Plastering over artex, am I being ripped off?

[Humptynumpty02]

I think I already know the answer to this question so perhaps I should have phrased it, I'm being ripped off but on what scale...

We've just purchased a new house, a 70's build with a face only a mother could love, but with bags of potential. One of the many items that needs sorting out is the artex ceilings throughout.

We've had a recommended plasterer come in and quote us for skimming over the artex (not removing) and is quoting us £395 per large room (roughly 5m x 3m) and £295 per small room (roughly 3m x 2.5m). We have 4 of each so looking at a total bill of almost £3k. There are 2 of the large rooms that need re-boarding so appreciate those will take more work, and cost me more, but even so this sounds like a significant cost to me. He's not said how many days it will take him.

The other point to add is we are in Surrey, close to London, so I'm fully prepared for the premium that this brings, but question is he having a laugh or is this the current going rate?

Thanks in advance.

Not entirely sure tbh but get a few quotes and then you can compare. Sorry if that's stating the bleedin' obvious!!

We are in the south east and had this done recently in two rooms. One plasterer charger £300+ materials which was around £320 in total. This was for a 6x4m room with a step in the ceiling at the bay and it took him 2 days, 1 to prep (he removed as much artex as possible then PVA'd) and 1 to plaster. I had a different plasterer do the same in another room 3.5x3.5 including 3 walls and again it took 2 days and that costs £350. We did have higher quotes so it may be worth getting more quotes in. Also, I found it useful to be flexible with dates so if you find a plasterer with a lot of external work on at the moment he may be happy to take your job and fit it into random rainy days? We've done this with plasterers and decorators and its worked out well. £150/day seems about right but if he's not removing the artex (or trying to removing anything loose) then he's likely to be only 1 - 1.5 days.

Thanks both.

Ladypie, just so I'm clear you were charged £350 for removing artex, plaster ceiling and in additional another 3 walls? My skim only job at almost £400 is sounded pretty expensive! Thats super helpful, I'll get some more quotes done.

Timing wise, the house is empty and we aren't due to move in until December so we are really relaxed as to fitting someone in.

Yes for the smaller room it was skimming 3 walls and the ceiling, with artex (mostly) removed from the ceiling before plaster for £350. the room was smaller (3.5m x 3.5m) . Other quotes for the same work was £475 and £375.

You have had you artex checked for asbestos haven't you? I'm not allowed to cover up my asbestos riddled artex and it needs a company to remove it safely.

I pay my plasterer £180 per day plus materials (I'm in London). He would skim those rooms in three days so about £575-600 in total.

"I'm not allowed to cover up my asbestos riddled artex"

Who told you that?

Its a council house. They said if its covered up then the next tenants won't know its there and they wont remove it unless its damaged.

We have done just that recently, plastering over artex in the whole 4 bedroom house. Paid £1k. We are in Surrey, close to London too. It took the plasters 6 days.

I thought that it was best not to disturb asbestos as it is only the dust that is a problem. So best to plaster over?

I started trying to do it myself. I watched a youtube video and it looked pretty easy. It was, for about five minutes and for the small, metre squared area that I managed to partially do.

When I eventually finished my small area, it had taken me a couple of hours and used all of the materials that I had bought- at a cost of round £25. I calculated that, based on just the materials, it was worth paying for a professional.

Not really answering your question, OP, but doing it yourself would officially be more expensive than hiring somebody- even at the prices you've been quoted.

I have artex all over my house. I've been wanting to plasterboard over it. Not sure if this is a cheaper and safer way to cover.

We have the asbestos artex and have had it plaster boarded and skimmed. Large room cost about £1000, new coving and light fittings. It is damaged in places, finished result is fantastic. About to have a smaller room done.

I think that sounds about right. We had our kitchen, dining room, lounge, downstairs toilet, hall and stairway plastered over artex. It took the plasterer 6 days and he charged £950. House is a small-ish 70s semi and the lounge is about 3m x 3m.

It might only be 'skimming' but it's really hard and dirty work. I know that our chap doesn't earn loads.

We're in the south east not a million miles away from Surrey.

that sounds expensive tbh. we were getting quoted about £100 a ceiling plus material, ceiling was 2.5m by about 4.5m long.

I've just (today!) paid £350 for a fair bit of remedial work, decorative plasterwork and skimming a whole 5x3.5 room. I don't think your quote sounds horrendous but tbh I'd I had artex I'd want it knocking off and starting again.

Our plastered said he'd prefer to take it back to brick and start from scratch and that it would be easier for him and cheaper for me.

Thanks all, incredibly helpful. We've now had another couple of quotes abd the original quote is certainly in the ballpark so suggests it's fair value for where we live.

We've now instructed a chap to skim 8 ceilings (4 plasterboarded first), 3 walls and remove cornice for £2500. This is apparently 5/6 days work. Assume payment for something like this should be half up front with the rest on completion?

Saying that I'm intrigued with the last poster who says it's cheaper to remove the artex completely and rebuild the ceiling. Surely there's more work to do there, and therefore more expensive?

Just had ours done at £100 a ceiling. They shaved down the artex (no asbestos), sealed it then skimmed. West Midlands

Good work Calmisthemantra :)

About what I paid in South East.

But it is without a doubt the best thing I did when I moved in. It makes such a difference. I can't cope with artex at all.

Calm - who tested your ceiling for asbestos? We have artex everywhere that needs sorting. (Also in Midlands btw)

I think £100 a lid is very low. But it's not an expensive job, so (apart from the dust and mess) well worth having done when you're going to decorate the room(s). I like to add coving, which plasterers are usually happy to do as well, but opinions differ.

p.s.

If you're lucky the plasterers will wear stilts, and drink their tea while leaning against walls in them.

(that is not a joke)

It is much safer to plaster over the top of Artex than it is to try to remove it. Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed, the fibres get into the air and you breathe them in. You can get an asbestos survey done whereby someone will look at the various risk areas in your house for asbestos and take samples for testing. Up to a certain level of asbestos (Artex isn't pure asbestos, it has varying percentages of asbestos content) you can remove it yourself if you have the appropriate equipment such as masks and overalls. Over a certain percentage, you'll have to get a certified professional in.