Textured decorative coatings, often referred to by the trade name Artex, were widely used on ceilings and walls. Some older textured coatings contain asbestos, while others do not. You cannot reliably confirm asbestos content simply by looking at the pattern or finish. If work could disturb a suspect coating, the key question is whether reliable asbestos information already exists and whether the planned work has been properly assessed.
Can Artex contain asbestos?
Yes. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lists textured decorative coatings among materials in which asbestos may be found. HSE notes that these coatings were used on ceilings and walls and were sold under various trade names, including Artex. However, the presence of a textured coating does not prove that asbestos is present.
HSE guidance on asbestos surveys explains that representative samples of textured coatings can be collected for laboratory analysis where identification is required. This is why visual appearance alone should not be treated as a positive or negative asbestos result.
When should a textured coating be checked?
The answer depends on the property, the information already available and the work you intend to carry out.
Before maintenance or building work
Legal requirement: Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires an employer, before undertaking demolition, maintenance or other work liable to expose employees to asbestos, to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of whether asbestos is or is liable to be present, including its type, material and condition. Where there is doubt, the Regulations require asbestos to be assumed present and the applicable precautions followed.
For a London refurbishment project, this means a ceiling should not simply be drilled, sanded, scraped or removed on the assumption that a decorative coating is asbestos-free when the required asbestos information is absent or unreliable.
When an existing survey does not answer the question
HSE guidance: HSE’s Asbestos: The Survey Guide (HSG264) distinguishes between management surveys and refurbishment/demolition surveys. A management survey supports normal occupation and routine maintenance; more intrusive refurbishment or demolition work may require a survey designed for the area and scope of that work.
If you already have an asbestos report, check whether the relevant ceiling or wall was inspected, whether access limitations were recorded, and whether the planned work falls within the survey’s scope. See our guide to how long an asbestos survey remains useful.
Can you identify asbestos Artex by sight?
No reliable visual rule can confirm that a textured coating contains asbestos. Similar-looking finishes may have different compositions, and coatings may have been repaired, over-coated or applied at different times in different rooms.
If a definitive answer is needed, appropriate sampling and analysis can establish whether asbestos is detected in the sampled material. Our asbestos testing in London page explains the testing service, while our sample analysis page provides further information.
What if you plan to drill or remove a textured coating?
Do not treat all work on textured coatings as identical. HSE distinguishes between non-licensed, notifiable non-licensed and licensable asbestos work according to factors including the material, its condition and the way it will be disturbed.
HSE guidance: HSE gives drilling through asbestos-containing textured coatings for fixtures or fittings as an example of work that can fall within non-licensed work when the relevant conditions and controls are met. Large-scale removal using steaming or gelling methods may be notifiable non-licensed work. HSE also identifies some higher-risk situations requiring a licensed contractor.
Those classifications are about work with asbestos; they should not be read as permission for an untrained person to disturb a suspect ceiling. HSE says workers undertaking non-licensed asbestos work must have appropriate training and controls. See HSE’s non-licensed work guidance and NNLW guidance.
Practical checklist before disturbing a textured ceiling
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What work is planned? | Drilling, scraping, sanding and removal disturb materials differently. |
| Is there an existing asbestos report? | It may already identify the coating, or it may record a limitation. |
| Was this exact area inspected or sampled? | Do not assume a result from another room automatically applies. |
| Does the survey scope match the planned work? | Intrusive refurbishment can require more information than normal occupation. |
| Is asbestos confirmed or still uncertain? | Where employees may be exposed, Regulation 5 governs identification before work. |
| Who will carry out any asbestos work? | The work category, competence, training and controls must be appropriate. |
What should London property owners do next?
If you are planning refurbishment, electrical work, lighting changes or ceiling removal, establish what is known about the coating before intrusive work starts. Depending on the circumstances, the next step may be checking an existing report, targeted sampling, or arranging a survey appropriate to the proposed work.
For wider refurbishment projects, read our guide to asbestos refurbishment surveys in London.
Authoritative sources
- HSE: Locations of asbestos and taking the right action
- HSE: Asbestos — The Survey Guide (HSG264)
- HSE: Non-licensed work with asbestos
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 5
Need clarity before work starts?
If a textured ceiling or wall may be disturbed in a London property, request a quote or contact Asbestos London Survey to discuss the property, existing asbestos information and the planned work.
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