Artex removal cost in Market Harborough
Short answerStart with an asbestos test, typically £35 to £100 a sample. If it's clear, plastering over Artex usually costs about £300 to £500 a room, and removing it roughly £5 to £30 per m². If it contains asbestos, specialist removal typically runs £20 to £150 per m², which is why many people board over it instead. Typical ranges only; quotes vary.
Artex removal cost in Market Harborough comes down to one question you need answered before anything else: does it contain asbestos? Artex and similar textured coatings applied before 2000 can contain a small amount of asbestos fibre. If yours does, the job changes completely, in price and in who is allowed to do it.
This guide explains the options, gives typical 2026 price ranges from UK cost guides, and sets out the safety rules. The exact price always comes from the tradesperson's quote.
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Step one: get it tested
Don't sand, scrape, steam, drill or wire-brush a textured ceiling or wall until you know what's in it. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lists textured decorative coatings among the materials that can contain asbestos, and the UK banned all asbestos use in 1999, so anything older is a possibility.
A sample is sent to a lab for analysis. Typical costs:
- Sample analysis: about £35 to £50 per sample from survey firms, or £50 to £100 including someone taking it for you
- Home test kits are available, but you're then disturbing the coating yourself, so follow the kit's safety instructions carefully
Keep the result. It's useful for future work and when you sell.
Typical Artex removal cost in Market Harborough
These are UK ranges from 2025 and 2026 cost guides. We haven't found Leicestershire-specific Artex figures, but local plasterer day rates are in line with the national averages.
| Job | Typical range | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos sample test | £35 to £100 | per job | Per sample; lab analysis only at the low end |
| Skim over Artex (tested clear) | £300 to £500 | per room | Trade2base; Checkatrade gives £10 to £30 per m² |
| Overboard Artex with plasterboard and skim | £400 to £1,000 | per room | MyJobQuote overboarding range; Hamuch about £37 per m² |
| Remove non-asbestos Artex | £5 to £30 | per m² | Checkatrade average about £17.50 per m²; MyBuilder £8 to £15 |
| Remove asbestos-containing Artex (specialist) | £20 to £150 | per m² | MyBuilder £20 to £50; Checkatrade about £150 per m² |
| Air clearance test after asbestos removal | £150 to £400 | per job | Where the contractor or job requires it |
For a whole room of asbestos Artex, Checkatrade's estimate is around £2,750 to £6,000 for a 20m² room. Removal of non-asbestos Artex is then usually followed by a skim, which you'll need to add on: see the cost to skim a room.
Your three options
1. Skim over it
If the test is clear and the coating is firmly stuck, a plasterer can apply a bonding coat and then skim. It's normally the cheapest and quickest option, often a day per ceiling. Heavy, deep patterns may need a thicker base coat first.
2. Board over it
Fixing new plasterboard over the Artex and skimming leaves the old coating sealed in place undisturbed. It's a common choice for asbestos-containing Artex in good condition, because nothing is broken up. The ceiling drops slightly and light fittings need refitting. Keep a note that asbestos remains behind the board so future trades know.
3. Remove it
Non-asbestos Artex can be removed by steaming or chemical strippers and scraping, then the surface is made good and skimmed. It's slow and messy, which is why it costs more than skimming over.
Removing asbestos-containing Artex is a different matter. HSE guidance treats most work on textured coatings as non-licensed work, which still has to be done by trained people using controlled wet methods, protective equipment and proper waste handling, and some jobs are notifiable to the HSE. If the coating is on asbestos insulating board, or the material is in poor condition, an HSE-licensed contractor is needed. Either way, asbestos waste is hazardous waste and must go to a licensed site. A general plasterer should not sand or scrape it.
For more on the decision, see our guide to plastering over Artex.
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What drives the cost
- The test result. The single biggest factor.
- Area and pattern. Deep stipple and swirls need more filling or a thicker base coat.
- Ceiling vs walls. Ceilings are slower overhead work.
- Condition. Loose or flaking coating can't simply be skimmed over.
