Can you plaster over artex walls?

Yes, you can plaster over artex walls. Just be aware that artex can contain asbestos – so until you know whether yours does, it pays to be careful. Asbestos was originally added to plaster to create the texture for patterning, but this was banned in 1999. So, if your house was built prior to 1999

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Yes, you can plaster over artex walls. Just be aware that artex can contain asbestos – so until you know whether yours does, it pays to be careful.

Asbestos was originally added to plaster to create the texture for patterning, but this was banned in 1999. So, if your house was built prior to 1999, there’s a good chance that your artex contains asbestos.

To be sure, you can buy an asbestos testing kit or pay a professional to test it for you. If you’re not sure, it’s best to treat your artex walls as if they contain asbestos, just in case.

Plastering over artex walls that don’t contain asbestos

If you know your artex walls don’t have asbestos, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Scrape off as much of the swirls and dimples as possible

2. Clean up thoroughly

3. Coat the walls with PVA

4. Follow up with a skim coat of plaster

Plastering over artex walls that may contain asbestos

If your artex contains asbestos – or you’re not sure whether it does – you should avoid scraping it (even wearing a mask). This is because breathing in asbestos can be dangerous to your health. Instead, you may be able to:

1. Coat the walls with bonding

2. Apply PVA

3. Follow up with a skim coat of plaster

If the artex stipple is quite extreme, you may not be able to plaster over it without scraping. In this case, it’s probably going to be best to pay for someone to remove the artex. Bear in mind that a licensed professional must remove plaster containing asbestos.

If you’re not sure of the best way to deal with your artex walls, get a plasterer in to take a look. They’ll be able to advise you on whether it’s possible to plaster over them and how best to get the finish you want. Our guide to the cost of plastering a room has more information.

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