Artex!!

[davymcguire]

How do all, recently trained to do tiling and what do you know 1st job (my own bathroom) and i come across a problem! Bloody artex , can i trowel straight on top of this or does it have to come off. I know i could jst board over but jst thought i'd ask. I'm not to keen on trying to get the artex off as you can imagine as its a nightmare.
Your views would be of great help, cheers

[Sir Ramic]

You got to be careful it may contain Asbestos.

[dagger]

you can use a steam stripper to get it off, but as sir ramic says "it will proberbly contain aspestos".

[Colour Republic]

As Sir Ramic says be careful as some can contain asbestos.

What pattern is on the artex? got any pictures?

Artex can be removed with a steam stripper amougst other things

[Colour Republic]

Got there before me Dagger

[Sir Ramic]

Dont quote me on this but i think after about 1982 asbestos wasnt used in Artex so if you had an idea when it was done that may help. Yo would need to check those facts out though 1st.
As stated already a steamer is ideal, it still takes time and you need to be careful you dont hold te steamer on the wall too long as it can fetch the plaster off too !!

[jamie B]

agree with above posts re. asbestos..be careful!
as for getting ot off, if the steamer gives you no joy, i've been quite succesfull in the past by scoring (lightly!..mind the plaster!) with a stanley and bit of straight edge into a diamond pattern about every 10cm..then give it a good soaking with your sponge and hot water..leave as long as you can then you should find the scores will open a little and you can start scraping away with a good stripping knife. carry on wetting up as required. If you're lucky it comes off like wallpaper..if you're not it's a bit of elbow grease I'm afraid! best of luck!

[Colour Republic]

I believe you can buy your own testing kits off the internet know - don't know where from... I keep forgetting to have a look, I do it now while i remember

I wondered if there was a date when it was banned, thanks for that Sir (I won't hold you too it :wink: )

[davymcguire]

As Sir Ramic says be careful as some can contain asbestos.

What pattern is on the artex? got any pictures?

Artex can be removed with a steam stripper amougst other things

No pics but its the usuall loads of small circles circle effect they have went for

[Sir Ramic]

You could try this and it seems that it was the mid 80s when asbestos was done away with in Artex.
Eco Solutions...

Be warned it will be very expensive.

[mags]

Hard floor scraper scrape all the high bits off, PVA Yes i said it then skim with plaster

[davymcguire]

agree with above posts re. asbestos..be careful!
as for getting ot off, if the steamer gives you no joy, i've been quite succesfull in the past by scoring (lightly!..mind the plaster!) with a stanley and bit of straight edge into a diamond pattern about every 10cm..then give it a good soaking with your sponge and hot water..leave as long as you can then you should find the scores will open a little and you can start scraping away with a good stripping knife. carry on wetting up as required. If you're lucky it comes off like wallpaper..if you're not it's a bit of elbow grease I'm afraid! best of luck!

Cheers for the answer, i wish i could say the same for the joke but that wasnt even worthy of a xmas cracker lol

[Sir Ramic]

Hard floor scraper scrape all the high bits off, PVA Yes i said it then skim with plaster

No do not damage the Artex until you know what you are dealing with. Even drilling holes in it will expose Asbestos .

[davymcguire]

agree with above posts re. asbestos..be careful!
as for getting ot off, if the steamer gives you no joy, i've been quite succesfull in the past by scoring (lightly!..mind the plaster!) with a stanley and bit of straight edge into a diamond pattern about every 10cm..then give it a good soaking with your sponge and hot water..leave as long as you can then you should find the scores will open a little and you can start scraping away with a good stripping knife. carry on wetting up as required. If you're lucky it comes off like wallpaper..if you're not it's a bit of elbow grease I'm afraid! best of luck!

Cheers for the answer but you can keep your joke

[mags]

No do not damage the Artex until you know what you are dealing with. Even drilling holes in it will expose Asbestos .

Done it a few times now just wear a dust mask or use this http://www.ecosolutions.co.uk/xtex.html

[davymcguire]

thanks to all who took the time to answer to my cry for help lol, it is safe to say that i will not be removing it and prob jst board it out. cheers

[Sir Ramic]

Done it a few times now just wear a dust mask

Silly boy, they close sites down when asbestos is detected and then the specialist come in.

[Sir Ramic]

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
New asbestos campaign to be aired in November

[mags]

Silly boy, they close sites down when asbestos is detected and then the specialist come in.

If i dont do it someone else will and I need the money

[whitebeam]

You can't buy a spare set of lungs, as SR has advised.