PLASTERING ADVICE
Covering artex/ removing artex
Ok lets face it, there are not many of us who actually like artex but how can we get rid of the dreaded stuff ?
Well it is a little known fact that up until 1988, when Asbestos was banned, they actually used to put it in artex. Basically this means that you either need to get it removed by specialists or the cheaper alternative is to cover it over.
Covering it over is completely safe as it seals off the artex and prevents any fibers from getting into the air. There are a few methods to cover it, the first is a thick skim coat, which in my opinion, is lazy and leaves a texture similar to orange peal. This is the cheapest quickest method and if you are not too fussed then it is the way to go. Another method is to put a quick undercoat on to level out all the texture of the artex, let this dry and then give a final skim coat. This is probably the most common method and is the one I would reccommend. The last method is to fix new plasterboards over the whole ceiling and this would usually only be done if the ceiling is in a right state or if you wish to fit some spot lights.