Asbestos in Textured Coatings (Artex): Risk Assessment, Licensed vs Non-Licensed Removal and Overskimming

Summary

Textured coatings were one of the most widespread uses of asbestos in UK domestic and commercial buildings between the 1950s and 1980s, with chrysotile used as a reinforcing filler in products including Artex, Wondertex, Pebblecoat, and numerous own-brand equivalents. Although Artex reformulated its products to remove asbestos in the mid-1980s, coatings applied before 2000 should be presumed to contain asbestos unless a sample analysis proves otherwise — because post-1985 asbestos-free products were often applied over earlier asbestos-containing coatings, and because many buildings still have the original 1960s–1980s coatings undisturbed.

Textured coatings containing asbestos are a lower-risk material compared to friable insulation or lagging, because the fibres are bound into a hard matrix. An undamaged textured coating on a ceiling in good condition poses negligible ongoing risk to occupants — the fibres are not being released into the air. The risk becomes significant only when the coating is mechanically disturbed: scraped, sanded, steam-stripped, or broken. The method of work determines whether the task is non-licensed, NNLW, or requires a licensed contractor.

Tradespeople most likely to encounter textured coatings include plasterers, painters and decorators, kitchen and bathroom fitters, electricians making ceiling penetrations, and anyone involved in domestic renovation. All of these trades have a legal duty to identify whether a textured coating contains asbestos before undertaking any work that will disturb it, and to work safely if it does.

Key Facts

• Date threshold — coatings applied before 2000 should be presumed to contain asbestos unless sampled; most risk is in coatings from 1960–1985
• Asbestos type — chrysotile (white asbestos) is the type found in most UK textured coatings; amosite and crocidolite were rarely used in coatings but cannot be ruled out without analysis
• Typical asbestos content — 2–5% by weight; some older products contain up to 6%
• Chrysotile bonding — in a textured coating the chrysotile is firmly bonded in the matrix; undamaged coatings release very few fibres if left alone
• Sampling — a sample of approximately 1–2 cm² is sufficient for laboratory analysis; samples should be taken using a damp cloth to minimise dust, and the hole sealed with PVA sealant immediately after
• UKAS-accredited lab — samples must be sent to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis; bulk sample analysis by polarised light microscopy (PLM) is the standard method
• Overskimming — applying a plaster skim coat over an undamaged textured coating is widely accepted as a safe low-risk option; it encapsulates the fibres and does not disturb the coating
• Painting — painting over an undamaged textured coating is safe and does not require asbestos controls
• Wet scraping — wetting the coating thoroughly with water or a dilute PVA solution reduces fibre release significantly
• Dry sanding or machine scraping — produces high concentrations of airborne fibres; classified as higher risk; in most circumstances requires a licensed contractor
• Steam stripping — softens the coating and can cause significant fibre release; treated as licensed work in most cases
• Area threshold — there is no absolute area limit in the regulations that moves textured coating work from NNLW to licensed; the method of work and expected fibre release determine the classification
• Control limit — 0.1 f/cm³ over 4 hours; textured coating removal by wet scraping can approach or exceed this limit in confined spaces
• Duty to manage — building owners have a duty under CAR 2012 Regulation 4 to manage asbestos in their premises; in domestic properties this primarily applies to landlords
• Encapsulant sprays — commercial asbestos encapsulant (not standard decorating products) can be used to stabilise a damaged textured coating before work commences

Quick Reference Table

Detailed Guidance

Identifying Textured Coatings That May Contain Asbestos

Visual inspection alone cannot confirm whether a textured coating contains asbestos. The surface appearance — orange peel, stipple, skip trowel, swirl — gives no indication of asbestos content. Even laboratory analysis of a sample from one area cannot guarantee that the rest of the ceiling was applied at the same time or with the same product. Multiple samples from a large ceiling area are advisable.

The date-based presumption is the safest starting point: if the coating was applied before 2000 and has not been fully replaced, assume it contains asbestos until proven otherwise. The cost of a laboratory analysis (typically £20–£50 per sample at a UKAS-accredited lab [verify current market rates]) is trivial compared to the cost of non-compliance or remediation following a fibre release incident.

When taking a sample:

1. Put on an FFP3 mask before disturbing the coating
2. Dampen a small area (approx 2 cm × 2 cm) with a fine water spray
3. Using a clean sharp knife or scraper, take a shallow scraping of the coating down to the substrate
4. Place the sample into a sealed polythene bag or small container immediately
5. Seal the hole with PVA or filler before leaving
6. Label the sample with the location, date, and job reference
7. Send to a UKAS-accredited laboratory

Retain the laboratory certificate as part of the job file. This certificate is your evidence that you have fulfilled your duty to identify asbestos before work.

