How to remove Artex

Video guide. This article accompanies a step-by-step YouTube tutorial on removing Artex that covers the softening, scraping, and finishing process in a real UK home. It is a useful visual companion to the steps below.

1. Check when the Artex was applied — asbestos risk

This is the most important step and cannot be skipped. Artex applied before 1985 may contain white asbestos (chrysotile). Asbestos fibres released during scraping are a serious health hazard. If your home was built or significantly renovated before 1985, treat the ceiling as containing asbestos until proven otherwise.

Do not scrape, sand, or disturb the ceiling until you have had it tested. The Health and Safety Executive website lists accredited testing laboratories. A test costs around £30–50 and takes a few days — money and time well spent.

2. Get the ceiling tested if there is any doubt

An asbestos surveyor or specialist testing service can take a small sample safely and send it for laboratory analysis. If the result comes back positive, do not attempt to remove the Artex yourself. You will need a licensed asbestos removal contractor, which is a legal requirement in the UK for notifiable work.

If the test comes back clear — or if you are confident the Artex was applied after 1985 — you can proceed safely with the steps below.

3. Prepare the room

Artex removal is extremely messy. Remove all furniture, or cover it with heavy-duty dust sheets. Lay dust sheets on the floor and tape them to the skirting boards. Cover light fittings with plastic bags and turn off the electricity at the consumer unit before working near them.

Wear safety goggles, a dust mask rated to at least FFP2, and old clothes you do not mind ruining. Have a bin bag nearby and change it frequently as it fills with wet Artex. Do not let it dry out on the floor — dried Artex is far harder to clean up.

4. Soften the Artex with warm water or a steam stripper

The traditional method is to apply warm water with a sponge or garden sprayer, leave it to soak for 10–15 minutes, and then scrape. A wallpaper steam stripper is faster and more effective on thick or heavily textured Artex. Hold the steam plate against the ceiling for 20–30 seconds before scraping each section.

There are also chemical Artex removers available from DIY stores. These are painted on, left for a period, and then scraped off. They work well on moderate textures but can be slow on the deepest swirls and stipples.

5. Scrape the Artex off in sections

Use a wide-blade scraper or a dedicated Artex scraper tool. Work in small sections of around 500mm square, softening and scraping as you go. Keep the blade at a shallow angle to avoid gouging the plaster beneath.

Expect this to take longer than you think. A standard room ceiling can take a full day of scraping, and multiple passes are often needed to get back to a reasonably smooth base. Take breaks — working overhead is tiring quickly.

6. Sand and clean the surface

Once the bulk of the Artex is off, use a pole sander with 80-grit paper to knock back any remaining nibs and ridges. Work methodically and keep dusting the surface to see what is left. Vacuum up the dust as you go rather than letting it settle.

Wash the ceiling down with clean water and a sponge to remove all traces of dust and softening agent. Allow it to dry completely before the next stage — usually 24–48 hours depending on temperature and ventilation.

7. Skim plaster or hang lining paper

Unless the underlying plaster is in near-perfect condition, you will need to skim or line to get a smooth finish. A thin skim coat of finishing plaster, applied by a plasterer, gives the best and most durable result. Lining paper hung crossways (horizontal) is a DIY-friendly alternative that hides minor imperfections well.

If you go the lining paper route, use a heavy grade (1000 or 1200 micron) and allow the paste to soak in fully before hanging. Butt the edges tightly and trim neatly at the walls. Once dry, it can be painted like a normal ceiling.

When to call a handyman

Call Richard if the property was built before 1985 and you want the asbestos question handled correctly from the start, the area is large and you want it done efficiently, or you want the scraping and skimming finished in a single visit.