Selling Your Home? Why You Need To Remove The Artex Discussed by Eco Solutions
Artex was around a lot in the ’70s and ’80s and was actually an interior design must in those times. It is a surface coating that was used and still sometimes used for decorating. It allows a professional plasterer or decorator to add raised texture and patterns to ceilings or walls. The name Artex is a trademark of Artex Ltd, which is a UK company, there are other similar products out there, however, Artex has become the name used across the board for all of these products. Textured wall, ceiling removal is difficult and can be dangerous if you don’t use the right wet system removal product like X-Tex.
Artex is associated with asbestos and until 2000 Artex and other textured wall coverings contained asbestos which is a dangerous substance. Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres, which if inhaled can damage your lungs and cause other serious diseases immediately or in the long term if exposed to it.
Artex was originally made with white asbestos which was used to strengthen and harden it. Artex (the company) stopped using asbestos in the mid-80s, however, other manufacturers may have continued to use it up until it became illegal for asbestos to be used in these types of products in 2000.
Asbestos is only harmful when it is in powder form and it should pose no risk when it is undisturbed. For example, when it is being sanded and removed this is when the dust particles can be extremely dangerous. Using Eco Solutions X-Tex Artex Removal Product means you are using a wet working removal system and you will not be put at risk of asbestos poising or harmful dust particles. If the house was built prior to 2000 it is likely it will contain asbestos.
If you are removing non-asbestos textured wall or ceiling coatings it can still expose you to dust particles which can still be harmful to your lungs, however, using the Eco Solutions X-Tex Wet Removal System means you won’t be exposed to any harmful dust particles.
Eco Solutions X-Tex Artex Removal Product is a wet system removal product meaning you aren’t exposed to harmful dust and, or asbestos fibres, it is non-toxic and it easily and safely removes textured ceiling or wall coverings. X-Tex is used by many professionals for Artex removal and textured wall and ceiling covering removal whether it contains asbestos or not.
Why Do You Need to Remove Textured Coverings When Selling Your home?
Textured wall and ceiling coverings are no longer an interior design trend and will make a home look dated even if it is freshly painted. Most people now like smooth plastered walls and ceilings or wallpaper. If you are selling your house and you have textured coatings then you should seriously think about removing them and giving it a fresh coat of paint before you put it on the market.
People don’t like the look of textured wall and ceiling coverings anymore and often can’t see past them to visualise what it will look like with smooth plastered walls. This will put people off making an offer on your home.
People will be put off buying your home as they think it will cost them a lot to remove the textured coatings using a specialist. There are a lot of decorators out there now that just don’t want the job of removing it.
People will feel it is a lot of work to remove textured wall and ceiling coverings themselves and will often not even offer on your home or will offer way under its value and asking price.
People associate textured wall and ceiling coverings with asbestos and poisoning even if it was done after 2000 and they will shy away from being associated with it or living in a home that once had it. Removal yourself means you are offering potential buyers a clean and smooth finish with no awareness of what was once there making it look tired and dated.
Even if there is no asbestos but your house has textured walls and ceilings it still often affects the valuation of your property due to its appeal and the amount of work a buyer would have to do to remove it. The extent to which the presence of asbestos and, or just textured wall and ceiling coverings will affect property value will also depend upon a number of factors, such as how much is present, where it is, and what state it’s in.
If your home has textured wall or ceiling coverings then the risk of asbestos poisoning is minimal as long as there are no major cracks in it, however, it will significantly reduce the value of your home so it is always best to remove it before you put it on the market. You don’t have to advise any potential house buyers you previously had textured wall or ceiling coatings and they will see your home with smooth and freshly painted walls and ceilings and very much a blank canvass for them to stamp their mark on it.
It isn’t illegal to sell a property with asbestos, however, you will have to disclose its presence if you are aware of it. The Property Misdescriptions Act of 2013 states that it is an offence to withhold such information, and failing to abide by the law could invalidate the sale and result in prosecution. therefore it’s best to remove it before you market your home.
If you are not aware of asbestos in your home but a buyer’s survey uncovers it, there are no repercussions for you and there are is no law stating you have to be aware of it when selling a property. It’s probably better to know what you are dealing with a get your own survey done before you put your home on the market as this means you will know exactly where you stand and have no unwanted surprises once you have received an offer.
If your house was built prior to 2000 you could also have asbestos in:
- Roof shingles and flashing
- Roofs, either corrugated roofing or felt lining
- Floor tiles most commonly in 9×9 patterns
- Ceiling tiles
- Textured walls and ceilings
- Airing cupboards
- Around boilers
- Behind fuse boxes
- Pipe lagging
- Soffits
- Around water tanks
- Behind fireplaces
- Guttering
- Panelling
- Siding
- Roof or pipework insulation
- Pipe cement
- The joint compound of sheetrock
- Uninsulated pipes with white or grey installation
Asbestos can become harmful:
- Asbestos around heat sources (boilers, furnaces, flue pipes, chimneys) deteriorates due to the temperature
- Water pipes containing asbestos can break down over time
- Drilling or patching into walls or ceilings with asbestos could release the fibres
- Continued deterioration of insulation containing asbestos
TradesmenCosts Say
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Use a chemical such as X-tex for Artex Removal
Use a chemical gel to dissolve the Artex. X-Tex is a water-based gel that softens textured coatings such as Artex. About 2.5L of X-Tex will be enough to treat about 5 to 7 m2 depending on the thickness of the Artex. After applying the chemical you can scrape the gel from the plasterboard, leaving the ceiling intact. If you use X-Tex, you’ll keep the Artex wet at all times so there will be less chance of floating fibres in the room. The gel keeps the dissolved Artex and asbestos stable. But you should continue to treat it as hazardous asbestos waste and take it to a registered waste site. This method is suitable for DIY.