Risk Assessment for Textured Coating Work

A risk assessment must be made before any work that may disturb a textured coating. The assessment must consider:

1. Is asbestos present? — confirmed by analysis or assumed by date/location
2. What is the condition of the coating? — undamaged and adhering well (lower risk) vs. flaking, crumbling, or delaminating (higher risk)
3. What work method will be used? — overskimming, painting, hand scraping, machine tools, removal
4. What is the area involved? — small localised area vs. whole room
5. What is the ventilation level? — open airy space vs. enclosed room with low air volume
6. Who else is present? — other trades, occupants, children, vulnerable persons

The risk assessment determines the work category (non-licensed, NNLW, or licensed) and the controls needed. It must be documented in writing and communicated to all workers involved.

Non-Licensed Work: Overskimming and Painting

Overskimming — applying a 3–6 mm plaster skim coat over an existing textured coating — is a common and legally accepted approach for domestic properties where the textured coating is in good condition. It avoids disturbing the coating and provides an encapsulation that makes the asbestos safer than it was before.

For overskimming to be safe and effective:

• The existing coating must be adhering firmly to the substrate with no areas of delamination
• Any loose or flaking areas must be stabilised before overskimming (not by removing them; by applying a dilute PVA bonding agent)
• The skim coat must not be applied with such vigorous keying action that the textured surface is disturbed before the skim bonds
• The finished skim coat completely covers the textured surface

Standard plasterer's tools and a PVA bonding coat are all that is needed. No special RPE beyond normal workplace dust controls (FFP2 minimum as good practice) is required for overskimming an undamaged textured coating — the coating itself is not being disturbed.

Painting does not require any specific asbestos controls provided the surface is undamaged. Normal painting preparatory work (light sanding to remove flaking paint layers, not sanding the textured surface itself) poses minimal risk. Do not use orbital or belt sanders on a textured coating surface that may contain asbestos — this is dry abrasion and requires licensed controls.

NNLW: Hand Scraping of Limited Areas

Wet hand scraping of small, defined areas of textured coating can be classified as NNLW where:

• The area is limited (no absolute figure in regulations, but HSE examples suggest a few square metres as a practical boundary for NNLW)
• A wet method is used throughout to suppress fibres
• The work is of short duration
• Exposure is sporadic and low-intensity

The wet method requires saturation of the coating before and during scraping. Apply water repeatedly with a sprayer or wet brush; the coating must be wet throughout the scraping process, not just dampened at the start. Add a small amount of commercial wetting agent to improve penetration.

NNLW requirements that apply:

• Notify the HSE before the work starts (see notifiable non licensed work nnlw)
• Workers must have NNLW-specific training
• A written plan of work must be prepared
• Workers must wear appropriate RPE (minimum FFP3 half-mask, fit-tested)
• Waste must be collected and disposed of as asbestos waste (see asbestos waste disposal)
• Health records must be kept for 40 years
• Medical surveillance must be arranged

Licensed Work: When a LARC Is Required

Most textured coating removal in a domestic setting will require a licensed contractor if:

• Dry methods (scraping, sanding, steam) are intended — these methods generate high airborne fibre concentrations that cannot be controlled to below the control limit without licensed enclosure and clearance procedures; they are classified as licensable work under CAR 2012 Schedule 2 and the L143 ACOP
• The area is large (entire room ceiling or multiple rooms)
• The coating is in poor condition (delaminating, water-damaged, crumbling)
• Air monitoring evidence suggests concentrations will approach or exceed 0.1 f/cm³

A licensed asbestos removal contractor (LARC) will set up an enclosure (or use containment measures appropriate to the risk), use wet methods as standard, conduct air monitoring, complete four-stage clearance, and issue a clearance certificate. See asbestos removal enclosure setup for enclosure requirements.

The decision on whether removal is preferable to overskimming should be discussed with the client. In many domestic situations, overskimming is structurally sound and cheaper than licensed removal. Licensed removal is appropriate where the ceiling substrate is being replaced (e.g., re-boarding), where the textured coating is already in poor condition, or where the client explicitly requires full removal.

