Look up in many Coventry homes built or decorated between the 1960s and the 1990s and you will see it: a swirled, stippled, or ridged ceiling finish, often in a living room, hallway, or bedroom. Most people call it Artex, after the best known brand, though the word is now used for textured ceiling coatings generally. For a few decades it was a popular, inexpensive way to hide uneven plasterboard and imperfect joins. Today it is more often seen as dated, dust trapping, and awkward to paint.
There is also a more serious reason to treat these ceilings with care. Some textured coatings made before the end of the 1980s contained asbestos, and disturbing them the wrong way can release harmful fibres. This guide explains what that means in practice, what is and isn't safe, and what your options are if you want to update a textured ceiling in your home.
We want to be clear from the start: this is a safety topic first and a decorating topic second. If you are unsure what is on your ceiling, the right first step is always to stop and find out before sanding, scraping, drilling, or stripping anything.
What Is Artex?
Artex is a brand name for a decorative textured coating, applied in a thick layer over a ceiling or wall and then worked with a brush, sponge, comb, or other tool to create a pattern. Popular patterns include swirls, fans, stipples, and rough peaks. It was widely used in British homes because it was quick to apply, hid imperfections in the ceiling surface, and could be finished in a range of designs.
Over time, the name came to describe almost any textured ceiling coating, whether or not it was made by the original manufacturer. That matters for the asbestos question, because different products and different eras contain different things, and you cannot tell what is in a coating by looking at it.
Why Asbestos Is a Concern
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that was widely used in building materials for much of the twentieth century because it is strong, heat resistant, and cheap. Its dangers became clear over time. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious diseases of the lungs and chest, often appearing many years after exposure. Use of the most dangerous types was progressively restricted, and asbestos was eventually banned in the UK in 1999.
Some textured coatings sold before the mid 1980s contained a small proportion of white asbestos, known as chrysotile, mixed into the material. Asbestos was not fully banned until 1999, which means older stock and other products could still be in use after the main manufacturers changed their formulas. The practical conclusion is a cautious one: any textured ceiling or wall coating in a property built or decorated before 2000 should be treated as possibly containing asbestos until a test shows otherwise.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes clear, official guidance on asbestos in the home, including where it is likely to be found and what householders should and should not do. It is the best starting point for anyone worried about a textured ceiling.
Why the Risk Depends on What You Do
The key point, and one that reassures many homeowners, is that asbestos in good condition is not a hazard simply by being there. In textured coatings, the asbestos fibres are bound within the material, and an undamaged, intact coating is generally regarded as low risk if it is left alone.
The risk arises when the coating is damaged, disturbed, or broken up in a way that releases fibres into the air. Activities that can do this include dry sanding, scraping, drilling or cutting into the ceiling, using a heat gun or steam on the coating, and vigorous brushing or breaking it up during removal. Fibres that are released can stay suspended in the air and settle on surfaces throughout the home, which is why careless work in one room can affect others.
This is exactly why a decorator, or a homeowner, should never sand or scrape a textured ceiling in an older property as a matter of routine. What would be a simple preparation step on an ordinary painted ceiling can become a real hazard on a coating of unknown composition.
First Step: Find Out What You Have
If you have a textured ceiling and plan to change it, the sensible first step is to find out whether it contains asbestos. You cannot tell by looking, and the age of the property alone is not a reliable guide, since coatings may have been applied or reapplied at different times.
Testing involves taking a small sample of the coating and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. Sampling disturbs the material, so it is best done carefully, and many people prefer to have it carried out by a qualified professional rather than attempting it themselves. Look for a testing service that uses a laboratory accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), and ask how samples are taken and how results are reported.
If you are in rented accommodation, or the property is managed by a landlord or housing provider, they may already hold an asbestos record or survey, and it is worth asking. Non-domestic landlords and building managers also have a legal duty to manage asbestos. For landlords, our guide to landlord and rental redecorating in Coventry covers the wider responsibilities that come with preparing a property between tenancies.
What We Do When We Meet a Textured Ceiling
Our approach is deliberately cautious. When we visit a property with a textured ceiling that dates from before 2000, or whose age we can't establish, we do not sand, scrape, or otherwise disturb it. We explain the situation, recommend that the coating is tested, and discuss the options based on the result.
We do not remove suspected or confirmed asbestos containing materials. That is specialist work with its own regulation, and it should be carried out by suitably qualified contractors, with a licensed contractor required for some types of work. If a test comes back positive and the homeowner wants the coating removed, we can coordinate decorating around that work, in line with the sequencing we describe in our guide to the right order for a whole house renovation, once the specialist work is complete and the area has been cleared.
