Artexing was a popular form of decorating used in the 1970’s/ 
80’s but today, many people prefer to have the artex removed 
to achieve smooth walls and ceilings. 
 
Although the terminology used is “Artex Removal” it is important not 
to remove the peaks by physically scraping the artex off the walls as 
certain types of artex were made with asbestos. This can possibly be 
harmful to someone’s health if the dust particles are breathed in, 
therefore, the artex should be left intact and skimmed over with 
plaster. 
 
This method assumes the walls and ceilings are completely solid and 
able to take the extra weight of material required to smooth over the 
thickness of the artex. 
 
If the artex is damaged due to water ingress and requires removal 
prior to plastering, the onus is on the customer to arrange for a test 
certificate to confirm whether the artex contains any asbestos.