Is Artex Removal Safe?
Yes, as long as you use a method that keeps the Artex wet. This will prevent dry dust and fibres from becoming airborne. Two ways of wet removal include using X-Tex or a similar chemical gel, or by using a wallpaper steamer and scraper.
About Eco Solutions X-Tex
The X-Tex product was researched, developed and manufactured in the UK by Eco Solutions.
It allows the removal of textured coatings such as Artex removal without causing dust from the harmful asbestos fibres, or just dust which can also be dangerous to inhale if removing large areas. It was formulated by Eco Solutions from the most advanced, innovative water-based technology using “science not solvents”.
X-Tex Removal Solution is:
- A safe water-based product
- Non-toxic
- Non-hazardous
- Non-caustic
- PH Neutral
X-Tex Removal Solution is Safe:
- No fumes created during the removal process
- No risk of skin burns
- It is a non-flammable product
- Non-combustible
- It doesn’t need any ventilation when being used
- X-Tex clings to all surfaces that you want to remove and it stays wet for long periods of time, enabling removal of large surface areas in one go with no risk of dust or asbestos particles if you keep it wet when working with it
How Do You Use X Tex for Textured Wall & Ceiling Covering Removal?
Prices to remove a textured wall and ceiling covering will vary by professional, however, on average it costs around £1200 plus VAT to remove an area of around 20 sqm. Using our safe, non-toxic X-Tex gel product will remove it quickly and efficiently and at a significantly lower cost. Most professionals use X-Tex themselves Artex removal or textured wall or ceiling covering removal.
X-Tex uses a working wet system meaning the artex® is kept wet at all times which results in no asbestos fibres becoming airborne, and when scraped will fall directly to the floor (we recommend covering the floor with lots of old newspapers and just wrap the artex® up in the paper, bag and dispose of at your local council recycling centre. Most refuse sites now take asbestos waste).
- Cover the floor with an old sheet or newspaper
- Use an old paintbrush and generously coat the textured surface with the X-Tex gel
- Try covering the surface with foil or cling film and this helps to keep the product wet whilst it is working its magic
- Leave it for an hour and then check to see if it has softened the texture
- If not leave it again, as long as the X-Tex stays wet you can leave it for up to 24 hours. Never scrape the wall or ceiling if the product has dried as the wetness ensures there are no harmful asbestos or dust particles released into the air when during removal. You can spray the product with water to make ensure it stays wet throughout the removal process
- When the surface has softened, use a long-handled flat-edged blade scraper and get underneath the textured layer. The scraper will help to lift it from the surface rather than spreading it around the wall
Read our full Artex FAQ’s here which includes a demo video of textured wall and ceiling covering removal and customer reviews and experiences too.
Home Buyer Insight
HOME SWEET HOME? Woodchip, statement walls and carpeted bathrooms voted the biggest interior design fails… but how many are YOU guilty of?
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MANY people love being at home – but there are some interior design features that are seriously off-putting for Brits.
A new survey has found the UK’s least favourite home details, so how many of these do you have in your house?
The most offensive design element for Brits was having woodchip walls, which was all the rage in the UK from the 1960s onwards.
Around 30 per cent of Brits said they hated the feature, which could be partly due to the fact it is extremely difficult to remove.
In second place was Artex walls and ceiling, which was despised by nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of those surveyed.
The coating allows decorators to add texture to the surface, often in swirls, and again, is rather tricky to get rid of.
Carpeted bathrooms were the third most hated feature (23 per cent), followed by statement walls (15 per cent) and quotes put on walls (eight per cent).
The survey was conducted by Terry’s Fabrics and included data from 1,000 people on how satisfied they were with their home.
Results found that over a third of Brits weren’t happy with their home, and a quarter weren’t pleased from the moment they moved in.
It was unsurprising therefore that more than one in four admitted they should have invested more time in finding the right home before they moved in.
THE TOP MOST HATED HOUSE FEATURES
Woodchip (30%)
Artex walls /ceilings (24%)
Carpeted bathrooms (23%)
Statement walls (15%)
Quote decals (8%)
Location, Location, Location star Phil Spencer reveals unusual property must-have for 2018
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PHIL SPENCER is one of the most recognisable faces on British television, having presented the hit show Location, Location, Location since 2000. The Kent native is a property aficionado, and revealed what he thinks is the property must have for 2018 – does your home have one?
Phil Spencer, 48, has been a regular fixture on British television for the past 18 years.