This caution applies to every job in an older property. It sits alongside the care we take over lead paint on pre-1960s joinery, which we cover in our guide to timber windows and doors, and our general approach of assessing a property honestly before work begins, as described in our guide to choosing a trustworthy painter and decorator in Coventry.
Your Options if the Coating Is Tested
Once you know what you have, the choices become clearer.
If the test is negative
If the coating is confirmed asbestos free, there are more options available, including careful removal, though textured coatings can still be messy and time consuming to take off. Many people prefer to skim over them instead, which we describe below, or to paint them as they are if the texture is acceptable.
If the test is positive
If the coating contains asbestos, the safest approach is usually to leave it undisturbed and manage it in place, unless it is damaged or you are carrying out work that would disturb it. HSE guidance explains how to assess condition and when to seek professional advice. The main options are as follows.
Leave it alone. An intact coating in good condition that is not being disturbed is often best left as it is. This is the lowest disruption route, and for many households it is the sensible choice.
Overpaint it. In many cases, painting over an intact textured coating with a roller, without sanding or scraping, is considered an acceptable way of refreshing it, and it does not disturb the coating. Surface preparation should be limited to gentle methods that do not abrade the surface, and it is worth confirming the approach against HSE guidance for your situation. A fresh, light coloured finish can make the ceiling feel brighter and cleaner without changing its texture.
Cover it. Overboarding, fixing new plasterboard beneath or over the existing ceiling in a way that does not disturb the coating, can create a smooth surface. This needs to be planned carefully, because fixing into the ceiling can disturb the material, and it should be done by someone who understands how to do it safely.
Have it removed by specialists. Where the coating is damaged, or you are planning building work that would disturb it, professional removal may be necessary. This should be carried out by suitably qualified contractors, who will contain the area and dispose of the waste properly.
Painting a Textured Ceiling
Where a textured ceiling is staying, whether it is asbestos free or has been left in place, it can be refreshed with paint. The technique is slightly different from painting a flat ceiling.
Textured surfaces hold a lot of dust and dirt, and they absorb more paint than a smooth surface. A thorough, gentle clean, using a soft brush or a vacuum designed to capture fine dust rather than a vigorous scrub, helps paint grip. A thick nap roller is better than a short one, because it pushes paint into the peaks and troughs of the pattern. Applying paint in thin, even coats, rather than loading a roller heavily, avoids drips and filling the texture unevenly.
A matt finish is usually the best choice, because it softens the shadows the texture casts and hides irregularities, in the same way a matt finish suits uneven walls, as described in our interior paint guide for Coventry homes. Pure white or a very light neutral reflects the most light, making a textured ceiling feel less heavy, particularly in smaller rooms.
Keep in mind that textured paint, once applied thickly, can fill in the pattern and may make any later removal more difficult. If you may want to skim or remove the ceiling in future, it is worth keeping coats thin.
Skimming Over a Textured Ceiling
One of the most popular ways to modernise a textured ceiling is to skim it, applying a thin layer of plaster over the existing surface to create a smooth finish. This is a skilled plastering job, and it is normally carried out by a plasterer rather than a decorator.
Skimming needs a stable, sound surface to bond to, and textured coatings are often treated first with a bonding agent so the new plaster grips. The question of asbestos matters here as well, because preparing a surface for skimming can involve disturbing it. If the coating has not been tested, it should be before any plastering work begins, and the plasterer should be told the result.
After skimming, the new plaster needs time to dry before decoration, following the principles we set out in our guide to decorating after an extension or loft conversion. A mist coat, followed by two coats of ceiling paint, gives a clean, smooth, contemporary finish once the plaster is dry.
Textured Coatings on Walls
Textured finishes were not limited to ceilings, and some homes have them on walls, particularly in hallways, stairwells, and older bathrooms. The same cautious approach applies: do not sand or scrape a textured wall coating of unknown composition, and treat it as potentially containing asbestos if the property is pre-2000.
It is worth distinguishing between these older, utilitarian textures and the modern decorative finishes we discuss in our guide to textured and decorative wall finishes, such as Venetian plaster and limewash. Those are deliberate, contemporary design choices applied with modern materials, not the legacy coatings that raise safety concerns.
Damaged or Crumbling Textured Ceilings
Sometimes the reason a textured ceiling comes up is that it has been damaged, perhaps after a leak, a house move, building work, or simply age. A ceiling that is flaking, crumbling, or shedding material is a different situation from one that is intact, because loose fragments can release fibres.
