# Can you plaster over Artex? Yes, but test it first

> Yes, a plasterer can usually skim straight over Artex, typically for around £300 to £500 a room, which is normally cheaper than removing it (around £500 to £700 a room with new board). Textured coatings applied before the UK's 1999 asbestos ban may contain asbestos, so have a sample tested before anyone sands, scrapes or drills it. The HSE advises against removing asbestos materials yourself without training.

Source: Kuote, Market Harborough trades (https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/plastering-over-artex/). Updated 2026-11-11.

Can you plaster over Artex? Yes. In most cases a plasterer can skim straight over an Artex or other textured ceiling and leave you with a smooth, modern finish, and it is usually cheaper than removing it. But if the coating went on before 2000, there is a chance it contains asbestos, so get it tested before anyone sands, scrapes or drills it.

This guide explains the asbestos risk in plain terms, what the HSE says, how testing works, your options, and typical costs.

## Why Artex can contain asbestos

"Artex" is a brand name that has become shorthand for any textured decorative coating: the swirls, stipples and peaks on many ceilings from the 1960s to the 1990s. For decades some of these coatings were made with a small amount of white asbestos (chrysotile) as a strengthening agent.

Key points:

- **The UK banned all asbestos use in November 1999**, so textured coatings applied after that should not contain it.
- **Older coatings are more likely to.** Several sources suggest coatings applied before the mid-1980s are the highest risk, but the only safe assumption for anything pre-2000 is "possibly".
- **You can't tell by looking.** Coatings with and without asbestos look identical. A fresh coat of paint on top doesn't change anything.

The HSE lists textured decorative coatings such as Artex among the common places asbestos is found in homes.

## Is it dangerous?

Asbestos is a risk when fibres are released into the air and breathed in. Textured coating that is intact and left alone is considered low risk. The danger comes from disturbing it:

- Sanding (the worst, by far)
- Dry scraping
- Drilling or cutting without dust control
- Knocking down a ceiling or wall that has it on

That is why the test matters before any work, including preparation for a skim. A plasterer will often scrape off the sharp peaks before skimming. That is a disturbance.

## What the HSE says

The HSE's guidance is written for workers and employers rather than homeowners, but it is the clearest official guide to how this material should be handled:

- **Textured coatings are not on the list of materials that only a licensed contractor can remove.** That list covers things like sprayed coatings, lagging and asbestos insulating board.
- **Small, controlled jobs on textured coatings are normally non-licensed work**, for example drilling to fit a fitting, using dust-suppressing methods.
- **Removing asbestos-containing textured coatings with gel or steam will normally be "notifiable non-licensed work"**, which means a trained contractor must notify the HSE and follow extra controls.
- **The HSE advises not to repair or remove asbestos materials yourself** if you have not had training for non-licensed asbestos work.

In short: if your Artex contains asbestos, covering it is generally simpler than removing it, and removal should be done by someone trained and equipped for it.

## How to test Artex for asbestos

You have two routes:

1. **A postal sample kit.** You take a small sample following the kit's safety instructions and post it to a lab for analysis. This can suit a small, intact area. Wet the area first, wear the protection supplied, and follow the instructions exactly.
2. **An asbestos surveyor.** A professional takes the samples. This makes sense if you have several rooms, are planning a wider renovation, or would rather not disturb it yourself.

Either way, use a laboratory that is accredited for asbestos analysis, and keep the result. Your plasterer will want to see it.

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/plasterer

## Your options

### 1. Leave it alone

If it is in good condition and you are happy with how it looks, you can leave it. Painting over it with a roller is a common way to freshen it up without disturbing it.

### 2. Skim over it

The most popular option. The ceiling is sealed with a suitable bonding agent and then skimmed with a finishing plaster. Very deep or heavy textures may need a thicker coat or two passes. If the test is clear, the plasterer can knock off high peaks first. If it contains asbestos, they will need to plan the work so it isn't disturbed, or bring in a specialist for any part that must be.

### 3. Overboard it

New plasterboard is screwed through the ceiling into the joists, then skimmed. This works well on very uneven or cracked ceilings. Screwing through creates small holes in the coating, so test first and follow dust-control advice.

### 4. Remove it

Removal leaves you with the original surface, but it is the messiest and most expensive route. Clear coatings can be steamed or scraped off, though it is slow. If asbestos is present, removal should be done by a trained contractor, and the waste must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Contact Harborough District Council or a licensed waste carrier for disposal advice rather than putting it in household bins.

