Artex

[Yorkshire Vixen]

ill throw this out to any DIY-ers out there, whats the best way of removing artex of ceilings??? i know theres a product that specific for this job (x-tex) but im wondering whether its best getting a professional in to remove it/plaster/skim over it and what kind of cost are we talking about??

 

[bocadillo]

ill throw this out to any DIY-ers out there, whats the best way of removing artex of ceilings??? i know theres a product that specific for this job (x-tex) but im wondering whether its best getting a professional in to remove it/plaster/skim over it and what kind of cost are we talking about??

First thing that you need to find out is how old the Artex is; if it's very old, it might contain asbestos and then you are into a completely different ball-game.

Artex can be steamed off or removed with a product such as the one you quote - but, either way, it is very messy and at the end of it you might not be left with a surface you can paint without further preparation work (papering?). You can skim over but this might be difficult if the 'patterning' of the Artex is very irregular. It might be quicker and easier just to board over it and re-plaster but an already low ceiling might militate against that.

I wouldn't particularly call it a DIY job unless you are very good at DIY - and if it is old and contains asbestos, you're not going to be able to DIY. The only way to get a real idea of the cost is to get a two or three builders in to suggest their solution to your problem and give you a price.

 

[Yorkshire Vixen]

First thing that you need to find out is how old the Artex is; if it's very old, it might contain asbestos and then you are into a completely different ball-game.

Artex can be steamed off or removed with a product such as the one you quote - but, either way, it is very messy and at the end of it you might not be left with a surface you can paint without further preparation work (papering?). You can skim over but this might be difficult if the 'patterning' of the Artex is very irregular. It might be quicker and easier just to board over it and re-plaster but an already low ceiling might militate against that.

I wouldn't particularly call it a DIY job unless you are very good at DIY - and if it is old and contains asbestos, you're not going to be able to DIY. The only way to get a real idea of the cost is to get a two or three builders in to suggest their solution to your problem and give you a price.

im guessing the artex is approx 15yrs old, but like you say will probably get a couple of quotes

 

[bocadillo]

im guessing the artex is approx 15yrs old, but like you say will probably get a couple of quotes

I believe they stopped putting asbestos in it in the early 80s, so it looks as though you will be OK on that score. If it were me and my ceilings were high enough, I would take the easy route and have the ceilings overboarded - quick, easy and the minimum of mess - wouldn't be surprised if it comes out cheaper too.

Are we talking about walls too, or only ceilings?

 

[Yorkshire Vixen]

I believe they stopped putting asbestos in it in the early 80s, so it looks as though you will be OK on that score. If it were me and my ceilings were high enough, I would take the easy route and have the ceilings overboarded - quick, easy and the minimum of mess - wouldn't be surprised if it comes out cheaper too.

Are we talking about walls too, or only ceilings?

hopefully just the ceiling but were stripping the walls and will be re-painting them just hope theyre smooth and ok to paint straight over

 

[drew]

In my house they Artexed the whole kitchen, walls to ceilings!!

I scored all of Artex with a stanley knife and used a steamer to remove it. Was a right pain to do and had huge blisters on my hands from the scraper.

Could you over board it and get someone to skim the boards?

 

[The Major]

What Boc has said so far is correct. If the Artex is only 15 years old you should be safe from asbestos.

It depends what you're going to put on the ceiling afterwards. If you're putting a textured wallpaper over the ceiling afterwards you could just get a wide scraper to knock off the highlights and then skim over the ceiling with fresh artex.

You can strip it off with a steam stripper but it is a dirty, unpleasant job and in all probability you would fetch off the tape between the joints in the boards. It's unlikely that the surface would be good enough to paint.

Alternatively you can get a plasterer to plaster over it which will probably give you the best finish.

 

[LS6_Fox]

YV I know a couple of plasterers over your neck of the woods, if you wanted to go the plastering route.

 

[spionfox]

YV I know a couple of plasterers over your neck of the woods, if you wanted to go the plastering route.

Always helps to get plastered.

 

[LS6_Fox]

Always helps to get plastered.

Very true my friend.

 

[Yorkshire Vixen]

YV I know a couple of plasterers over your neck of the woods, if you wanted to go the plastering route.

seriously???? if so then yeah that would be good thanks

 

[highland fox]

Get a man in YV

 

[DesertFox]

Simple. Burn the house down, claim on the insurance, and not only do you get the Artex removed, you also get a whole new house! :icon_bigg