Artex, a textured coating applied to walls and ceilings, was a staple of British home decoration from the 1970s through the 1990s. While its popularity has declined in favour of smooth plastered finishes, artexing remains a practical solution for hiding surface imperfections, adding visual interest, and creating durable, washable wall surfaces. The technique requires patience and a steady hand, but with the right preparation, any competent DIYer can achieve results that rival professional work. Before beginning any textured finish project, it helps to understand traditional plastering methods and their applications as the principles overlap considerably with artex application. This article covers everything you need to know about mixing, applying, texturing, and finishing artex on both walls and ceilings.
What Is Artex and Why Safety Testing Matters
Artex is a water-based textured coating made from a blend of plaster, cellulose, and other additives that create a thick, paste-like consistency when mixed with water. It is applied to interior walls and ceilings using trowels, brushes, rollers, and combs to produce a range of decorative finishes. The material was widely used because it was forgiving on uneven surfaces and took far less skill to apply than traditional skim plaster.
A critical safety consideration applies to artex installed before 1985, and in some cases up to 1990. During this period, many artex products contained white asbestos (chrysotile) fibres added to improve fire resistance and strength. If you are working on an existing artex finish in an older property, you must have it tested before any sanding, scraping, or removal work begins. Disturbing asbestos-containing artex releases hazardous fibres into the air. The official Health and Safety Executive asbestos guidance for buildings provides detailed information on identification and safe handling procedures. If the artex in your home was installed after 1990, it is highly unlikely to contain asbestos, but testing kits are inexpensive and provide peace of mind.
Tools and Materials for Artexing
Before you begin, assemble all the necessary tools and materials. Artex sets relatively quickly once mixed, so having everything to hand is essential for a smooth workflow. Below is a complete list of what you will need:
- Artex powder mix (available at builders merchants and DIY stores)
- A clean mixing bucket (at least 20 litres capacity)
- Heavy-duty drill with a mixing paddle attachment
- Bucket trowel for scooping and transferring the mix
- Plastering hawk for holding the mix while working
- Plastering trowel (stainless steel, 11 or 13 inch)
- Artex roller with a textured pattern sleeve (if using a rolled finish)
- Stippling brush (also called a stipple brush or texture brush)
- Artex comb or texturing rake for creating swept patterns
- Sponge and clean water for cleaning tools and blending edges
- Dust sheets and masking tape to protect floors and fittings
- Personal protective equipment including gloves, goggles, and a dust mask
The quality of your tools directly affects the final finish. Cheap trowels with rough edges will drag and tear the artex rather than spreading it smoothly. Invest in good-quality stainless steel tools and keep them clean throughout the job.
| Tool | Purpose | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Plastering trowel | Spreading and smoothing artex on surfaces | Plastic spreader (for small areas) |
| Stippling brush | Creating stipple and orange peel textures | Coarse sponge |
| Artex roller | Applying even patterned finishes quickly | Paint roller with textured sleeve |
| Texturing comb | Producing swirl and wave patterns | Plastic scrap comb |
| Mixing paddle | Blending artex powder with water | Hand mixing stick (not recommended) |
Step-by-Step Artex Application Process
Applying artex follows a sequence of distinct stages, each building on the last. Rushing any step will compromise the final finish, so work methodically and allow adequate drying time between stages. Understanding various decorative wall textures for home decor can help you choose a finish that suits your interior style before you begin.
Step 1: Prepare the Surface
The underlying surface must be clean, dry, and structurally sound. Fill any cracks or holes with a suitable filler and allow it to dry completely. If the ceiling or wall has been painted with gloss or silk paint, lightly sand the surface to provide a key for the artex to adhere to. Apply a mist coat of diluted emulsion if the surface is bare plaster, as this prevents the artex from drying out too quickly.
Step 2: Mix the Artex
Fill your mixing bucket with clean cold water, then gradually add the artex powder while stirring with the drill and paddle. Always add powder to water, never the reverse, as this prevents lumps from forming. The correct consistency is thick and self-supporting similar to clotted cream or stiff cake batter. If the mix is too runny, it will slide off the trowel and fail to hold its texture. If too stiff, it will be difficult to spread and will dry before you can work it.