## Typical costs

These are typical UK ranges from cost guides, not quotes. Prices around Market Harborough are usually around or slightly below the UK average. The exact price comes from the plasterer's quote.

| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Skim over Artex | about £300 to £500 per room |
| Remove Artex, replace board and skim | about £500 to £700 per room |
| Standard room skim (for comparison) | about £275 to £600 per room |

Asbestos testing and any specialist removal are extra. For more detail see [Artex removal cost in Market Harborough](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/artex-removal-cost-market-harborough/), [ceiling plastering costs](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/ceiling-plastering-cost-market-harborough/) and the [cost to skim a room](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/skim-a-room-cost-market-harborough/).

## What to tell your plasterer

- Roughly when the house was built or last decorated, if you know
- Whether the coating has been tested, and the result
- Whether you want to keep the ceiling height (skim) or don't mind overboarding
- Whether there are lights, smoke alarms or extractor fans to move. Plan any electrical work with an [electrician](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/electricians/) before the ceiling is finished.

## A final word

Textured ceilings were fashionable for decades across the UK, so this question comes up in a lot of homes, old and not so old. When we renovated our house we learned to ask "has this been tested?" before anyone picked up a scraper. The plasterer we use will tell you honestly what the options are. We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust.

See also [skimming vs replastering](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/skimming-vs-replastering/), [how long plaster takes to dry](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/how-long-does-plaster-take-to-dry/) and [plasterers in Market Harborough](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/plasterers/).

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/plasterer

## Typical prices

| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skim over Artex ceiling | £300–£500 per room | Trade2base cost guide; assumes coating tested or left undisturbed. Exact price from your plasterer's quote. |
| Remove Artex, replace board and skim | £500–£700 per room | Trade2base; excludes asbestos testing or specialist asbestos removal. |
| Standard skim of a room (comparison) | £275–£600 per room | Checkatrade and MyJobQuote 2026. |

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you skim straight over Artex?

Usually, yes. The ceiling is sealed with a suitable bonding agent and then skimmed with finishing plaster, sometimes in two passes for heavy textures. Plasterers often knock off high peaks first, which disturbs the coating, so it should be tested for asbestos before that preparation if it was applied before 2000. Very uneven or cracked ceilings may be better overboarded with new plasterboard and then skimmed.

### How do I know if my Artex contains asbestos?

You can't tell by looking, and painting over it doesn't change anything. The only way to know is to have a sample analysed by a laboratory, either with a postal sample kit or by hiring an asbestos surveyor. Coatings applied after the UK ban in November 1999 should not contain asbestos. Older coatings, especially from before the mid-1980s, should be treated as possibly containing it until tested.

### Is Artex with asbestos dangerous?

Intact textured coating that is left alone is considered low risk because the fibres are bound in. The risk comes from releasing fibres into the air by sanding, dry scraping, drilling without dust control or demolishing it. Never sand Artex that hasn't been tested. If it does contain asbestos, covering it by skimming or overboarding is usually simpler and safer than removing it.

### Do I need a licensed contractor to remove Artex?

HSE guidance does not list textured coatings among the materials that only an HSE-licensed contractor can remove. However, removing asbestos-containing textured coating with gel or steam will normally be notifiable non-licensed work, which needs a trained contractor who notifies the HSE and follows extra controls. The HSE advises against repairing or removing asbestos yourself if you are not trained.

### Is it cheaper to remove Artex or plaster over it?

Plastering over it is usually cheaper. Cost guides put skimming over Artex at roughly £300 to £500 per room, while removing it, replacing the board and skimming is about £500 to £700 per room. Asbestos testing and any specialist removal are extra. Prices around Market Harborough are generally around or slightly below the UK average, and your plasterer's quote sets the real figure.

## Sources

- [HSE: Diagrams showing where asbestos can occur in buildings](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/diagrams.htm)
- [HSE: Locations of asbestos and taking the right action](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/location-materials.htm)
- [HSE: Non-licensed work with asbestos](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/non-licensed-work.htm)
- [HSE: Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/notifiable-non-licensed-work.htm)
- [HSE: Asbestos FAQs](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm)
- [HSE: Asbestos essentials A-series task sheets](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/aseries.htm)
- [Lambeth Council: Guide to decorative coatings](https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/Guide%20to%20decorative%20coatings.pdf)
- [Highland Council: Asbestos and Artex guidance](https://www.highland.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/3163/asbestos_and_artex_guidance.pdf)
- [Trade2base: Artex removal costs UK](https://www.trade2base.com/blog/artex-removal-costs-uk)
- [Checkatrade: Cost of skimming a room](https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-skimming-room/)