Informing the Client

Building owners and homeowners have a right to know if their home contains asbestos. Before any work begins on a textured coating in an older property:

1. Advise the client that the coating may contain asbestos and explain why
2. Recommend a sample analysis before deciding on the work method
3. If asbestos is confirmed, explain the options: overskimming, licensed removal, or leaving it in place
4. Record the conversation and the client's decision

Failure to advise a client that asbestos work is involved — and then proceeding without the appropriate controls — exposes the tradesperson to potential criminal prosecution and civil liability. The client's instruction to "just scrape it off" does not transfer the legal duty to them; you, as the competent tradesperson, have an overriding duty to work safely regardless of client pressure.

Working Near Textured Coatings Without Removing Them

Electrical work, plumbing, CCTV installation, and other trades may require drilling or cutting through a ceiling that has a textured coating. For one or two holes:

• Drill through using a masonry bit at low speed
• Dampen the area before drilling to suppress dust
• Collect debris immediately in a damp cloth or by holding a vacuum nozzle near the drill point (H-class vacuum)
• Seal the collected debris in a polythene bag as asbestos waste
• Wear an FFP3 mask throughout

This is typically non-notifiable non-licensed work if it is one or two penetrations and genuinely brief. If it becomes a pattern of work (e.g., installing multiple downlighters across a large asbestos textured ceiling), the cumulative exposure should be assessed and may need to be treated as NNLW.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I overskim or remove the Artex?

In most domestic renovation scenarios, overskimming is the better choice if the coating is in good condition and adhering firmly. It is cheaper than licensed removal, avoids fibre release, and leaves the ceiling safe for future occupants provided the skim coat remains intact. Licensed removal is appropriate when the substrate is being replaced, when the coating is already damaged, or when the client specifically requires removal. Always present both options and document the client's informed decision.

I've disturbed a textured coating without realising it contained asbestos. What should I do?

Stop work immediately. Seal the area as best you can using polythene sheeting and tape to prevent fibres spreading through the building. Do not use a domestic vacuum — this will spread fibres. Contact an occupational hygienist or licensed contractor for advice. If other people were in the area during the disturbance, advise them and keep them away from the area. Notify the HSE if you believe the exposure level may have been significant. Keep records of what happened for your health monitoring records.

Does Artex always contain asbestos?

No. Artex reformulated its product range to remove asbestos in the mid-1980s, with manufacturing of asbestos-containing Artex stopping before 2000. Artex applied after approximately 1984–1985 is likely to be asbestos-free, but the only reliable way to confirm this is laboratory analysis of a sample. The brand "Artex" also became a generic term for textured coatings generally — other brands were still using asbestos-containing formulations into the 1990s. Do not assume Artex is asbestos-free without a sample result.

Can I use a hot-air gun to remove a textured coating?

Hot-air guns and steam strippers are not recommended for textured coatings that may contain asbestos. Heat softens the binding medium and can cause significant fibre release when the material is subsequently scraped. Steam stripping is classified by HSE as a work method that typically requires a licensed contractor. If removal is needed, use wet hand scraping under NNLW or licensed controls, or commission a LARC.

My client says the Artex was done in the 1990s so it must be asbestos-free. Can I just crack on?

No. The client's belief about when the coating was applied is not evidence. The only evidence is a laboratory analysis of a sample. Additionally, even a ceiling recoated in the 1990s may have original asbestos-containing coating underneath. Advise the client that you require a sample analysis before proceeding with any work that disturbs the coating. This is not an optional step — it is your legal duty to identify the risk before work begins.

Regulations & Standards

• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632) — primary legislation; Regulation 4 (duty to manage), Regulation 5 (identification), Regulation 6 (risk assessment), Regulation 7 (plan of work)

• L143 Managing and Working with Asbestos ACoP — HSE Approved Code of Practice; includes worked examples for textured coatings

• HSG264 — Asbestos: The Survey Guide — HSE guidance on identifying and surveying asbestos in buildings including textured coatings

• MDHS100 — Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials — HSE sampling methodology

• CAR 2012 Schedule 2 — criteria for licensed, NNLW, and non-licensed work

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Section 2 and 3) — general duties to employees and non-employees including building occupants

• L143 Managing and Working with Asbestos ACoP — includes textured coating examples

• HSE guidance on textured coatings — overview of asbestos in textured coatings

• HSG264 Asbestos: The Survey Guide — survey and sampling guidance

• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 — statutory text

• notifiable non licensed work nnlw — NNLW notification duties for hand scraping

• asbestos removal enclosure setup — enclosure requirements for licensed removal of textured coatings

• asbestos ppe and respirators — RPE selection for textured coating work

• asbestos waste disposal — disposing of scraped textured coating debris