Is this asbestos?

Pulsedriver · 14 Jan 2016 at 15:59

Hey folks pulled down a spotlight from the bathroom ceiling earlier and saw grey stuff Inbetween ceiling and loft space

I was going to swap the lights out but don't fancy doing it if I am gonna be causing harmful dust everywhere ! The holes are already cut I wouldn't cut more but taking old ones out seems to cause plaster(and who knows what else) to flake everywhere!
House is a 1970s build but the bathroom ceiling is flat I am guessing previous owners did it but not sure whether skimmed artex or new ceiling!

The rest of the house was artex before we had it skimmed over.

Grimley · 14 Jan 2016 at 16:41

Only way to find out is to get it tested. Older Artex can contain asbestos too.

Diddums · 14 Jan 2016 at 16:53

Asbestos can look like many things and many things can look like asbestos, unfortunately it's not that easy to pinpoint in a situation like this without getting it tested.

***Don't try this at home kids***

Personally, I'd get someone to stand next to me with a hoover and hoover up any falling debris as I carried out the work carefully. I'd wear a dust mask from Homebase or wherever which seals well. This amount of exposure won't be doing much harm but ensure I'd ensure I take every precaution to avoid inhaling it.

I'm a mans man though and will probably die at 50 from being a badass DIYer.

BF-Bert · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:00

Looks like normal skimmed plasterboard

Russinating · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:03

As above, looks like normal plasterboard. Regardless, white asbestos which is what would be in any artex or similar is the least harmful and in tiny quantities (1-5%). Seeing as you're not even drilling any more holes and the work is so minor I would side with Diddums.

Hyburnate · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:10

Looks absolutely fine

It's ceiling tiles that always scare me

Pulsedriver · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:18

Hey folks, yeah the artex that was around the house on the other ceilings, the plasterer didn't want to scrape back, he basically just used PVA and plastered straight over the artex when we did all the other rooms, other plasterers had said they would scrape it but I preferred to go with one who said he wouldn't! (Given the 70's build I just assume it will contain asbestos in the artex)
That bathroom was already done before we bought the house, we just did the rest of the rooms.

I was trying to see if I could see any artex under the plasterboard, but the main thing I wondered was about that big thick grey paste stuff, that's what I thought might have also been asbestos cement or something...

Russinating · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:22

I know it's a bit late now but it's only £40-60 to get asbestos tested. We had the artex in our place tested pre-purchase and none of it came back positive. As a result we have and will rip the ceilings down ourselves, with no knowledge or assumptions we could have spent thousands getting pros in!

Pulsedriver · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:23

True, I think if I was going to do any kind of drilling or sanding I would deffo get it checked, what year is your house out of curiosity?

Russinating · 14 Jan 2016 at 19:45

1870s but most likely last decorated around 1975 when the previous owner moved in, judging by the artex, anaglypta wallpaper and wooden fireplaces.

PlacidCasual · 14 Jan 2016 at 21:33

Diddums said:
Personally, I'd get someone to stand next to me with a hoover and hoover up any falling debris as I carried out the work carefully. I'd wear a dust mask from Homebase or wherever which seals well. This amount of exposure won't be doing much harm but ensure I'd ensure I take every precaution to avoid inhaling it.

I'm a mans man though and will probably die at 50 from being a badass DIYer.

Never use a vacuum cleaner on suspected asbestos the filter won't trap the particles and you will be blowing them into the air increasing the likelihood of exposure. Any suspect asbestos should be sprayed with water and cleaned with a dust pan and brush if you must move it. If you thought it was asbestos insulation as opposed to cement then get professionals, but this is very unlikely in the home.

MuvverRussia · 15 Jan 2016 at 20:27

PlacidCasual said:
If you thought it was asbestos insulation as opposed to cement then get professionals, but this is very unlikely in the home.

Insulation is pretty unlikely, but Asbestos Insulation Board is a possibility in houses. Pretty nasty stuff although safe if in good condition and undisturbed. Think there was a thread on here a while ago with a guy who had a load in the ceiling of his garage.

That said, it's kind of pointless worrying too much, but it's worth having a rough idea of where stuff may be to avoid disturbing it too much. Bit crap that it was such a popular product in the UK 30-60 years ago!