- Coving and fittings. Removing and refitting coving, lights and smoke alarms adds time.
- Waste. Specialist disposal for asbestos waste adds significantly.
How long it takes
Skimming over a clear Artex ceiling is usually a one-day job, according to Trade2base, with drying time on top. Overboarding and skimming is typically one to two days. MyJobQuote puts a typical removal job at around two days. Specialist asbestos removal depends on the contractor's method and any notification period. Once plastered, allow time to dry before painting: see how long plaster takes to dry.
How to get an accurate quote
Message us on WhatsApp with:
- Photos of the Artex, including a close-up of the pattern
- The room size and whether it's walls, ceiling or both
- The test result, if you have it, or the rough age of the house and when the coating was applied, if known
- Whether you'd prefer to cover it or remove it
We'll pass it to the plasterer we use. If the test shows asbestos and removal is needed, ask for a specialist asbestos contractor's quote too. For tips on comparing quotes, see how to get quotes from tradespeople.
Message us about a plastererFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
Questions to ask
- Have you seen a test result for this coating?
- Will you skim over it, overboard it, or does it need removing?
- Is a bonding coat or base coat included in the price?
- Who removes and refits the coving and light fittings?
- If it contains asbestos, are you trained to work with it, or should I use a licensed contractor?
- How will the waste be disposed of?
Artex usually shows up alongside other jobs in a renovation, so it's worth reading our ceiling plastering cost guide too, or see the plasterers in Market Harborough page.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos sample test | £35–£100 per job | Per sample. Lab analysis about £35 to £50; £50 to £100 with sampling. |
| Skim over Artex (tested clear) | £300–£500 per room | Trade2base 2026. Checkatrade gives £10 to £30 per m². |
| Overboard Artex and skim | £400–£1,000 per room | MyJobQuote overboarding range; Hamuch about £37 per m². |
| Remove non-asbestos Artex | £5–£30 per m² | Checkatrade average about £17.50 per m²; MyBuilder £8 to £15. Skim extra. |
| Remove asbestos-containing Artex (specialist) | £20–£150 per m² | MyBuilder £20 to £50; Checkatrade about £150 per m² (about £3,000 for 20m²). |
| Air clearance test after asbestos removal | £150–£400 per job | Best Builders 2026. |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove Artex?
If the Artex has tested clear of asbestos, UK cost guides put removal at roughly £5 to £30 per m², with Checkatrade's average about £17.50 per m², plus the cost of skimming afterwards. If it contains asbestos, specialist removal typically costs £20 to £150 per m², or around £2,750 to £6,000 for a 20m² room. Your quote will depend on area, pattern and condition.
How do I know if my Artex contains asbestos?
You can't tell by looking. The only reliable way is to have a sample analysed by a lab, which typically costs £35 to £100. Textured coatings applied before 2000 may contain asbestos, as the UK banned it in 1999. Don't sand, scrape or drill the coating while you're waiting for the result.
Is it cheaper to plaster over Artex or remove it?
Plastering over is usually cheaper. Skimming over clear Artex typically costs about £300 to £500 a room, and overboarding with plasterboard and a skim about £400 to £1,000. Removal is slower and messier, and much more expensive if the coating contains asbestos. Covering it is a common choice where the coating is firmly stuck.
Can a plasterer remove asbestos Artex?
Not as ordinary plastering work. HSE guidance treats most textured coating work as non-licensed, but it still needs trained operatives, controlled wet methods, protective equipment and hazardous waste disposal, and some jobs must be notified to the HSE. If the coating is on asbestos insulating board, a licensed contractor is required. Ask anyone quoting what training they hold.
Can you skim over Artex that contains asbestos?
It's often possible to cover asbestos Artex by overboarding with plasterboard, which seals it in place without breaking it up. Skimming directly over it can also be done if no sanding or scraping is involved, but many plasterers prefer boarding. Either way, keep a record that asbestos remains, so future trades don't drill or cut into it unknowingly.