How To Remove Artex Ceiling With Asbestos In Sussex

If you live in Sussex, and your home was built before 2000, chances are that your Artex ceiling is coated with asbestos. This is a serious health hazard, as asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a cancer caused by inhaling the asbestos fibers. For that reason, it's important to remove the Artex coating from your ceiling to ensure a safe living environment for you and your family.

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, we're a team of professionals who provide top-quality asbestos removal services to homeowners across Sussex and the South East of England. In this guide, we'll explain how to efficiently remove Artex coating from your ceiling without endangering your health.

Understanding Artex and Asbestos

Artex is a textured wall and ceiling coating that was hugely popular from the 1960s to the late 1980s. It consists of gypsum, magnesite, and asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used in a variety of building materials, including ceiling coatings.

Asbestos doesn't off-gas, making it safe for use in many applications, but the fibers can become airborne if the coating is disturbed or removed, which can cause kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis if inhaled. For that reason, the UK government banned the use of asbestos in 1999. However, many older homes still have Artex on their ceilings that contain asbestos, posing a significant risk to homeowners.

Asbestos Removal: Tex vs. Non-Tex

If you have a Tex Artex ceiling, removing the asbestos in the Artex coating is challenging since it's woven into the textured coating. On the other hand, if you have a non-tex ceiling, it's simpler to remove the Artex coating. Tex Artex ceilings contain up to 6% asbestos by volume, while non-tex ceilings have less than 1% asbestos.

If you're uncertain whether your Artex ceiling contains asbestos, it's crucial to get it tested before removing it. Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex can help you test your Artex coating and advise you on the best course of action.

Removing Artex from Your Ceiling

The following are the steps in removing Artex from your ceiling:

Step 1: Clear the Area

Protect yourself and your home by clearing the area around the work area. Remove furniture, carpets, and any decorative items from the room. Cover the floor with plastic sheeting, making sure to overlap it by at least 8 inches, in case an accidental spill occurs. Finally, empty your loft of any items that you may need.

Step 2: Turn Off The Electricity

Before you start to work, you must turn off the electricity connected to the room or rooms where you're planning to remove the Artex coating. This includes electrical outlets, light fixtures, and any other electrical connections.

Step 3: Wear Protective Clothing

Asbestos fibers are tiny and can easily get inside your body, but adequate protective gear can help minimize the risk. Wear a disposable coverall, gloves, and goggles when removing the textured ceiling.

Step 4: Wet the Ceiling

Spray water on the Artex coating using a garden sprayer. For small areas or isolated sections, use a spray bottle. This helps to keep the dust down when you're removing it.

Step 5: Remove the Artex Coating

Use a paint scraper to remove the Artex coating from the ceiling. Work in short periods of 30 minutes, taking a break of a minimum of 20 minutes between each interval. This helps to prevent fatigue, reduces inhaled dust particles and helps you maintain a steady pace.

Step 6: Clean Up the Mess

Once you're done removing the Artex coating from the ceiling, it's crucial to clean up any mess that remains. Use a vacuum cleaner with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to ensure all dust is captured, making the air safe to breathe.

Use Safe and Effective Products

The safest way to remove Artex from your ceiling is by using a safe and effective product. At Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, we use Artex remover products that are designed safely to remove Artex coatings without affecting the ceiling structure.

Our professional team will manage the removal process from stage one to the final clean-up stage, making sure your home is safe, and in compliance with UK health and safety regulations.

Conclusion

Artex ceiling coating presents a significant health hazard if it contains asbestos. Removing such coatings is a challenging task that needs the protection of the homeowner, the house occupants, and specialized knowledge. Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex is a reliable and trusted partner in such situations.

Contact us today on 01273 978238 or via email on [email protected] to book an appointment or make any inquiries. Visit our website at affordable-asbestos-removal-sussex.co.uk for more information on all our asbestos removal services. Let us help you make your home a healthy and safe place to live.