Artex and Asbestos

Asbestos in Artex

Artex is a trade name which was used to describe all thick plaster-like paints that were used to create decorative effects, most commonly on ceilings, but, often on walls too. In the building trade these are referred to as textured coatings and the non-asbestos versions are still being used.

Up until 1984 the manufacturers (or even the ‘Artexers’ themselves) added small amounts (3-5%) of Chrysotile (‘white asbestos’) to their decorative paints. The fibres gave strength and consistency to the compound and made it much easier to apply.
There are no overwhelming safety reasons to remove Artex because its perfectly safe when left in-situ. In fact, the opposite is true because the removal process disturbs the material and causes fibre-release.
Up until 2006 contractors needed a license to remove this material.

There are specialist products available (such as Biostrip Artex Remover) that soak into the paint and turn it into a gel that can be scraped off. This is quite an arduous task and should not be undertaken lightly. Some of the products on the market, unlike the water based Biostrip range, can contain hazardous solvents – always check the label.

More recently new products have become available that allow you to ‘plaster’ over the textured coating and produce a flat surface. These are certainly the cheapest and safest option but presumably the finish isn’t too good (unless you’re a plasterer).

Does my Artex contain asbestos?

There is a very strong chance that your Artex does contain asbestos if your building was built before 1970 and your textured coating appears to have been applied at that time. If it was built in the 70s/early eighties then it is less likely and if it was built after 1984 it is very unlikely.
The only only hard and fast way to find out is to get the material analysed by a specialised laboratory

Artex Removal Made Safe and Easy With Quality Strippers

Summary: Artex removal is a tedious task and it can cause severe health hazards. If the right 

products are selected then the health risk can be minimised.

Body:

Though modern houses seldom make use of artex, it was a prominent ingredient in houses built 

during the last three decades of the 20th Century. The owners of such houses are now faced with the 

removal of this coating prior to painting and decorating if it is not to their taste. Artex manufactured 

before 1984 contains small quantities of asbestos, herein lies one of the problems. The affected artex 

must be removed without forming a hazardous asbestos containg dust. is mainly because Artex contains

 a certain amount of asbestos and that is where the problem lies. Any stripper used for such artex must 

not allow a dust to be formed.

A number of effective techniques are currently available which are commonly used for artex removal. 

Most of these techniques make use of chemical strippers which are effective at removing artex from all

 areas of the home without producing a dust. Such products are available worldwide.

The main features of these artex removers are as follows: 

 

Artex remover:

This is a chemical based artex remover that makes use of water as the base solvent. It is 

non-toxic and non-flammable by nature. Large building contractors who are responsible for 

refurbishing large apartments and buildings, usually make good use of this type of artex stripper. It is 

free from odour and fume making it good for the environment and the user. Moreover, because the

 products are non corrosive, water based and odourless they can be used in confined areas without 

following such stringent health and safety measures.

The artex remover should be applied carefully. More product may need to be applied to heavily 

coated and highly textured artex. After approximately an hour, the artex should have started to form a 

gel like substance. The remover should be left in place until the artex has completely softened when it 

can be scraped off with a wall paper scraper or similar tool. Heavily painted artex may need to have 

the paint removed first. The artex remover should not be allowed to dry out. The total strip time can 

vary from one surface to another.

Artex Removal by Contractors

Why you should Find Expert Contractors for Artex Removal

Summary:

Due to the various risk factors involved in artex removal, it is always a good idea for homeowners 

to appoint specialized contractors for this task.

Body:

Painting of the home is an essential part of home renovation and most people consider 

redecorating their home on a fairly regular basis. As far as modern homes are concerned, 

the task is comparatively easy but people face a problem if their home was built in 1980's to 1990's.

 These homes essentially used artex that may contain harmful asbestos. Many people wish to

 remove this artex as it is no longer fashionable.

 The task of removing artex can be complicated, particularly if it was applied before 1989 

when it will most likely contain asbestos

The task can not only be difficult, but dangerous if asbestos is present, as the process of

 removal can release hazardous asbestos fibres in the form of a dust. This dust is easy to inhale or even to swallow and the consequences can be quite severe. It can cause deadly diseases including 

cancer and asbestosis.

Artex removal can be essential and that is why it is always safer to hire expert contractors who 

possess long experience in this field. They are aware of the risks involved and can take 

the necessary precautions.

When removing artex, protective clothing should be worn, this includes disposable gloves, 

coveralls and if necessary glasses or goggles. Coveralls and gloves should be disposed of

 carefully after use to avoid the spread of dust. Glasses or goggles should be washed. 

If the presence of asbestos is suspected a mask should be worn to prevent inhalation. Again

 this must be disposed of after use.

