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Original poster

Artex ceilings

25 replies

candlefloozy · 01/01/2018 16:32

Recently moved. The ceilings are all artex which I hate. What are my options. I'm looking for cheap options. Just plaster over??

OP posts:
Feelslikecrystal · 01/01/2018 16:37

I'm plastering over mine. Lived with them for too long dithering about how to deal with it in case there is asbestos.

Original poster
candlefloozy · 01/01/2018 16:40

@Feelslikecrystal yeah that's what I'm worried about. But surely there's no other option other than plastering? I've been told there's a chance there's asbestos in mine

OP posts:
Feelslikecrystal · 01/01/2018 16:48

You can get it tested by a specialist or you can take a scraping yourself & send it away, if you're very worried. The thought of dropping ceilings and all the possible asbestos dust was too much. So decided not to disturb it and plaster over.

FrivolouslyFancifulFannie · 01/01/2018 16:50

be careful, i live in a 60s built council property, all the ceilings are artex, when the council rewired last year i had to have the asbestos men in suits in as they had to break the artex which contained asbestos, bag it and remove it. No idea what happens if you just plaster over it though.

FrivolouslyFancifulFannie · 01/01/2018 16:51

and what feels said, they took scrapings first which were sent away then they returned with a specialist asbestos team

AndWhat · 01/01/2018 16:57

Plastered over is the easiest, we have it in every room!
We've budgeted for a room to be done every 6-12 months.
It took us a while to find a plasterer who wanted the jobs though, some gave ridiculous quotes and others said a straight no thanks.

bobs123 · 01/01/2018 17:04

I work in asbestos testing. Easy enough to send a sample away for analysis (you need a sample as deep as possible just in case there’s something else underneath).

Plastering over is the easiest option. Rule of thumb, if you don’t mess with anything containing asbestos, then there’s no problem.

Solo · 01/01/2018 17:06

If the artex was done pre 1990, it's probably got asbestos in it; after that, then not likely. I had cause to check this out for my job and think I've got the dates right.
I have the same issue as all my ceilings were done in and around 1988 and I want to plaster over them but, was told I have to get all the spikey bits off first.

Solo · 01/01/2018 17:07

Almost all my ceilings are cracked. Worries me a bit.

PookieNoodlin · 01/01/2018 18:00

Get them plastered over, but depending on how big the rooms are, it can be expensive. DPs friend just boarded over his and just skimmed them, which worked out cheaper.

Original poster
candlefloozy · 01/01/2018 20:22

Thank you all so much for your replies, they're really helpful! We've recently moved in an it's a very old ex council house. Most rooms have smooth ceilings. But living room which is large and hall stairs and landing and very small toilet have lovely spikey ceilings!!
I do know a plasterer but just wondered what my options were. I think it may be cheaper to just plaster over? It all looks well sealed no cracks etc. It just doesn't look nice so I want rid

OP posts:
Murinae · 01/01/2018 22:14

We plastered over ours.

PurpleDaisies · 01/01/2018 22:15

People who have plastered over them, did you board over it first? We have loads of artex and have been trying to save up to get it covered.

Cupcakegirl13 · 01/01/2018 22:32

I had my artex ceilings tested and they did contain asbestos (1972 build ) make sure you tell
Plasterer not to scrape them as this is what they would do to remove spikes and it would release dust. There is a different option they can do called bonding out which didn't involve disturbing the artex.

Murinae · 01/01/2018 23:01

No we didn’t board them out. Just had them skimmed.

Murinae · 01/01/2018 23:03

We didn’t have massive spikes though. Just quite deep fan shapes and small blobs like water drops.

Original poster
candlefloozy · 02/01/2018 07:53

We don't have lots of spikes either. It's a bit of a mine field isn't it!

OP posts:
expatmigrant · 02/01/2018 08:54

Plastered over ours too. He will just skim over the artex to make it look lovely and smooth. Get a few quotes and recommendations.

Original poster
candlefloozy · 14/01/2018 06:52

Contacted my plasterer who said to get it down because skimming over will make the ceiling heavy.

OP posts:
Solo · 14/01/2018 13:18

Crap! :( Well, that is not good (for me) as I have 2 bedrooms, hall, stairs and landing, large-ish lounge and a kitchen to be done! Mega bucks!

greenlynx · 14/01/2018 13:23

Too heavy? Is it timber-framed house?

helpfulperson · 14/01/2018 14:05

depends on what the ceiling construction is. If it is an old lath and plaster ceiling then yes just plastering over can make it all heavy enough to fall down, especially if it is already coming away from the lath.

I've just had my whole flat boarded over and skimmed for about £2000.

minniemoll · 14/01/2018 14:09

I've had my old (c1908) lath and plaster ceilings boarded and skimmed with no problems - they just need to find the joists to nil the boards onto.

Original poster
candlefloozy · 14/01/2018 20:45

I don't know what it is. He just reckons it will be too heavy. Does anyone know how much I'm looking at to have the artex removed?

OP posts:
Solo · 15/01/2018 00:10

I'm hyperventilating at the cost of plastering the ceilings!

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