Help! I need to cover vile Artex ceiling

[ninedragons]

We've bought a flat with one of those ghastly textured ceilings. I think it's called Artex - it's that nubbly blown cement stuff (it's probably full of asbestos or something equally bad for you, now I think of it).

This is not a flat we're going to live in forever, so I am really looking for a cheap cosmetic fix. It'll take forever and cost a fortune if we have to pay someone to chip it off by hand.

Please? Anyone? It's hiiiiiiiidddeeeouuuss...

no dice, sorry

have it skimmed by a plasterer or live with it

Re-plastering the only way...sorry....

Bugger. I was hoping for a referral to a magic product. Thanks anyway.

you can either have it replastered or (equally if not more fiddly) panel over it then paint as my inlaws did (lowers the ceiling though)

What about using those lovely polystyrene ceiling tiles... (JOKE).

Isn't there a 'slop it on' product? The brand with the red and yellow tick?..am sure I saw advert a while ago...um..

You do have to be careful - as some of the early Artex did indeed contain asbestos

there is some sort of product that you paint over artex to level it off- other than that I can't help sorry.

get a plasterer to re skim it All other methods and especially that diy stuff are terrible and make it worse.How big is the room?

I did once completely remove artex from a kitchen. It was everywhere, walls and ceiling. I did it with a wallpaper stripper and a wallpaper scraper - took hours but very effective (and very messy).

Uh oh, I hope it doesn't have asbestos in it. My college had to have some asbestos removed and a whole corridor was tented off for the better part of a term, IIRC. That would definitely chuck a spanner in our renovation plans.

God knows why anyone ever thought it was attractive.

I had that in my old house - got an odd job man to skim it with plaster - I can't remember how much he charged now though - he didn't have to chip it off though so it didn't take long. Is it white? If not, paint it bright clean white, it'll make it look slightly less horrible.

Er, I think the room is about 5m x 6m. I think I'm going to have to cough up for a plasterer.

"It only takes two ticks" what the fnuck is that brand?

Polycell!
It's polycell!
They do something called 'smooth over'.

Haven't used it though so no idea if it is all talk and no trousers.

Get a plasterer to skim. We recetnly had a bathroom ceiling (about the same size) done. Took half a day and was about £200, I think (bit hazy on the cost).It looks a 1000 times better.

what about this any good?

If you're going for the removal method use water BUT I wouldn't recommend this as Artex pre about 1999/2000 did have asbestos in it

Thanks everyone. I am really glad you remembered the name of that product, Tigana, or it would have driven you nuts for days.

Think I'm going to need a professional. Joash's link made me realise that I'm out of my depth in seconds when it comes to DIY.