Full Artex removal

Artex stripped back to the original board or plaster using steam or chemical gel, once testing confirms the method. Process, timings and UK prices.

In short: Full Artex removal strips the textured coating off the ceiling or wall, usually by softening it with steam or a chemical gel and scraping it away, then making good the surface underneath. It suits jobs where the original surface needs to be exposed. In the UK it usually costs £25 to £45 per square metre for non-asbestos coatings.

Get a free quote

Fixed price, no obligation. We aim to reply the same day.

Full removal is slower and messier than skimming, so it is normally chosen for a specific reason: the ceiling is being opened up for rewiring or lots of downlights, the coating is flaking away, or a buyer or surveyor has asked for it to be gone rather than covered. Once it is off, there is no textured layer left to deal with in future.

The coating is never dry-sanded or power-scraped. It is softened, either with a steam stripper or a gel or paste stripper left to soak in, then lifted off with a scraper while still damp. The board underneath is usually marked and needs filling, and a finishing skim is often applied afterwards. If a test shows asbestos, the work follows HSE methods and the waste is handled as hazardous.

What is included

Asbestos testing or confirmation of a negative result before work begins
Full sheeting of floors and furniture, with doorways sealed
Softening the coating with steam or a gel stripper
Wet scraping the coating off the board or plaster
Bagging the waste and removing it from site
Filling, repairing and, where needed, skimming the stripped surface
Cleaning down the room at the end of the job

Who it is for

Ceilings being opened for rewiring or new lighting
Flaking or delaminating textured coatings
Restoration of original lath and plaster ceilings
Owners who want no coating left above the plaster
Walls where a textured finish is being taken back for tiling or panelling

How much does it cost?

As a guide, full removal of non-asbestos Artex usually costs £25 to £45 per square metre, plus making good. Removal of asbestos-containing coatings is usually £50 to £100 per square metre plus hazardous waste disposal. See our full cost guide.

How it works

How full artex removal works, step by step

Test first

A sample is analysed so the right method and waste route are used, as asbestos changes how removal must be done.

Contain the room

The room is cleared, floors and walls are sheeted, and doorways are sealed to stop debris travelling.

Soften and strip

The coating is softened with steam or gel and scraped off while damp to keep dust down.

Make good

The exposed surface is repaired and usually skimmed, then left to dry before decorating.

Full Artex removal: FAQs

Why not just sand the Artex off?

Sanding turns the coating into fine dust that spreads through the house, and if it contains asbestos it releases fibres that can be breathed in. Even a negative-testing coating produces a large amount of dust when sanded. Softening and wet scraping keeps the material damp and in larger pieces, which is far safer and cleaner.

Does steam or gel work better?

It depends on the coating. Steam works well on many water-based textured coatings and avoids chemicals. Gel or paste strippers are often more effective on coatings that have been painted many times, because they break down the paint layers too. Both leave the material damp, which keeps dust down.

Will removal damage my ceiling?

Plasterboard can be scuffed and its paper face lifted during removal, and old lath and plaster can be fragile. That is why a finishing skim is often applied afterwards. If the boards are badly damaged, overboarding or replacing the ceiling may be more practical than repairing it.

How long does full removal take?

A typical bedroom ceiling often takes two to three days including softening, stripping and making good, plus drying time before painting. Larger rooms, heavy patterns, many layers of paint and asbestos controls all add time. A whole house is usually planned room by room over one to two weeks.