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Artex Ceilings

I was wondering if anyone had any experience of getting rid of Artex ceilings on the cheap.

We have quite high ceilings so I was thinking of putting some battens through the artex into the ceiling joists and sheeting a new ceiling with tape and joint style boards. I'm not bad at patching in plaster with a float so do you think this is a feasible option?

Comments

  • naturals
    naturals Posts: 108 Forumite
    Tried steaming the walls - the state behind the paper was awful so I don't fancy trying it on the ceiling too much.
  • willu_2
    willu_2 Posts: 25 Forumite
    Please dont try and remove your artex, chances are it WILL contain asbestos!!!!
  • nelly_2
    nelly_2 Posts: 17,863 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    you say your not bad at patching plaster.... whats the biggest area you have done and was it a ceilling?

    Ceilings are a lot different to walls, or lets put it this way go and get a bag of sugar and hold it over your head for 2 hours :)

    Generally artex can be sorted out by just skimming over it.

    If its a really deep patern then board it, battens arnt needed just board into the joists that are there.
  • cargo
    cargo Posts: 468 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Depends what ya call cheap.
    For the best finish you need a plasterer.
  • naturals
    naturals Posts: 108 Forumite
    Well, I did a patch yesterday that was about 30x50cm at a guess. It came up suprisingly well - I didn't need to sand it back and it feels flush with the surrounding wall. I guess taping and jointing would mean joints of around 10-15cm (width) so I think it should look ok.

    Re the depth of the pattern - no more than 3-4mm I think.
  • Ericson_2
    Ericson_2 Posts: 46 Forumite
    I think pollycell have got a product that skims over Artex ceilings now to level them , Don't know how good it is,
    I used to be confused, now I just don't understand ;) :rotfl:
  • kittiwoz
    kittiwoz Posts: 1,321 Forumite
    Trying to remove Artex it, drill into it or sand it is dodgy because it creates dust and as willu says there's a good chance it contains asbestos depending on how old the ceiling is. Skiming over it is fine because it seals it in and prevents dust.
  • Ericson wrote:
    I think pollycell have got a product that skims over Artex ceilings now to level them , Don't know how good it is,

    I would say stay well clear of this product as I fell for the advertising on this product, absolute rubbish, might as well of burnt the £33 or so I spent on the smoothover + application tool, will now need to pay a plasterer to do the job properly (and that was on a very small area of ~1-2 sq.m, to do a room size ceiling would have cost a small fortune).

    Have since found the following site with a few reviews of the product on, all say pretty much the same.

    http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews93950.html

    p.s. none of the reviews are from me - well not yet.
  • nelly_2
    nelly_2 Posts: 17,863 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    naturals wrote:
    Well, I did a patch yesterday that was about 30x50cm at a guess. It came up suprisingly well - I didn't need to sand it back and it feels flush with the surrounding wall. I guess taping and jointing would mean joints of around 10-15cm (width) so I think it should look ok.

    Re the depth of the pattern - no more than 3-4mm I think.

    Skim over it 3/4 mill is nothing.
    Pva it, twice, first let both coats set.

    I reckon youd be best getting a plasterer in it'll be between £100 to 150 @ a guess. Well thats what I charge anyway.
  • wobbley
    wobbley Posts: 1,965 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Without sounding like I'm trying to suck up to Nelly (!!!)
    He's right, you'd be far better (and probably cheaper in the long run) getting a plasterer to do it. Plastering (properly) is not a skill - it's an art.
    Light blue touchpaper and stand well back !
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