Artex
Artex is a surface coating used for interior decorating, most often found on ceilings, which allows the decorator to add a texture to it. The name Artex is a trademark of Artex Ltd., a company based in the UK. The name is a genericised trademark often used to refer to similar products from other manufacturers. Since 2005, the company has belonged to France's Saint-Gobain group.[1]
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[edit] About Artex
Artex differs from plaster in that it was marketed as a material intended to receive a textured finish, thus enabling a ceiling to be finished without plastering skills. Artex was very widely used in Britain in the 1970s, mainly with the familiar stippled & swirled patterns. Sometimes it was even seen on walls, but a fall onto such a wall is not a pleasant experience.
Artex is still sold today, but the textured ceiling finishes are a good deal less popular.
One issue with artex ceilings is that matching the pattern seamlessly when repairing is impossible. The poor appearance of repaired ceilings did artex's popularity no favours.
[edit] Artex and health risks
Until the mid-1980s, the Artex coating was made with white asbestos to strengthen it. This means that only old artex manufactured by Artex Ltd will contain asbestos and most probably any Artex applied within the last 25 years will not contain any harmful material whatsoever. It is also worth noting that the texture is only harmful when in a powder form (i.e. being sanded) and poses no risk whatsoever while it is undisturbed on ceilings or walls and covered with emulsion paint.[2]
Removing even more modern non-asbestos coatings can expose the operator to hazardous dust particles. Older coatings, containing asbestos, pose a particularly serious hazard. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis, a fibrosing lung disease, pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining (pleura) of the lung, and peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining (peritoneum) of the abdomen. Those removing the coating or working with a surface covered with it should wear effective dust-proof protective clothing and masks – and the area being worked on should be sealed off. Professional advice is advisable. Removal of Artex is covered by the UK’s Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 2006, which make it illegal (if it contains asbestos) for a contractor not licensed by the country’s Health and Safety Commission to undertake most work on asbestos coatings.[3] However this has been recently reviewed. In the UK, once removed, Artex and any other substance containing asbestos must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If the coating is left alone and coated with paint and undamaged, it may be safe to leave the coating in place and managed 'in situ' by annual inspection.[4] Plastering over the coating may ensure it is safely encapsulated and the national website at artex.co.uk can help with this.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "History". Artex Ltd. http://www.artexltd.com/about_artex/history.aspx. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ "How do I know if the artex in my house has asbestos?". Yahoo! Answers. 2007-05-13. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070513031905AA630IB. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ "Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006". Health and Safety Executive. 2008-10-01. http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/regulations.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-16. "Most asbestos removal work must be undertaken by a licensed contractor but any decision on whether particular work is licensable is based on the risk."
- ^ "Where can asbestos be found - Ceiling Artex". Asbestos Surveying Limited. 2008-08-22. http://www.asbestossurveyingltd.co.uk/where_asbestos_ceiling_artex.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ "FAQs - Asbestos". Thurrock Council. 2004-12-21. http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/faq/content.php?page=faq&ID=4#faq37. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
[edit] External links
- Artex corporate website
- How to apply Artex and plaster
- How to apply Artex in 3 easy steps
- UK government advice on asbestos containing products removal
- Asbestos Artex Removal
- 1930's 'Textured' paints
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