Step 3: Lay On the Artex
Scoop the mixed artex onto your hawk using the bucket trowel, then transfer it to your plastering trowel. Spread the material onto the wall or ceiling in an even coat approximately 5 millimetres thick. Work in manageable sections of about one metre by half a metre this ensures the artex stays wet enough to texture. Do not attempt to cover an entire ceiling in one pass, as the material will begin to dry before you can create the finish.
Step 4: Create the Texture
With the artex laid on, immediately begin creating your chosen texture using the appropriate tool. For a stippled finish, bounce the stippling brush over the surface in a gentle pouncing motion, changing the brush angle each time to avoid creating square or repetitive patterns. Keep the brush clean by rinsing it in water every few passes, as excess artex builds up and alters the texture pattern.
Step 5: Blend Edges and Finish
Once the entire surface is covered and textured, blend the perimeter edges where the wall meets the ceiling. Use a two or three inch paintbrush to create a clean, flat border around the room. This tidy edge conceals any uneven texture near the joint and gives the finished work a professional appearance.
Popular Artex Textured Finishes
Artex offers remarkable versatility in the range of finishes that can be achieved. Each technique uses different tools and methods to produce a distinct visual effect. The choice depends on your skill level, the room size, and the overall decorative scheme.
- Stipple finish: The most common and beginner-friendly technique. The stippling brush is dabbed repeatedly across the wet artex to create a fine, even pebble texture. Varying the brush angle prevents visible patterns.
- Swirled finish: Created by dragging a texturing comb or brush through the wet artex in sweeping arcs and curves. This produces elegant flowing patterns that work particularly well on ceilings.
- Rolled pattern: An artex roller with a textured sleeve is passed over the freshly applied coating. The roller embosses a repeating pattern into the surface. This method is fast and produces consistent results across large areas.
- Skip trowel finish: A more advanced technique where the trowel is dragged across the surface at an angle, skipping over sections to create a weathered, mottled look similar to old Italian plaster.
- Broken comb finish: Similar to swirled but using short, broken strokes with a wide-toothed comb to produce a fragmented linear pattern that resembles wood grain or stone.
For those interested in maintaining textured surfaces long term, proper painting of a plastered surface after texturing is essential to seal and protect the finish. Each texture type requires slightly different painting techniques to ensure the paint reaches into all the crevices without bridging across raised areas.
If you are unsure which finish to choose, test each technique on a scrap piece of plasterboard before committing to the main surface. This practice run allows you to see how the artex behaves and confirms that the consistency is correct.
Drying, Painting, and Long-Term Care
Once you have finished texturing the entire surface, resist the temptation to go back and touch up areas. Overworking artex causes the material to lose its defined texture and can flatten raised areas, leaving uneven patches. Allow the artex to dry naturally for 12 to 24 hours depending on room temperature and humidity. The room should be above 5 degrees Celsius and well ventilated, but avoid direct heat from radiators or fan heaters as rapid drying can cause cracking.
When the artex is fully dry, apply a suitable sealer before painting. Bare artex is highly porous and will absorb moisture from paint unevenly, leading to a patchy finish. A dedicated artex sealer or a thinned emulsion mist coat provides an even base. Once sealed, apply two coats of standard emulsion paint using a roller with a thick nap (15 to 20 millimetres) to ensure paint reaches into all the textured grooves. For more detailed advice on surface preparation and coating selection, home improvement guides from consumer organisations offer practical recommendations on paint types and application methods for textured surfaces.
Over time, artex finishes are remarkably durable and require little maintenance beyond occasional dusting and repainting every five to ten years. However, if the texture becomes damaged or you wish to remove it entirely, professional removal is recommended, particularly if the material may contain asbestos. For those considering a return to smooth surfaces, it is worth studying common plastering defects and their remedies to understand the challenges that may emerge after removal and replastering.
Artexing remains a viable and cost-effective method of finishing walls and ceilings, particularly in older properties where uneven surfaces make smooth plastering difficult or prohibitively expensive. With proper preparation, the right tools, and a methodical approach, any competent DIY enthusiast can produce textured finishes that enhance the character and durability of their home for decades to come.