Artex from hell

[fourstickymitts]

We?ve looked at a house which has a lot of potential but also has the most obnoxious Artex I?ve ever seen in my life in several large rooms. I?m not an Artex fan (can you tell ) but could live with something simple, like swirls or dimply pattern. Unfortunately, that?s not what the house has. We?re talking deep, freakishly large fan shapes. Yuck, just, yuck.

My question is: how much per square metre, for example, might it cost to have it skimmed over? The house is in central Scotland, if that makes a difference. Husband is very convinced that the cost would be a bit of a show stopper.

[DisparityCausesInstability]

We weren't able to get ours skimmed over - plaster board and skimming was the only option - not sure about costs per metre - it was done as a job lot.

[create]

Ooh we had the fans on the living and dining room ceilings. You have to admire the workmanship!

I was just skimmed over the - I think around £700

[DisparityCausesInstability]

£700 sounds expensive - how many days it it take?

[droves]

You can take it off with a walpaper steamer ... its a long hard task but worth it.

[7to25]

friends about ten years ago, bought a house in Glasgow with the most horrible artex imaginable. They really got it for a bargain price, the artex was everywhere and had been a bad DIY job. By having it done in a oner when they bought the house, skimmed over by a plastering company working in an empty house, they were able to keep costs reasonable.
they were also left with lovely paintable Walls. I think that they had some diving put up at the same time by the same firm.
Times are hard, so you should be able to get a reasonable quote.

[boardergirl]

I paid 160 to get living room (12 x 14ft) and bathroom ( 9 x 7ft) skimmed and on was done in half a day each room after prep time the day before. Money well spent cos we also had hideous fan shapes!

[fourstickymitts]

Thanks everyone. Also glad to know that I'm not the only one with a dislike for the fans.

[Pendeen]

fourstickymits

How old is the house? Artex in older properties - and here I mean generally the 1980s or before - often contained asbestos.

Plastering over the existing ceilings would be a fairly safe operation provided the existing surfaces were sound but you should never attempt to remove Artex until you have had a professional inspection and report.

[hellymelly]

I second the asbestos-get it tested.Our house is full of artex,in the attic room we had the whole ceiling pulled out and replaced (by specialists) as the artex had asbestos in.In the sitting room we had it skimmed over (no asbestos) we still have loads in the kitchen,that is asbestos free but hideous,sort of rough plaster style that looks like Christmas cake.I loathe it but its all over the walls as well as the ceiling so it has to wait until we have more money!

[fourstickymitts]

It's was built in 1997. I guess the first owners had 1970's tastes

Hellymelly, I think I read somewhere that you can sand the rough style down. Don't quote me, though

[hellymelly]

I think its unsandable sadly. -I did once rent a flat as a student,from a very dodgy landlord,and not only was in infested with fleas, but it had artex all over the walls,sort of spiked up into little peaks like sharp meringue.My flatmate and I had constant grazes and cuts from brushing against it.Never mind the probable asbestos. Anyway,ours is really really thick and roughly appiled and I can't imagine how one would ever sand it all. Would almost be easier to hammer it all off down to brick....(goes down to kitechen to mull over lump hammer)