Removing Textured Coatings

[Andyindevon]

I've just moved house and one room has got a textured coating (similar to Artex) on the walls. Its 'orrible!
Any suggestions how I can remove the coating apart from scraping for the next 20 years! Is there any chemicals that work? The plaster underneath should be OK as the house isn't that old. I would prefer not to have to reskim with plaster. (3 of the existing walls are plaster on masonry, 1 is drylined).
Thanks.

 

[Richard C]

If it's Artex, its water soluble so get yourself a decent steamer (around £30) & working on an area about ½ a square metre a time, use this to soften the emulsion paint; you will find you can peel off the paint in large chunks. As soon as you’ve removed the paint film, apply the steamer again to the same area until the Artex is very damp & use a stiff scraper to carefully scrape it off; wash off any residual immediately with a sponge. The only fly in the ointment is you may have problems if the Artex was applied directly to plasterboard without a proper plaster skim - unlikely on a wall!

I’ve stripped half my ceilings of the dreadful stuff like this, it takes time but is less hassle than skimming &, if you’re careful with the scraper, only limited remedial filling is required.

 

[Andyindevon]

Richard. Thanks. I'll give your idea a try very soon now!
Thanks again.