artex ceiling & asbestos

[TheFunk]

I suspect the artex finish on my bathroom ceiling may contain asbestos as my house was built in 1969 and the ceiling looks original. I had planned to just screw plasterboard over the top but I really need to install an extractor fan over the shower which would require cutting a hole in the ceiling (ceiling is the only possible position for the fan).

Is cutting a hole a definite no no?! I've heard wetting the paint finish can help prevent dust but this doesn't sound reliable with the potential risks of asbestos. What happens if the paint is not wet enough or if any missed debris drys out?

Any suggestions most appreciated.
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moderator

your post has been split, please note 20

 

[Thermo]

use a decent mask and plastic dust sheets. its all about risk management. it may be present in the ceiling, it may not. if it is it will be white asbestos, which is the least harmful, and will be bound up in the artex and therefore very very little will become airborne. the exposure youll get from cutting one hole is unlikely to cause you any long term problems