, it was a kit with sample pots and some PPE iirc

I can’t believe people are paying all this money to have asbestos removed as they can’t bear the thought of it in their house. Undisturbed it is safe, it is the fibres that are an issue. All houses pre 1970s will contain it, it will still be there OP, even if you remove it from the ceilings. It’s probably in several other areas in the house. Water tank? Garage roof? Soffits? Insulation? Floor tiles underneath carpet or laminate?

Have then skimmed, don’t drill into them and use the money for something else that will doubtless need doing. It won’t affect resale if you sell it to someone sensible. Every single survey I’ve ever had (property developer) has red flagged the artex. I have it tested and a lot of the time no asbestos anyway, if it’s there then I skim.

Fear having it in the house is quite frankly ridiculous. It’s everywhere, there will be some in all sorts of bits and pieces in a house built pre 1970s and I say that as someone with a close relative who died of mesothelioma after spending years stripping asbestos with no safety equipment
Yup