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.

PJ: yes I'm still undecided as to whether we'll add coving back. Being a 70's house the rooms are fairly boxy and featureless so probably need it but we'll have a look once the first room is done.

Does that include covering artex on ceiling,s also if so that,s too cheap ! if it,s just 4 wall,s well it, about right,5m long by 3m high, sound fine 2 me

To be fair, it was 5 years ago Rossco1969!

It does sound about right. I looked at a bungalow with it all over every ceiling. When I was mentally doing figures aloud for other things and I said circa £1k for skimming of all ceilings even the honest estate agent corrected me on this price upwards to circa £3k for this element as it was a large coverage. Didn’t get the property so can’t say what the bill would have been but it stuck in my head that I had seriously underestimated the cost factor. Trades command a decent daily rate.

After 5 years it's probably sorted by now.

And there is a warning in can't miss red letters on old threads. So why on earth would you choose to bump it?

We had spotlights put into our kitchen ceiling and the plasterer came to make good.
DH misheard the cost and got £100 out of the ATM.
He found out it was £85 an hour and had to go and get more

SE, had quote recently for £500, for 5 small rooms including a curved surface under the stairs.