artex removal

percypineapple | 20:12 Tue 17th Apr 2012 | How it Works

21 Answers

Hi all,
Have a bathroom that has been artexed about 10 years ago, and want plain walls. what are the options please. ( ceiling o.k. slatted timber)
Percy

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crawbit

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tenrec

percy there have been a few threads on this subject. Just type artex into the box up there ^ That should answer your question.

ChuckFickens

Skim over the top of the artex.

Hopkirk

Beware of sanding it.

I saw something recently that said some types had asbestos in the mix.

percypineapple

Question Author

Thanks,
read the old posts, seems a very iffy subject. it would be nice to plaster over the top, but it would then overlap tiles around the bath, so removal is the only way. i will soak it and then use a wallpaper steamer and make the biggest mess ever. I just hope the bloke who put it on wasn't trying to hide something.
Percy

shooty

steam stripper and scraper. Take note of what Hopkirk said as this can be very true. Although 10 years is fairly recent for asbestos in the mix. But be warned, regardless.

ChuckFickens

So it's not artex then?

shooty

percypineapple

Question Author

Yes,
I read about artex containing asbestos, but I seriously doubt it, as i lived near the Artex factory in Newhaven, sussex, and the sky was often filled with dust from the factory, but everyone is still alive 30 years later.
Percy

buildersmate

If it really was artexed 10 years ago, it won't have asbestos in it. Fact. Artex ceased to have asbestos incorporated in it from the mid-1980s.

Asbestos fibres can cause lung disease. Proven fact. About 8 building trades people in the UK die prematurely from asbestos-related diseases - mainly plumbers and chippies because they drilled into asbestos boards. Works a bit like smoking - it isn't guaranteed to kill you early, but it might shorten your life. So expressing ignorant comments about Artex's factory isn't very helpful.

buildersmate

About 8 tradespeople per week, that is.

craft1948

How are you going to get artex off with a wallpaper stripper?

theshedman

Hi, as others have said it shouldn't have Asbostos in it if it is only 10 years old. I would score the surface, then use a mixture of warm water with washing up liquid, brush it on a couple of times at least, then it should be softened enough to be able to scrape it off without too much dust. The washing up liquid will stop the water running down the wall and stick to the wall better than just water on its own would. Another tip would be to put newspaper along the bottom of each wall to catch the falling artex, then it is just a case of rolling it up afterwards and putting in the bin so not too much mess.

Dodger666

craft.

My daughter moved into a flat some years ago that had artexed walls in the lounge. We used a wallpaper steamer to soften the artex and scrape it off. It was a bit messy but successful. It was also cheaper than having someone in to skim over with plaster.

percypineapple

Question Author

I have just found two wall paper steamers in the shed, so will be at it shortly, and builder, it was not an ignorant comment, it was meant as a joke.
Percy.

bazwillrun

If the artex was put on to paper you might have a chance of getting it off by wetting warming and scraping.
If it was put straight on to the plaster then forget it.

i've tried in the past and you wont get it off by hand and a scraper in a month of sundays if the latter.

Easiest and quickest way, that I found was to get some face masks, close door, open windows,get a belt sander, starting with a pretty coarse belt and just sand it off

jomifl

Try this,
http://forums.moneysa...owthread.php?t=528558

percypineapple

Question Author

Hi all,
well, used the steamers,scrapers and sweat, atrex came off easy once it was hot and soaked., wall now back to cement and that syraphite stuff, so wall needs patching. went to B&Q and wickes, unable to find what plaster i need. I was hoping to skim the wall in one go, but seems that ther are only two options, a plaster that goes on 2mm thick max( like a fag paper i would think) or another that goes on at 11 mm max, but that one needs a coat of something else later.
so, should i fill the depressions where some of the syraphite has come away, then skim the lot, or can i do it in one go. I am going to paint over the walls in the end so that it looks like the " grandad in my pocket" house. i have wooden slatted ceiling and slatted wood from half way down the wall, so most of it is good, and the bit that needs plastering is only a few metrs of wall. all ideas greatfully accepted.
thanks,
Percy.