The use of specialist artex removal products is gradually becoming more popular, these products 

convert the artex to a gel which holds any asbestos fibres in situ, preventing them from being released 

into the atmosphere. The product is applied thickly to the surface of the artex, once a gel has been 

formed it can be scraped of using a paint scraper. This is quite a physical and time consuming task 

but it is safe

The Best way to remove Artex

The Best Way to Remove Artex

Home renovation has always been a part of home maintenance and people often think about renovating their home after a certain period. Renovating a fairly modern home can be easier for the homeowners as well as for the people who actually work on your project. However, things can be more difficult for older homes that were constructed during the 70’s and 80’s. It can be a bit risky as well because homes built during this period often used artex on walls and ceilings. Artex often contained asbestos, and the use of asbestos containing artex was later banned in both the USA and the UK. The reason behind this was of course the harmful effects of the asbestos that the artex contained.

Test it first:

It is quite possible that the artex ceiling of your house may or may not have some asbestos content within it. You need to be sure about this before trying to remove the artex. There are a number of ways to go about this if you are interested in removing your artex. For instance, you can ask local specialist companies, experts in asbestos removal, to test whether it contains asbestos or not.

Why you need to remove artex that might contain asbestos:

The presence of asbestos in artex can be quite harmful to health. Laboratory tests have found that asbestos can have severe harmful effects on the human respiratory system, which is why it is a good idea to remove such artex to improve your living conditions for the future. However, removing artex can be quite a tiresome job requiring a lot of patience.

Steps to remove artex:

• Before you start removing artex, you must equip yourself with a few things including eye protection, mask, boots and overalls. These will protect you from any contamination with asbestos that might be in the artex. You must ensure that the entire dress covers your body perfectly with no exposed areas.
• The room or the area of the house where you are working must be sealed to prevent dust contaminating the rest of the house. This is necessary to protect anyone else in the house from the harmful effects of artex dust that might contain asbestos.
• Use of mechanical means to remove the artex usually produces lots of dust and bits of artex, which may be contaminated with harmful asbestos fibres, hence the need for all these precautions. The use of lots of wet towels and water mists is essential to minimise the amount of potentially harmful dust floating around the atmosphere in the house.
• This task of removing artex can be hugely simplified by using one of the many chemical artex removal agents on the market today. The water-based artex strippers are the safest and easiest to use. They convert the artex to a gel which locks in any potentially harmful asbestos fibres and prevents their release into the atmosphere. This gel can then be easily and quickly scraped or wiped off the walls or ceilings and disposed of. This makes removing artex a safe and simple job even for the average home improvement person.

The ultimate guide to getting rid of artex - 100% safely!

REMOVING artex just got a whole lot easier...

In the days before Biostrip, the removal of a substance as notoriously tricky as artex meant calling in the professionals - and often paying a hefty price for its removal, whether on walls or ceilings.

The reason for this is that, traditionally, artex has contained asbestos, which is of course highly dangerous. Problems arise because the artex is harmless while it remains on the wall or ceiling, but becomes a major health hazard during the process of removing it.

Commonly, unwanted asbestos has been removed by being scraped, chipped or chiseled off. Doing this causes the asbestos to enter the atmosphere (in the form of a dust), leaving anyone who inhales the dust with serious - and frequently fatal - health problems.

Thankfully, there is now Biostrip Artex Remover. This uniquely-formulated product gets rid of ALL risk of asbestos escaping into the air, meaning there's ZERO chance of you or anyone around you inhaling the lethal powder.

COULDN'T BE EASIER...FROM UNWANTED ARTEX TO A PERFECT, FAULTLESS FINISH IN AROUND TWO HOURS!

 

Here's how it works...

 

The revolutionary formula of Biostrip Artex Remover does more than just guarantee that no asbestos will be released into the air. Like all Biostrip products, it complies with our twelve-step guarantee of safety and environmental features that apply to all Biostrip products.

BIOSTRIP: SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

• PROVEN PERFORMANCE

• FAST-ACTING

• VOC FREE

• SAFER FOR USERS, NEARBY CHILDREN OR PETS

• NON-TOXIC, NON HAZARDOUS

• SOLVENT FREE

• WATER-BASED

• LOW ODOUR

• NON-FLAMMABLE

• NON CAUSTIC

• NON IRRITANT

• NON-OZONE DEPLETING

What's more, because of its unique, safer formula, Biostrip Artex Remover doesn't require protective masks to be worn while in use, and is totally safe to use in closed, confined spaces.

 And here's how to do it!

• Firstly, apply the Biostrip Artex Remover generously onto any artexed ares. Don't worry about what its painted with; Biostrip Artex Remover works brilliantly whether your artex is covered with gloss or emulsion paints.

• Once the Artex Remover has been generously spread over the surface, give it some time to soak in. This should only take around 30 to 60 minutes.

• Next, after the Artex Remover has soaked into the artex thoroughly, it becomes softened. This softened artex can then be removed by scraping it. Any trace of asbestos within your artex will now pose no risk to your health....the newly-softened artex makes it impossible for the asbestos dust to be released into the atmosphere.

• Finally, once the artex has been scraped away, all that remains is to simply wash the area down and allow the area to dry thoroughly, giving you a smooth, artex-free surface that is ready for however you want to decorate it.

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  If you have any questions, queries or comments, or if you'd like to become a stockist/distributor of Biostrip products, drop us a line! 

