A: In short, yes you can! If the artex in your home is in good condition and there are no breakages then it is safe to cover the artex with plasterboard and skim over it with a fresh layer of plaster. Before you remove Artex from your wall or ceiling, it's advised to test a small area first. This will give you a good idea on the time it will take to complete your project. If you do decide to move forward with popcorn ceiling texture removal, you’ll want to begin with a scrape test. In an inconspicuous spot (a closet if possible), moisten the surface by misting it with water and let it sit for 15 minutes to soak in. Then use a putty knife held at a low angle to see how easily the texture scrapes away. You’ll know right away if paint is keeping water from penetrating and loosening the texture. If you can’t easily scrape away the texture, there isn’t an easy way to strip the texture from the ceiling in the room. Think carefully about continuing. It may be that hours of tough work will be in your future. As we have discussed the tools and safety equipment, it’s now time to look at the materials you will need to safely remove Artex from your walls or ceiling. The length of the hair on the roller has much more pile which can be used to fill in all those hard to reach areas when painting. You should consider using an emulsion paint.

It is strongly advised you don’t break off any of the artex to send as a sample yourself, as you could risk exposure to harmful fibres.

Our next job is having a kitchen fitted at the end of July, and so we've been having quotes from plasterers to do the walls and ceilings. Every plasterer we've had has suggested scraping the artex (as it has pointy bits) and then plastering over, but I can't help thinking this is a bad idea considering the asbestos. Expect that some scrapes and gouges will occur. Fix by smoothing over with drywall compound, then lightly sanding. Also protect the wall by hanging drop-cloths using painters’ tape positioned about 5mm below the ceiling. With difficult ceilings, it's often best to cover the popcorn texture with 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch drywall instead of removing it.

If your home was constructed between 1985-1999 then your home is less likely to contain asbestos in the artex. If your home was built after 1999 then the Artex in your home will not contain any asbestos. You don't have permission to access "http://www.homedepot.com/p/Homax-Ceiling-Texture-Scraper-for-Popcorn-Ceiling-Removal-6104/202061374" on this server. You don't have permission to access "http://www.homedepot.com/b/Paint-Paint-Supplies-Paint-Tools-Paint-Scrapers/N-5yc1vZci29" on this server. You will also receive a certification with your results, which would be perfect if you are trying to sell your house. Q: When did they stop using asbestos in artex? A: As a general rule of thumb if your home was built before the mid 1980s, then your artex in your home is likely to contain asbestos.

You don't have permission to access "http://www.homedepot.ca/product/homax-popcorn-ceiling-texture-scraper-6204/1001076387" on this server. Even though the X-Tex product is safe to use and ensures that no dust will escape during the usage, we would still advise you to protect yourself and use a dust mask whilst removing the artex. Oooh, this is the kind of scraper I mean: https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-long-handled-scraper-6/87299