Advice needed on plastering over artex

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FlatCeilings

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Hi all

I'm not a plasterer but after some advice. Basically I bought a house of an investor who had done it up and skimmed everywhere throughout the house. We have since done a lot of work to it which has involved knocking walls down, drilling through ceilings to put smoke detectors. Basically in the process many of the ceilings have been disturbed. It has recently occurred to me that the house may have previously had artex ceilings that had been skimmed over. I obviously want the house to be safe for my family so am trying to find out whether it's possible to find out for sure.

I have looked in light fittings throughout the house and I can see no evidence - in most room I can see a layer of skim that's about 2mm thick over the original lath and plaster ceiling. The layers do come in quite close to the light wiring though so wondering if they could be concealing an artex/textured finish which finishes further out?

I have a couple of questions from you expert plasterers:

1) how thick does an artex/textured coating layer tend to be?
2) how thick does a skim coat that conceals artex tend to be?
3) would it be apparent from looking within the light fitting if there had been an artex ceiling skimmed over?

Really grateful for any advice as quite concerned about this.

Thanks
 
What is your safety concerns? Asbestos in the artex? Or are you worried the skim coat could come away from the artex? If there is any.
 
My concerns are that there may have been artex ceilings, which may have contained asbestos under the skim and we have disturbed nearly every ceiling in the process of our extension. I'm just trying to set my mind at rest basically and am hoping that by looking in the light fittings I would be able to tell. Answers to those questions would be extremely helpful thanks
 
Skim to cover artex 3/5mm. Pink/grey
Artex 3/5mm. Almost white

You may be able to tell through holes in the ceiling but tbh its a little late for that if its there the damage has been done and will just worry you more if You find it.
 
Thanks for the helpful replies.

As for comments such as "man up" I'm afraid I can't as I'm not a man. I'm a mother who was asking for some information so the I can double check the bedrooms that my children will be safe.

But well done you for being big men. Feel proud
 
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FlatCeilings said:
Thanks for the helpful replies.

As for comments such as "man up" I'm afraid I can't as I'm not a man. I'm a mother who was asking for some information so the I can double check the bedrooms that my children will be safe.

But well done you for being big men. Feel proud
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you can take samples yourself and send them off for analysis. thats what customers of mine will do. most of them come back negative. forty pounds for four samples from around your house is a good price. you'll know either way, then.

https://www.bradley-enviro.co.uk/services/asbestos-consultants/asbestos-sample-testing.html
 
Thanks for the info about testing. As I don't actually even know for sure whether there's any artex there in the first place, asbestos containing or not, and the rooms are all finished, just tying to find out first of all if there's a sure fire way of telling.

On the one ceiling I've checked out so far I can see the original ceiling and a layer of new plaster (skim?) that about 2-3mm thick at most. Going on what kgreigh has said, I'd be looking at a layer of 6mm plus had there been any textured coating there. Is that correct?

Appreciate the help as don't even do DIY let alone professional plastering so it's a huge help
 
Like has been said only way you'll know if they contain aspestos if they are artexed underneath is getting them tested. You could just scrape a bit of skim of where your smoke alarm goes to see if theres a pattern underneath. I was told by the guy who does our aspestos awareness course theres not enough of a trace in it to do any damage to you from scraping the nibs off, would be worse if you sanded it but still wouldnt kill you.
 
Garethharrison80 said:
Like has been said only way you'll know if they contain aspestos if they are artexed underneath is getting them tested. You could just scrape a bit of skim of where your smoke alarm goes to see if theres a pattern underneath. I was told by the guy who does our aspestos awareness course theres not enough of a trace in it to do any damage to you from scraping the nibs off, would be worse if you sanded it but still wouldnt kill you.
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See, a big fuss over nothing. Just H&S people trying to generate more cash.
 
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