Artexing, the practise of decorative ceiling/interior wall space plastering takes its name from the product Artex. A coating for surfaces that allows textured designs to be added to it has been a feature in our homes and workplaces for decades. The most common design of an artexed ceiling is that of many circles created side by side.
Where did the name Artex come from originally? The ceiling finisher was named after the company Artex Ltd, which once was a British company but since 2005 has been part of the Saint-Gobain company in France.
Unfortunately, Artex has suffered some health issues over recent years. Up until the nineteen eighties, Artex was produced by adding asbestos to it in order to strengthen it. The key is to avoid any Artex products manufactured previous to 1985 and to only handle artexed ceilings produced prior to this period with protective clothing and a mask. Exposure to highly toxic asbestos is incredibly dangerous and should only occur when taking extreme protective and preventative measures.
If Artex requires removal, the practise of this is bound by the Asbestos Regulations of 2006. In essence, it is illegal to remove artex containing asbestos unless licensed by the Health and Safety Commission.
When removing Artex or any other asbestos product, contractors must ensure the area is sealed off in addition to workers wearing protective work wear.
When discarding removed asbestos containing Artex, the remains are to be treated as ‘hazardous waste’.
A form of plastering, Artex has gone from strength to strength now that the asbestos question has been dealt with. Plastering was used for the painting of the Sistine Chapel, Rome, which was produced using the Fresco technique (a painting on a thin layer of plaster) by Michelangelo. If it is good enough for the Pope, it is good enough for us!
When providing Artex related services into the home or workplace, it is vital that certain liability insurance is in place in case of an accident involving the product or when administering the product. Whilst certain larger corporate enterprises insist on insurance from their tradesmen contractors it is essential that insurance cover is in place whenever a new job (private or commercial) is taken on.
In the event of damage to property during the artexing of a building, the customer could very likely take the artexing firm to court for compensation. To avoid potentially disastrous impact of such an effort, all Artexers should ensure they are fully insured.