What would you do with this ceiling/wall?

[eatentoomanygrapes]

I call it the sauna effect, but has it got a real name? Was it a trend? Can it be painted white and turned into some sort of trendy shiplap kind of feature or would you remove immediately?

Red carpet would be going, too...

Hallway tiles are not polystyrene. They are acoustic tiles from the 1970s. Some, but not all, have asbestos.

OK I think they're NOT polystyrene tiles but this stuff - which is mineral fibre and presumably not at all a fire risk. But yes strangely officey.

www.ceilingtilesuk.co.uk/product/armstrong-tatra-board-bp958m-600-x-600mm-square-edge-ceiling-tiles/

Close up.

My advice……rip it all out and replaster everything ensuring a nice smooth surface to paint on. Expensive layout of money upfront, but will be worth it in the long run. I know many who just made do, and have always regretted not doing it all the first time.

Nb - can I ask when was the property constructed? From the limited photos it looks like the pine was put it during a time it was deemed fashionable in the 70/80s as opposed to being originally constructed that way.

[quote eatentoomanygrapes]@heldinadream Pretty sure it's mid-60s.

The dining room ceiling is artex, but then the hallway is this weird stuff! What even is that?![/quote]
It's ceiling tiles. Pretty sure that they are illegal as a major fire hazard. I'm guessing the wood ceiling is a fire hazard too. It's going to be an expensive recon.

Be careful removing 60’s/70’s artex/textured ceilings, they very often contain asbestos too. You can buy testing kits. Test each ceiling before you disturb them as some rooms may not be original.

@Saz12

I’d guess it’s hiding some dodgy plaster but was done for the aesthetics of it. But you’d need to have a budget for reinstating ceiling rather than just for skimming plaster.

I’ve painted tongue-and-groove ceilings similar to that - you need to caulk all the cracks and gaps, and use good crack-filling undercoat.
Every little gap will show as dark black beside pale ceiling paint. It’ll look much better if painted well, but it’s not as easy as slapping on some Frenchic!

If you think you could live with it painted, I really would!

My cottage had similar. It cost so much to remove and redo. And now, I'm considering that it would be preferable due to the house not being square and other issues it threw up!

I'd invest in an asbestos survey, if all ceilings are covered in all sorts of different tiles etc.. just to be in the safe side

@PaleDaffodils

Wood ceilings were very fashionable in the 70s. I worry about the fire hazard though.

@PaleDaffodils - I think in 60s too! DM and DF's family home (still the same) had this in the living room. They held onto it for ages until finally it was removed. No fires though!

From a quick google search. I think the tongue and groove looks fine painted! If you're doing a complete refurb then of course it would be better to remove them now rather than later

@lovabiscuit

I'd invest in an asbestos survey, if all ceilings are covered in all sorts of different tiles etc.. just to be in the safe side

*on

Artex can be skimmed, it doesn't have to be removed. If it does contain asbestos, it's probably safer to skim and leave it undisturbed. A lot of houses will have artex under their smooth ceilings and won't even be aware.

I'd rip out the wood. It's worth doing now as I guarantee you'll want to at some point and will be a messy job.

I’ve seen many a painted 70s wood strip ceiling and they just look like painted 70s wood strip ceiling.

That photo above looks ok because it’s all wood not just the ceiling thus has a a kind of Scandinavian look.

It really is worth ripping out all this awful ceiling stuff now - but get a surveyor/builder in to figure out what’s behind it and what some of it is made of.

I would do a proper job. Dont skim or paint. Get rid of the wooden ceiling and the polystyrene tiles. I suspect the ceilings will be in good condition under the coverings but removing them might cause some damage. (Not the polystyrene tiles, they will come off in no time with a wallpaper scraper). Be prepared to have to replasterboard after removing the wood panelling. I always say any renovation will cost twice as much as you originally thought and take twice as long.

With a 60s house that has dodgy wall and ceiling coverings I would get an asbestos survey straight away before making any decisions. Even the original floor tiles can have asbestos in them.

I think also that it makes sense to spend your budget on the basics, ie, rip out and make good. So plastering, rewiring, plumbing, making good sub floors, windows etc,...then use what's left for kitchen and bathrooms. Decorating and flooring is something that can be done fairly easily from income over the longer term. You'll regret rushing and compromising on the basics.

Oh my! Lots of fun to renovate though!
(Whilst living in a caravan in the garden.)