If a textured ceiling is damaged, and particularly if it may contain asbestos, avoid brushing, vacuuming with an ordinary household vacuum cleaner, or trying to repair it yourself. Keep the area as undisturbed as possible, keep people out of the room if material is falling, and seek advice before doing anything else. Water damage is a common cause, and our guide to insurance redecorating in Coventry explains how repair work after a leak is assessed and documented, including the importance of identifying the condition of existing finishes before work starts.
Building Work, Electrics, and Ceiling Disturbance
Many of the activities that disturb textured ceilings are not decorating at all. Fitting downlights, running cables, installing loft access, taking out a wall, or carrying out an extension all involve drilling, cutting, or breaking into ceilings. If a ceiling may contain asbestos, those jobs need to be planned with that in mind, and trades should be told about the ceiling before they start.
This is one reason testing early can save a lot of trouble. Knowing what is above your head before an electrician, builder, or plasterer starts work lets everyone plan properly, rather than discovering an unknown material halfway through a job. It also fits with the broader principle in our guide to garage conversion decorating, where the condition of existing structures needs checking before decoration is planned.
Do Not Do These Things
To keep the safety message simple, here are the things to avoid with any textured ceiling or wall coating that might contain asbestos:
- Do not sand it, wet or dry, as a routine preparation step.
- Do not scrape, chip, or pick at the coating.
- Do not drill or cut into it without confirming what it contains.
- Do not use a steamer or heat gun to soften and strip it.
- Do not sweep or use an ordinary vacuum cleaner on loose debris.
- Do not dispose of fragments in household waste.
If any of these have already happened, stay calm. A single brief disturbance is generally a low level of exposure, but it is worth stopping, keeping the area clear, and following HSE guidance on what to do next, and speaking to a professional if you are unsure.
Disposal and Local Rules
Asbestos waste cannot go in ordinary household rubbish, and it has to be handled and disposed of according to specific rules. Your local council can advise on what is allowed in your area, and any professional carrying out removal will arrange disposal as part of the work. Never put suspected asbestos waste in a skip, in household bins, or at a general waste facility without checking the correct procedure first.
Where to Get Reliable Advice
For clear, official information, the HSE's asbestos pages are the best first stop, and your local council's environmental health or building control team can advise on local arrangements. For testing, look for a UKAS accredited laboratory. For removal, ask for evidence of the correct qualifications and, where required, licensing, and obtain written confirmation of how the waste will be handled.
We are always happy to talk through what we see on a visit and explain what we would recommend, but we are not a substitute for a proper survey where one is needed. Our role is to decorate safely and to flag the right questions at the right time.
A Typical Visit to a Property With a Textured Ceiling
When a homeowner asks us about a textured ceiling, a typical visit goes like this. We look at the ceiling, ask about the age of the property and any previous work, and check its condition for damage. We explain, in plain terms, why we won't disturb it until we know what it is, and recommend testing if the property pre-dates 2000 or its history is unclear.
If the ceiling is intact and the owner is happy to keep the texture, we discuss overpainting with a roller, without abrasive preparation. If they want it smooth, we talk through skimming or other options, explain what must happen first, and agree the order of work with any other trades involved. Throughout, the household's health and safety comes before speed or convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I tell if my Artex ceiling contains asbestos? A: You cannot tell by looking. Properties built or decorated before 2000 should be treated as possibly containing asbestos until a sample has been tested by an accredited laboratory.
Q: Is it safe to paint over an Artex ceiling? A: An intact textured ceiling can often be painted with a roller without sanding or scraping, which does not disturb the coating. If you are unsure what it contains, get it tested and check HSE guidance first.
Q: Can I sand or scrape Artex to smooth it? A: No, not if it might contain asbestos. Sanding and scraping can release fibres, so the ceiling should be tested before any work that would disturb it.
Q: Can you skim over an Artex ceiling? A: Yes, a plasterer can skim over a textured ceiling to create a smooth finish, but the coating should be tested before preparation, and it needs time to dry before decorating.
Q: Do you remove asbestos containing ceilings? A: No. Removal of asbestos containing materials should be carried out by suitably qualified contractors. We can recommend testing and coordinate our decorating around specialist work once it is complete.
Talk to Us Before You Touch the Ceiling
If you have a textured ceiling and you are thinking about decorating, the best step is a conversation before any sanding or scraping begins. Brookes Painting & Decorating has been decorating homes across Coventry, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, and Warwick since 2005, and we would always rather pause and check than take a risk with your family's health. Get in touch through our contact page or call 07531509261, or see examples of our work on our photos page.