Artex
Encyclopedia
Artex is a surface coating used for interior decorating, most often found on ceilings, which allows the decorator to add a texture to it. The name Artex is a trademark of Artex Ltd.
, a company based in the UK. The name is a genericised trademark often used to refer to similar products from other manufacturers. Since 2005, the company has belonged to France's Saint-Gobain
group.
Artex is still sold today, but the textured ceiling finishes are a good deal less popular.
One issue with artex ceilings is that matching the pattern seamlessly when repairing is impossible. The poor appearance of repaired ceilings did artex's popularity no favours.
to strengthen it. This means that only old artex manufactured by Artex Ltd will contain asbestos and most probably any Artex applied within the last 25 years will not contain any harmful material whatsoever. It is also worth noting that the texture is only harmful when in a powder form (i.e. being sanded) and poses no risk whatsoever while it is undisturbed on ceilings or walls and covered with emulsion paint.
Removing even more modern non-asbestos coatings can expose the operator to hazardous dust particles. Older coatings, containing asbestos, pose a particularly serious hazard. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers
can cause asbestosis
, a fibrosing lung disease, pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining (pleura) of the lung, and peritoneal mesothelioma
, a cancer of the lining (peritoneum
) of the abdomen. Those removing the coating or working with a surface covered with it should wear effective dust-proof protective clothing and masks – and the area being worked on should be sealed off. Professional advice is advisable. Removal of Artex is covered by the UK’s Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 2006, which make it illegal (if it contains asbestos) for a contractor not licensed by the country’s Health and Safety Commission to undertake most work on asbestos coatings. However this has been recently reviewed.
In the UK, once removed, Artex and any other substance containing asbestos must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If the coating is left alone and coated with paint and undamaged, it may be safe to leave the coating in place and managed 'in situ' by annual inspection. Plastering over the coating may ensure it is safely encapsulated and the national website at artex.co.uk can help with this.
Artex Ltd.
-History:Artex was started in 1935, with the name Artex coming from the two words: artistic and texture.Artex became part of the BPB group of companies in 1966. It merged with Blue Hawk in 1997. Blue Hawk had been bought by BPB in 1972...
, a company based in the UK. The name is a genericised trademark often used to refer to similar products from other manufacturers. Since 2005, the company has belonged to France's Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain S.A. is a French multinational corporation, founded in 1665 in Paris and headquartered on the outskirts of Paris at La Défense and in Courbevoie. Originally a mirror manufacturer, it now also produces a variety of construction and high-performance materials.The company has its head...
group.
About Artex
Artex differs from plaster in that it was marketed as a material intended to receive a textured finish, thus enabling a ceiling to be finished without plastering skills. Artex was very widely used in Britain in the 1970s, mainly with the familiar stippled & swirled patterns. Sometimes it was even seen on walls, but a fall onto such a wall is not a pleasant experience.Artex is still sold today, but the textured ceiling finishes are a good deal less popular.
One issue with artex ceilings is that matching the pattern seamlessly when repairing is impossible. The poor appearance of repaired ceilings did artex's popularity no favours.
Artex and health risks
Until the mid-1980s, the Artex coating was made with white asbestosChrysotile
Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in place in the United States and a similar proportion in other countries. It is a soft, fibrous silicate mineral in the serpentine group of phyllosilicates; as such, it...
to strengthen it. This means that only old artex manufactured by Artex Ltd will contain asbestos and most probably any Artex applied within the last 25 years will not contain any harmful material whatsoever. It is also worth noting that the texture is only harmful when in a powder form (i.e. being sanded) and poses no risk whatsoever while it is undisturbed on ceilings or walls and covered with emulsion paint.
Removing even more modern non-asbestos coatings can expose the operator to hazardous dust particles. Older coatings, containing asbestos, pose a particularly serious hazard. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers
Asbestos fibers
Asbestos fibers are released from asbestos containing materials . Friable asbestos containing materials release fibers more readily than encapsulated asbestos containing materials.- Determining airborne asbestos fiber levels :...
can cause asbestosis
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers...
, a fibrosing lung disease, pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining (pleura) of the lung, and peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.The peritoneum is made of two...
, a cancer of the lining (peritoneum
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
) of the abdomen. Those removing the coating or working with a surface covered with it should wear effective dust-proof protective clothing and masks – and the area being worked on should be sealed off. Professional advice is advisable. Removal of Artex is covered by the UK’s Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 2006, which make it illegal (if it contains asbestos) for a contractor not licensed by the country’s Health and Safety Commission to undertake most work on asbestos coatings. However this has been recently reviewed.
In the UK, once removed, Artex and any other substance containing asbestos must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If the coating is left alone and coated with paint and undamaged, it may be safe to leave the coating in place and managed 'in situ' by annual inspection. Plastering over the coating may ensure it is safely encapsulated and the national website at artex.co.uk can help with this.