Artex removal glossary
Plain-English explanations of the terms you will come across.
- Artex
- A brand name that became the everyday term for textured decorative coatings applied to UK ceilings and walls, mostly from the 1960s to the 1990s, in swirl, stipple and other patterns.
- Asbestos essentials
- HSE's series of task sheets setting out safe methods for common asbestos tasks, including removing textured coatings and drilling through them.
- Bonding agent
- A primer or sealer applied before plastering so the new plaster grips the surface and does not dry too quickly. Often a gritted primer or diluted PVA.
- Chrysotile
- White asbestos, the type most often found in textured coatings. It was added to strengthen the material and is harmful if fibres are released and breathed in.
- Encapsulation
- Sealing an asbestos-containing material so fibres cannot be released, for example by painting it or covering it with plaster or plasterboard.
- Gel stripper
- A paste or gel applied to textured coatings to soften them so they can be scraped off damp, keeping dust down during removal.
- Lath and plaster
- A traditional ceiling of narrow timber strips nailed to the joists and covered in lime or gypsum plaster, common in pre-war homes and often under Artex.
- Mist coat
- A first coat of emulsion thinned with water, applied to new plaster so it soaks in and gives a sound base for the top coats.
- Non-licensed work
- Asbestos work that does not need an HSE licence, such as drilling through or removing small areas of textured coating, but still requires training and controls.
- Notifiable non-licensed work
- Asbestos work, including larger scale removal of textured coatings with steam or gel, that must be notified to HSE first and requires medical surveillance and records.
- Overboarding
- Fixing new plasterboard over an existing ceiling into the joists, then skimming it. It seals in the old coating and gives a fresh, flat surface.
- Scrim tape
- A self-adhesive mesh tape bedded over plasterboard joints and cracks before skimming to reduce the chance of cracks reappearing in the finished surface.
- Skim coat
- A thin layer of finishing plaster, usually applied in two coats, trowelled flat and smooth to leave a surface ready for painting.
- Textured decorative coating
- The general term used by HSE and the trade for Artex-type finishes. Coatings applied before 2000 may contain a small amount of asbestos.
- UKAS-accredited laboratory
- A lab accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to analyse samples for asbestos, giving a reliable and documented test result.
Last updated 6 November 2026