He is the co-host of Channel 4 property show, Location, Location, Location, a show which sees him travel the length and breadth of the country finding homes for Britons with his co-star, Kirstie Allsopp.
The property stalwart has now partnered up with Barclays, creating the 2018 Barclays home improvement report which reveals some very interesting insights into the property demands of Britons.
The innovative report revealed that Britons are now staying put for nearly two decades in their homes, deciding to renovate and embark on DIY rather than move on.
“Square footage is why people redo their houses, it’s in their hands and it’s cheaper. Whether it be in the garden or a conservatory.”
This coincides with the research from Barclays, which revealed that 25 percent of Britons do home improvements to increase the value of their property.
“Adding square footage is a clever improvement because it’s cheaper to build, people are wanting more land,” continues Phil.
“It is cheaper to keep a house and add on land than buy a house with more land. That’s why home improvements are popular.”
Along with adding extra space to properties, Britons are now demanding something more niche from their houses – a larder.
“You know, larders and pantry, which is surprising,” continued Phil on what he dubbed the “property trend of the year”.
Dubbed as the property trend of 2018, larders and pantries join sustainability and bi-folding doors as one of the hottest property must-haves in the UK.
But home sustainability doesn’t mean solar panels, wind farms and going off-grid, it can be as simple as ensuring your home is energy efficient.
“Check spaces like your bathroom,” advises Phil. “We had a hole in our bathroom by the sink where energy and heat were escaping.
“You can get someone in to see where you are losing energy and outs was in the bathroom.
The star also recommended smart metres and boiler insulation to boost your home’ efficiency.
On the other end of the spectrum, the report by Barclays also names and shames the worst home faux pas in the country.
Coming in top was woodchip wallpaper, with 60 percent of Britons being adverse to the dated designs.
Also disliked by Britons were next were mirrored ceilings, carpeted bathrooms, ugly blinds and fake beams, sentiments Phil himself shares.
On discussing what home trends he dislikes himself, the property expert reveals: “Ugly blinds, fake beams, artex ceilings, wood chip, – unfortunately, they’re all quite hard to get rid of and can be costly and difficult to change.
“A few years ago wood chip wouldn’t be so much of a turn-off, but it is now.”
Thinking of doing any DIY to get rid of that wood chip wallpaper or artex ceiling?
“Any DIY disaster can be easily noticed, so making sure you know what you’re doing is important,” advises Phil.
“Buyers or visitors will be able to see a mile off DIY mistakes and then that could make them think the whole house isn’t up to scratch.
“A lick of paint goes a long way, and re-carpeting, both are easy to do, with very little cost.”
What are the UK’s worst décor trends?
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According to new research by online estate agents Hatched, when it comes to décor trends, Brits are a nation of interior design fanatics and have very strong tastes when it comes to home décor. However, even accounting for the all to fickle nature of fashion, it’s hard to believe that some of these ‘trends’ were ever acceptable.
So, what horrors did Hatched find?
Well, topping the list as the item least likely to be making a comeback was 1970s favourite, the furry toilet seat cover, with 44% of those asked voting it as a décor faux pas.
Claiming the second-place crown was the not-so-vegan-friendly trend of taxidermy, which scooped up 28% of the votes, closely followed by the popcorn ceiling – which is perhaps an all too familiar site in many homes.
Making up the rest of the top 10 worst trends are: artex plastering, velvet sofas, beaded curtains, animal print, pebble dashing, acrylic furniture, deep shag pile carpeting.
27% of prospective buyers say that furniture and decoration has a significant impact on their buying intention.
Do you have the UK’s most HATED interior design feature in your home?
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Getting your interiors scheme just right takes both a keen sense of style and a whole lot of shopping hours. That’s why it’s no surprise that homeowners end up with the occasional design disaster.
Now new research from Terry’s Fabrics has revealed the one interior design feature that homeowners and potential buyers hate most – and it won’t come as a surprise to many.
The piece of dodgy decor in question is the 70s’ heirloom that is woodchip, with 30 per cent of those surveyed revealing that they couldn’t stand the stuff.
Painted woodchip walls are the bane of any budding DIYer and often require a wallpaper stripper and a lot of elbow grease to fully remove.
Next up in the list of property peeves is artex walls/ceilings (24 per cent) followed by carpeted bathrooms (23 per cent).
The next two items in the list are all things that could make the transition from tragic to tasteful in the right hands. They are statement walls (15 per cent) in fourth place and quote decals (8 per cent) in fifth.
Signs of asbestos in the home
The only surefire way to determine if your home has asbestos is to get professionals involved.
That means to contact a reliable consulting firm, specialist or building inspector who will come in, take very small samples, and test them in a laboratory for the presence of asbestos. This is not something you can just look and spot with your own eye. Depending on how extensive the search is – and where the inspectors or services need to look – it can cost anywhere from £100 all the way to £1000.
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About Eco Solutions
We are a world-leading technology and innovation-driven company that has developed internationally leading-edge water-based paint strippers, coatings removers and associated products.
Eco Solutions is dedicated to providing safer and eco-friendly alternatives to hazardous solvents for use by consumers, as well as in a variety of applications across different industries.
You can find a stockist near you here.