Artex Ceilings, we have all seen them – Friend or Foe?
We’ve all come across artex ceilings at some point. You may have friends or family with the swirled and wavy ceiling, or maybe your house currently has it? Easily distinguishable from the swirls, lumps and bumps, artex ceilings are more common in older properties.
When done correctly it can look quite effective, but when done poorly, it is a real eye sore. Have you made up your mind about whether you like artex style ceilings? If not, the points below might help you to decide whether artex is your friend to stay, or your foe (in which case, you may want to take steps to get it removed).
Artex: The Friendly Side.
As mentioned above, artex ceiling designs can look really impressive when done properly, especially when a decent pattern is used. It can bring character to the room and make it standout from any other.
Artex ceilings were a big trend back in the 70’s, however and in today’s world, it isn’t such a popular choice for homeowners. However, most people and potential buyers see past artex ceilings when buying a house. As ceilings are high above and out of the way, it doesn’t take much away from the rest of the room.
If you are after a décor vibe from the past, then artex may just be the thing for you. Artex doesn’t have to look ugly, if done properly. So if you are currently on the hunt for a new home, don’t rule out an artex ceiling, just make a note on how it makes you feel with the rest of the room and property. It may well fit in quite well, or be done so subtly, no one could tell.
Don’t shy away from artex completely; it can have a friendly side.
Artex: The Foe Side.
I currently live in a flat that has artex ceilings and they are awful for several reasons. The first reason is that they were done badly, there is no nice pattern or subtle design. In some rooms, it is covered in thick horrid drips coming from the ceiling, and in others, it’s just random squiggles. It really is an eye sore.
The second reason artex isn’t a good idea, is that if you happen to get some damp and mould problems, trying to clean it off the ceiling is a nightmare. You can’t get to it properly because it gets into the detail of the artex, which will end up making the mould worse as it grows. On the ceilings you can get to, you are likely to graze your knuckles on the lumps and bumps dripping down and they can be so sharp that they can cut you. Whether you try a cloth, a sponge or even a toothbrush, it just does not come out completely.
This is just my personal account for artex ceiling, however there are other factors that very much make it a foe.
Until the mid-80’s, artex was made with asbestos to help strengthen it, which as we know, isn’t a good thing. Unless you get it checked or know when your house was built, you may have asbestos artex in your rooms. This leads to other problems. For example, if you wanted to get rid of the artex and do the work yourself, when you scrap it off as preparation to smooth over the ceiling, you could make the asbestos airborne.
Artex: The Choice Is Yours.
If you have artex ceilings and don’t like it, then thankfully, you don’t have to be stuck with the foe. If you did want to remove artex yourself, then there are plenty of methods for dealing with it online, like plastering over it or creating a false ceiling. However, this can be very time consuming, so you can always get it removed by a professional tradesman who will carry the job out safely and leave you with fresh smooth ceiling. What do you think about artex? Friend or foe?