NASTY ceilings!

[jocelyn plummer]

Ugh how I hate these ceilings--inherited from the previous owner of our 20 year old cottage---how the heck do I deal with that? Is it stipple---?

 

[TheRoost]

Artex? I remember reading somewhere that you can possibly use a steamer, and peel/scrape it off, might depend on what it was made of.

If the spikes are quite small and brittle you could possibly 'grate' them flat and skim over?

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, it certainly looks like Artex.

It's worth remembering that Artex contained asbestos until the mid-80s. Nothing to worry about if it's in good condition and not disturbed, but something to be wary of if it is to be removed. Unlikely to be an issue on a 20 year old ceiling though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artex

Like TheRoost, I also recall reading somewhere about using a steamer for removal. I did a quick search and found this info, which suggests it will work but can be slow and messy . . . but then they also suggest a 'magic potion' instead. I've no idea if it works, having never tried it.
http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/artex.htm

Judging by the number of web pages found by Googling "removing artex" it seems to be a common problem!

 

[Penners]

What's underneath it, Joss? If it's just plasterboard, and nothing worth really rescuing/enhancing, then the easiest solution is to get a decent plasterer to come in and skim over it. We've done this in the past with considerable success. If the stippling is quite deep he may go over the surface with the edge of his trowel first, to knock off the "peaks", but that's up to him.

As you're skimming over plasterboard and Artex, it's not worth worrying about the fact that he'll use gypsum plaster.

 

[Feltwell]

I agree completely with Penners. At a previous house, the original lath & plaster ceiling had been plasterboarded over and artexed by a previous owner - spiky pattern in every room except the lounge, which had big fan shaped swirls, lovely....... oh yes, and fake leading on the UPVC window. Tasteful.

Anyway, I knocked the worst of the spikes off the Artex and got a plasterer in who PVA'd the ceiling then skimmed with gypsum multi-finish. By far the most painless way of obscuring the artex. I'd suggest that steaming it off then trying to get the surface underneath into a good enough state to decorate would be a nightmare of a job.

 

[Matt Green]

Artex? I remember reading somewhere that you can possibly use a steamer, and peel/scrape it off, might depend on what it was made of.

Indeed, and it still ranks as one of the worst DIY jobs I've ever undertaken. Akin to being caught in a napalm shower as red hot viscous Artex drips onto your face whilst clouds of steam burn your eyes.

 

[Andys]

I did get the artex off a small bathroom ceiling with a steamer and scraper once - the trick was to use up nearly all the water filling the room with steam and get to the point of passing out then the artex would go a bit soft an come off. Not to be repeated...

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Thank you all. I reckon Penners and Feltwell have the 'quickest and easiest' solution to the problem. It really doesn't matter what is underneath it, so a skim of plaster would at least make it feel less like American icing on a cake. Why on earth was such a surface deemed to be the way to finish a ceiling, the peaks must surely trap a lot of dust!
As a matter of interest what is that paint that is supposed to cover a multitude of imperfections--does it do what it says? Not looking for an easy way out, its just that I spotted a tin on the shelf in our local DIY.

 

[TheRoost]

Indeed it is strange, whoever thought it was a nice way of finishing of a ceiling? My parents 80's house has it everywhere, and our first house, built in 2000 had it too! They are probably still building houses with it! :lol:

Jocelyn you are right, the peaks catch dust and cobwebs, try to dust/vacuum it and you end up with a million bits of plaster on the floor! also in the kitchen above the hob you end up with a build up of grease/dust on the peaks :shock:

 

[LadyArowana]

try to dust/vacuum it and you end up with a million bits of plaster on the floor

Well that's its removal sorted then, extra powerful vacuum, enthusiastic and careless operator and gone in minutes :lol:

 

[JanieB]

In my approx. 220 year old cottage all the rooms bar the dining room and kitchen have lathe and plaster ceilings and exposed beams. The kitchen is a relatively modern extension (about to be replaced) but the dining room is part of the original house and the ceilings have been plaster boarded and artexed with the little points. I hate it.

When I had a leak in the bathroom last year and part of the ceiling came down it was obvious that someone had chosen to hide the beams for some reason. I'm taking the plasterboard off the ceiling which of course also takes the artex away as well. Much easier than trying to scrape it off.

 

[Penners]

If you had lathes on the ceiling, I'm very surprised that the whole lot hadn't already come crashing down.

:wink:

 

[Me!]

If you had lathes on the ceiling, I'm very surprised that the whole lot hadn't already come crashing down.

Finally, after years of PPUK owners living in fear with lathes attached to their ceilings, I have a solution to this problem. I've just received a letter from an insurance broker who assures me that they specialise in period property. The letter confirms that they are familiar with older methods of construction and are happy to cover buildings made of materials such as cob, clunch, wattle and daub, timber frame, lathe and plaster, ...

 

[mims&pip]

If you had lathes on the ceiling, I'm very surprised that the whole lot hadn't already come crashing down.

Finally, after years of PPUK owners living in fear with lathes attached to their ceilings, I have a solution to this problem. I've just received a letter from an insurance broker who assures me that they specialise in period property. The letter confirms that they are familiar with older methods of construction and are happy to cover buildings made of materials such as cob, clunch, wattle and daub, timber frame, lathe and plaster, ...

Fantastic......lol :lol: :lol: :lol:

It never ceases to amaze me that so called *professionals* make these errors......it's akin to misuse of the apostrophe :roll: We were bemoaning the latter only this week when we passed a restaurant sign that boasted "hot panini's" and Pip remarked that the sign-writer is equally to blame for not correcting the mistake - or are they as ignorant as the perpetrator of this crime against the English language? Grrrrrrr :twisted:

 

[Feltwell]

I think I've spotted an opportunity to earn some money, should I advertise these on this site? :wink:



Oh hang on, it says "silently" - damn.......

 

[Keith Bowman]

But what we really need is one which says "correcting your grammar/syntax delete whichever is inapplicable"

 

[Penners]

 

[mims&pip]

Love it :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

I may regret this, but is the capitalisation correct or should it be 'Let's eat, Grandpa'?

 

[Penners]

A fair question, FF. To me, it depends whether you're talking about grandpas in general or a specific Grandpa. However, you're undoubtedly right in this case.

The humorous point could, of course, be restored by capitalising the whole thing!