Plastering ceiling that has aztec in it?

AustinP · 7 Jun 2012

Hi guys,

Im new to the forum as im buying my first house an looking for info through the process ahead of me.

The house has (i think its called aztec) ceiling? Looks as though it has little bumps all over it. I want to remove this and plaster so its smooth like the walls.

Does this need to be removed before plastering? ( i imagine it does in order to get a smooth finish)

If so, then how would it be removed, it appears it would need to be scraped off, am i correct in thinking this and if so, are ther any specific tools to use to remove it?

Can anyone advice me if this is a big job?

Again, this is my first home so any info and help is greatly apreciated guys.

Many Thanks
Austin

JohnD · 7 Jun 2012

you probably mean artex

if you are not a skilled plasterer, a ceiling is not the place to start. Ask around, it is a common job and will not be very expensive. Some of your new neighbours will have had it done.

try //search.diynot.com/forum_sear...tbytime=0&author=&search=Search+Forum&stype=0

AustinP · 7 Jun 2012

Thanks, i have a skilled plasterer who will be doing that but im wondering if the artex needs to be remove or just plastered strate over.

For some strange reason the people actually did the artex themselves, these houses didnt come with it. Really dont know why anyone would want to add it to a smooth ceiling in the first place

dmplastering · 7 Jun 2012

Ask your plasterer when he comes round to price the job. He will tell you the best way. A lot of plasterers hate coating over this background so they re board the ceiling and skim. Personally, I would scrape it all off and 2 coats of finish

Nige F · 8 Jun 2012

Some don`t MYAN doing it - others don`t have the INCAlination : ( Aztec joke)

Micilin · 8 Jun 2012

You have a few ways of doing it, as mentioned.

If it is sound, then scrape the high spots ( I don't see the need to remove it all unless it is unsound) , check joints for movement , and seal it with Thistle Bdndit or Wikes Bonding Agent .

Next day coat of bonding with a few handfuls of finish in it, them skim.

Or overboard , especially if some areas not sound and/or you are not worried about losing coving definition.

Usual advice applies - get three quotes, find out exactly what they will do and why, and ask to see their work. (ask if you can seal it , perhaps they will let you but not all will)

Balance Price and quality. I would imagine in either case a day for a man is about right, although obviously not seen it

Micilin · 8 Jun 2012

BTW does anyone remember Aztec bars?

trollmaster2000 · 18 Jun 2012

Some of the above advice is really bad. Please bear in mind that artex, particularly from before the late 80's contains asbestos as a bulking agent.

You do not want to scrape, sand, chip away at, or otherwise disturb artex if you have the slightest suspicion that is of such an age.

Also, you should not just board or skim over it. You're just making it someone elses problem for the future, and disguising it, so that they don't know what they're dealing with. this is just negligent. Only thing is when the next person drills a hole through what looks like a skimmed ceiling, they won't know it's covering artex, and they won't know they've now got a lung full of asbestos dust.

The safest way of dealing with it is to nitromors it, a few coats so that it soaks right into it. Give it a while to work, you can now scrape the jellified artex off the ceiling without exposing yourself or anyone else to asbestos dust.

roy c · 18 Jun 2012

trollmaster2000 said:
Some of the above advice is really bad. Please bear in mind that artex, particularly from before the late 80's contains asbestos as a bulking agent.

You do not want to scrape, sand, chip away at, or otherwise disturb artex if you have the slightest suspicion that is of such an age.

Also, you should not just board or skim over it. You're just making it someone elses problem for the future, and disguising it, so that they don't know what they're dealing with. this is just negligent. Only thing is when the next person drills a hole through what looks like a skimmed ceiling, they won't know it's covering artex, and they won't know they've now got a lung full of asbestos dust.

The safest way of dealing with it is to nitromors it, a few coats so that it soaks right into it. Give it a while to work, you can now scrape the jellified artex off the ceiling without exposing yourself or anyone else to asbestos dust.

What ever you do dont use Nitromors on the ceilin .If it gets in your eyes it will blind you, if it drips on your arms it will burn you, and if you breath it in it will harm you. Good Advice Troll Master!!!!!. They are even thinking of banning this stuff!!!!!!!

trollmaster2000 · 19 Jun 2012

roy c said:
If it gets in your eyes it will blind you,

Wear the correct ppe then.

if it drips on your arms it will burn you,

Wear the correct ppe then.

and if you breath it in it will harm you.

Ventilate the room and limit exposure time. treat and strip a small section at a time.

They are even thinking of banning this stuff!!!!!!!

Maybe you're thinking of the old Nitromors (in the orange tin), which yes, is potent stuff and as far as i can tell, no longer available. The new product they've brought out (green or yellow tins) is hardly recognisible compared to the old product. Even so, wear ppe.

For the record, official HSE advice on the matter:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a28.pdf
They say use 'penetrating stripping fluid' aka nitromors.

Micilin · 19 Jun 2012

If it's pre 80s asbestos may be an issue. Modern artex no problem.

We should have mentioed that earlier on but bond and set over an atrex ceiling seems to me to be a safer way than removing it.

And for any risk assessment, the first things to consider may be 'design' 'does the task have to be done' ' is there an better way of doing the task ' .

Only then do you look at the required PPE - for me get the least dangerous solution if you can.

It's a new one to me using stripper or nitromors, any thing like that to remove artex -so worth asking how does it compare to other methods ? Do you need to seal up carpets/floor first as well?

Cost in terms of labour.matierial PPE?

Does the waste gernerated have to be disposed of in a certain way?

How do you prep the ceiling after the Artex is removed?

I imagine you still have to use BOndit (etc) so removal to me just looks like you have to do a whole laod of unneccasary work with a risk that needs a lot of PPE , where as you could just use a coat of bondit then bond and set.

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Plastering ceiling that has aztec in it?

trollmaster2000

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