Artex and textured walls/ceilings!

[AchingAllOver]

Hi All (newbie here)
Just moving into a house with pretty much all rooms covered with artex and textured walls/ceilings.

Having got quotes from plasterers starting at £400 per room, I really don't fancy the outlay, so looking into it, think i'm going to take the plunge and do it myself.

My plan is as follows (please correct / advise me though)
1) PVA the surface with something like http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/240701 i'm reluctant to sand the artex as it looks so old.
2) Apply, either a joint filler http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/224541 or a finishing plaster like http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/224542
3) Sand down and clean walls of debris
4) Repeat steps 2 and three until happy with finish.

I just have a couple of questions, looking online it appears I could try applying my skim with a roller then just flattening it down, I think i'd like to do this, if I take this approach do I just need to water down the skim/plaster?

Also, are the products that I have accounted for the correct ones to do the job or not? Advise would be really helpful prior to me buying them.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[footprints]

Just be aware that some Artex (mostly but not exclusively pre mid 1980's) contains asbestos.

 

[AchingAllOver]

Thanks, thats the reason i'm just wanted to skim over it and not even try to flatten out the peaks.

 

[stevethespreader]

My plan is as follows (please correct / advise me though)
1) PVA the surface with something like http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/240701 i'm reluctant to sand the artex as it looks so old.
2) Apply, either a joint filler http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/224541 or a finishing plaster like http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/224542
3) Sand down and clean walls of debris
4) Repeat steps 2 and three until happy with finish.

.

you will be wasting your time trying to get a good finish on 4 walls and a ceiling covered with artex with that method its unrealistic, and you say you don't want to take off the peaks of the artex? how thick are the peaks?

 

[AchingAllOver]

Peaks are not that high in all honesty, which is good.

So in your opinion, the only way to get a nice finish is to strip the walls/ceiling and trowel on the plaster?

Opinions and comments all welcome..

 

[Reeves2k2]

The only way to get a good finish is to get it done properly

Depending on the artex thickness/pattern etc the peaks may need to come off and a tight coat of bonding to flatten it out

The method mentioned in the op is a botch at best an you will end up paying twice and in the long run will work out more expensive

To get a proper job You realistically have 3 options

1. Might get away with taking the peaks off and just a skim (depending on artex)
2. A tight coat of bonding and then skim
3. (Worst case scenario) take the whole lot off and patch/board/wet plaster the whole lot

I get no end of calls from people who have had a go at doing something similar with artex and aren't happy with the finish after

And sometimes a customer can make the plasterers job harder by making a mess in the first instance

The best advice I could give is get someone in to take a look and give you a price for a proper job and then make your decision based on the price/advice given by a pro

 

[AchingAllOver]

Thanks Reeves2k2 / stevethespreader

Ok, i'm going to have to bite the bullet I think and get one of you pro's in.

I've been quoted £400 (excluding materials) for a 10 x 14ft bedroom, ceiling and walls - do you folks think this is a fair quote or not? Any guestimates

 

[Reeves2k2]

It all depends on where in the uk you live as to pricing

Eg I live in the north and would not get the same rates as I would down south etc

Again with the artex it depends how bad it is to how long the job will take
And if it's just a skim or not

I'd also say get a couple more quotes in because then it helps gauge where your at in terms of pricing and ask questions of what will be done

At £400 labour your looking at £200 per day as 4 walls and a ceiling that size with bad artex is a 2 day job for 1 man absolute maximum if it is a scrape and skin job
Did they say how long it would take them?

What you need to work out is do you in your mind think that that's a fair price to pay someone as it boils down to if your happy

Edit** I have just noticed your location as Birmingham
I haven't worked in the midlands so don't know the rates in that area it would be useful if there is a member on the forum from the midlands as to pricing

Also could you get a few pics of the room as it can help when giving advice

 

[AchingAllOver]

Quoted two days work. fixed cost at £400 so any overrun wouldnt incur additional charges. pics to illistrate the textures.

Untitled

• AchingAllOver
• 17 Nov 2013
• 1

Untitled

• AchingAllOver
• 17 Nov 2013
• 1

 

[Reeves2k2]

That on the ceiling looks like woodchip!

But anyhow if it is artex that's no problem to take of the peaks and skim

The walls look a big more work but it's hard to tell from the picture

You know the guys working at £200 a day labour rate so it just boils down to if you are happy to pay that

I'm in the north (Doncaster) around here you'd be in the dole que fairly quickly charging £200 a day labour.
Around here £150 is about the ceiling price for skilled labour.

Even then you get the customer who always thinks everything is too expensive

Don't forget there is the price of materials on top which would roughly equate to Another £40-£50 with finish, pva, beads and any bonding/hardwall, nails etc

I think you get the picture i personally think it is a little steep but at the same time I don't begrudge any tradesman earning a crust if they are good at what they do
But I would certainly want to know that the job will be done to a top standard and clean and tidy

 

[NickB_99]

That on the ceiling looks like woodchip!

I would tend to agree from the pic.

Op - if it is woodchip wallpaper it must be removed first. You can't over skim it.

 

[cotswoldbuilders]

Same as above, if it was artex there is normally a 25mm margin to all ceiling edges, where a brush has been run along.

 

[kbdiy]

+1 for woodchip on the ceiling.