**To browse or buy from the entire Biostrip range of products, click HERE

Biostrip's new and improved full range of products

 BIOSTRIP'S range is always expanding, and that means one thing for all of our customers across the globe.

It means the safer, proven performance and fantastic benefits of using Biostrip are available across a wider range of products than ever before, ensuring that all your DIY jobs - whether at home or on-site - are stress-free and danger-free.

Below is a brief look at the full Biostrip range. So indoors or out, whether you're stripping paint, removing artex, wiping away graffiti or cleaning alloy wheels, we're sure we've got just the product for you - and all at an unbeatable price.

 For more information, click on the product names below:

Biostrip 20
BIOSTRIP 20 ™ is a revolutionary new general purpose paint stripper that is safer for both the user and the environment.It is thickened so suitable for application by brush or spray.

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Biostrip Artex Remover
Biostrip Artex Remover allows the safe removal of artex without causing dust from harmful Asbestos fibres.

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Wheel Strip
The ultimate product for stripping wheels. Super-fast acting, no sludge formation, no filter press required; hazard free with unbeatable, proven performance.

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Biostrip 42 Brush Restorer
Biostrip 42 Brush Restorer safely allows the most hardened brushes to be re-softened and brought back to life.

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Biostrip 42 Brush Cleaner
Biostrip 42 Brush Cleaner safely allows the cleaning of dirty brushes and leaves them as good as new.

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Biostrip 42 Immersion Stripper
Biostrip 42 Immersion Stripper safely allows the dip stripping of a wide range of coatings. Ideal for large items.

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Biostrip 42 Graffiti Remover
Biostrip 42 Graffiti Remover safely allows graffiti to be removed from the affected area.

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Biostrip 42 Graffiti Pre Clean
Biostrip 42 Graffiti Pre Clean removes any oils or grease from the graffiti, enabling a faster and more effective removal.

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Biostrip Textured Paint Remover
Biostrip Textured Paint Remover is formulated specifically for the removal of textured coatings. It will not damage the underlying substrate.

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Biostrip Mould Remover
Biostrip Mould Remover is a formulated liquid product designed for the removal of algae, mould, moss and lichen from a variety of substrates.

With so many products to choose from, no matter what the job you face, you'll find it's easier, faster, and safer with Biostrip. It's why more and more people around the world each week are turning to Biostrip for all of their DIY needs. Be sure to check out our website and ebay shop regularly for more Biostrip bargains - and read the latest news first on our blog!

*To contact us, for more info on any of our product range, or if you have any queries, questions or comments, please click HERE

Removing Artex safely and quickly with Biostrip

REMOVING artex just got a whole lot easier...

In the days before Biostrip, the removal of a substance as notoriously tricky as artex meant calling in the professionals, and often paying a hefty price for its removal, whether on walls or ceilings.

The reason for this is that, traditionally, artex has contained asbestos, which is of course harmless while it remains on the wall or ceiling, but becomes a major hazard to health during the process of removing it.

But once the artex is scraped away, chipped or chiseled off, the asbestos is released. It then enters the atmosphere in the form of a dust, leaving anyone who inhales the dust with serious - and often fatal - health problems.

Thankfully, with Biostrip Artex Remover, the uniquely-formulated product gets rid of ALL risk of asbestos escaping into the air, meaning there's ZERO chance of you or anyone around you inhaling the lethal powder.

COULDN'T BE EASIER...FROM UNWANTED ARTEX TO A PERFECT, FAULTLESS FINISH IN AROUND TWO HOURS!

 

Here's how it works...

 

The revolutionary formula of Biostrip Artex Remover does more than just guarantee that no asbestos will be released into the air. Like all Biostrip products, it complies with our twelve-step guarantee of safety and environmental features that apply to all Biostrip products.

BIOSTRIP: SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

• PROVEN PERFORMANCE

• FAST-ACTING

• VOC FREE

• SAFER FOR USERS, NEARBY CHILDREN OR PETS

• NON-TOXIC, NON HAZARDOUS

• SOLVENT FREE

• WATER-BASED

• LOW ODOUR

• NON-FLAMMABLE

• NON CAUSTIC

• NON IRRITANT

• NON-OZONE DEPLETING

What's more, because of its unique, safer formula, Biostrip Artex Remover doesn't require protective masks to be worn while in use, and is totally safe to use in closed, confined spaces.

 And here's how to do it!

• Firstly, apply the Biostrip Artex Remover generously onto any artexed ares. Don't worry about what its painted with; Biostrip Artex Remover works brilliantly whether your artex is covered with gloss or emulsion paints.

• Once the Artex Remover has been generously spread over the surface, give it some time to soak in. This should only take around 30 to 60 minutes.

• Next, after the Artex Remover has soaked into the artex thoroughly, it becomes softened. This softened artex can then be removed by scraping it. Any trace of asbestos within your artex will now pose no risk to your health....the newly-softened artex makes it impossible for the asbestos dust to be released into the atmosphere.

• Finally, once the artex has been scraped away, all that remains is to simply wash the area down and allow the area to dry thoroughly, giving you a smooth, artex-free surface that is ready for however you want to decorate it.

http://www.biostrip.co.uk

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