Plastering Over Artex in Birmingham

Lots of homes across the Midlands still have Artex on the ceilings, and sometimes on the walls too: swirls, stipples, peaks and fan patterns that were very popular for decades. Today most people want a smooth, flat finish, and skimming over Artex is one of the most common jobs we do. Before you start, though, there are a few things worth knowing, especially about safety.

What is Artex?

Artex is actually a brand name, but people use it to mean any textured coating on a ceiling or wall. It was popular because it was quick to apply and hid cracks and uneven plasterboard. The downside is that it collects dust and cobwebs, it’s hard to repair invisibly, and it can make a room feel dated.

First things first: asbestos

Older textured coatings can contain a small amount of asbestos, because asbestos was added to some of these products before it was banned in the UK. You can’t tell just by looking at it. If your Artex is old and you don’t know when it went on, assume it could contain asbestos until you know otherwise.

• Don’t sand, scrape, drill or wire-brush it before you know what’s in it. That’s what releases fibres into the air.
• Get a sample tested. You can use a testing service or a UKAS-accredited lab. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website has guidance on textured coatings and asbestos.
• If it does contain asbestos, skimming or over-boarding are often good options, because they cover the coating rather than disturb it. Removal is a different job and should follow HSE guidance.

A good plasterer will ask about this before quoting, and won’t start knocking off peaks until they know it’s safe.

Can you skim straight over Artex?

In most cases, yes. If the coating is sound and well stuck to the ceiling, it can be skimmed. The process usually looks like this:

1. Check the surface. Any loose or flaking areas need sorting first. If big areas are coming away, over-boarding may be the better option.
2. Clean it. Dust, grease and cobwebs stop the plaster sticking, especially in kitchens.
3. Deal with very high peaks. On a heavy texture, sharp peaks may need carefully knocking back, but only once you know the coating is asbestos-free.
4. Prime it. A bonding primer or PVA gives the new plaster something to grip.
5. Apply the skim. On a heavy texture, there may be a first coat to fill the pattern, then a finish coat to get it flat and smooth.

A light stipple might need a fairly standard skim. A deep swirl or peaked pattern takes more material and more time, so expect it to be a bigger job than skimming a flat ceiling.

When over-boarding is the better option

Sometimes it makes more sense to fix new plasterboard over the old ceiling and then skim it. This is often the better choice when:

• The ceiling is badly cracked, sagging or uneven.
• Large areas of the coating are loose or have come away.
• The texture is very deep, so filling it would take a lot of plaster.
• There are old repairs, patches or water stains that would show through.

Over-boarding has to be screwed into the joists properly, and light fittings, smoke alarms and any coving need taking into account. Ask your electrician about fittings before the work starts.

What about Artex on walls?

Textured walls can be skimmed in the same way. On walls you also need to think about sockets, switches, radiators and skirting boards, as the new plaster adds a little thickness. Good preparation matters even more on walls, because they’re seen up close and in side light.

Painting after skimming over Artex

Once the new skim is fully dry, it’s treated like any other new plaster. That means a thinned mist coat first, then your normal emulsion. We’ve written a separate guide on how long plaster takes to dry before painting, which explains how to tell when it’s ready.

Can you do it yourself?

Getting a large ceiling flat and smooth is one of the harder plastering jobs, because you’re working overhead and the plaster sets as you go. Any ridges or trowel marks will show once it’s painted, especially near windows and with spotlights. For a small area, DIY is possible. For a whole ceiling, most people find a professional finish is worth it.

Questions to ask before you book

• Has the coating been tested for asbestos, or do I need to arrange that first?
• Will you skim straight over it, or over-board first, and why?
• How will you protect the floor, furniture and the rest of the house?
• What happens with light fittings and coving?
• How long should I leave it before painting?

Want your Artex gone?

RCR Connections Ltd is a Birmingham based plastering and rendering company, and skimming over Artex ceilings is a regular job for us across the whole of the Midlands. See our plastering and rendering services, or local pages for plastering in Solihull, plastering in Shirley and plastering in Birmingham. For a free quote, WhatsApp me on 07453 614095, message the page, or use our contact page. Photos of the ceiling are a big help.