Skimming Over Artex and Textured Ceilings

Why textured ceilings are covered rather than scraped

Swirls, stipples and combed patterns were popular for decades because they hid uneven boards and hairline cracks. Getting rid of the look does not mean getting rid of the coating. Scraping or steaming it off is slow, messy and, if the material contains asbestos, the wrong thing to do yourself. Covering it is normally quicker, cleaner and gives a better surface to paint.

Once the options are clear, a skim or an overboard is usually the simpler choice. If you still want the coating taken off completely, the artex ceiling removal guide explains what that involves.

Test a sample before anything is disturbed

Textured coatings applied before the year 2000 may contain asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. A small sample should be tested for asbestos before the ceiling is sanded, drilled, knocked back or scraped.

If the result is clear, we can plan the plastering. If it is positive, asbestos removal is a separate specialist job carried out by a licensed or suitably trained contractor, and we will not disturb the coating. In some cases a positive ceiling can still be left in place and boarded over, but that decision belongs with the specialist, so ask them first.

How skimming over artex works

Where the texture is sound and the test is clear, the ceiling can take a skim directly. The steps are straightforward but each one matters:

• Sharp peaks are knocked back with a scraper so the finish coat is not too thick in places
• Loose or flaking patches are cut out and filled
• A bonding primer or grit coat is rolled on so the plaster grips the painted texture
• Joints and cracks are scrimmed with tape where needed
• One or two finish coats are applied and trowelled flat

One coat or two?

Deep patterns usually need two coats; a light stipple may disappear under one. We confirm which applies at the visit.

When reboarding is the better choice

Skimming relies on what is underneath being solid. If the ceiling is bowed, cracked along the board joints, stained from an old leak or sounds hollow when pressed, plaster alone will not cure it. In those cases we screw new plasterboard through to the joists, tape the joints and skim the new surface. The texture stays sealed behind the boards and the ceiling gets a fresh, flat face.

Overboarding lowers the ceiling by roughly the thickness of one sheet of board plus the plaster, which is rarely noticeable in a standard room. Where the ceiling has bigger problems than texture, our ceiling repair service covers patching and full replacement as well. For a broader comparison of a skim and a full replaster, see skimming vs replastering.

Coving, lights and the room on the day

Existing coving can sometimes stay and be skimmed up to, but if it is cracked or the new surface would leave an uneven line, we can take it down and fit new coving afterwards. Ceiling roses and light fittings are disconnected and loosened so we can plaster behind them, then refitted when the ceiling is finished.

Before we start, furniture is moved out or grouped and covered, floors are sheeted and doorways are masked. Knocking back texture creates some dust, so we keep it contained to the room as far as we can, and we leave the property clean at the end of each day. You will be kept updated on how the ceiling is drying.

New plaster needs to dry fully before it is painted, which typically takes from several days to a couple of weeks depending on thickness, heating and ventilation. The first coat should be a thinned mist coat. Our decorating service can take it from there if you would rather not paint it yourself.

Textured walls as well as ceilings

Artex was not only used overhead: hallways and chimney breasts often have it too. The approach is the same: test first, then bond and skim, or dry line the wall.

Ask for a free quote

Send us a few photos of the ceiling and tell us whether a test has already been done. We will arrange a visit, look at the condition of the surface and give you a free written quote for a skim or an overboard. All of our plastering is part of our wider plastering service and comes with a 1-year workmanship warranty. Call 01268 206409, message us on WhatsApp on 07432 013707 or use the contact page.

Understand the coating before disturbing it

Read does Artex contain asbestos? for professional assessment, accredited laboratory testing and general HSE precautions before planning work on a textured ceiling.