[redtrummy]

There was a date after Artex should be Asbestos free (as long as it wasn't old stock of course), around the late 90s I believe. It used white asbestos whose fibres are curly so tend not to stick in the lungs like brown or blue. There was some debate at the time as whether to classify it as a dangerous substance or not. Apparently in the hay day of the British motor industry the air in Coventry had more asbestos in it than what is now considered the legal limit. On the lads lounge ceiling we just covered it using the dry wall method, on smaller areas you can use the dry wall compound and skim it over with that, (after removing any spikes.) i did that in his small hall and downstairs toilet. Loads of y tube vids but it is harder than it looks on there.