I've got a ceiling problem as well

[devonwoody]

Living room.

Artex pattern painted twice with emulsion.

Can a plasterer just skim over the top of artex and produce a flat surface? (with plaster or artex, not worried about artex at my age)

two longitude cracks to contend with.

ceiling has coving.

How messy, does the carpet need taking up or just covered with polythene?

 

[Rob Platt]

How messy, does the carpet need taking up or just covered with polythene?

Depends on the plasterer
as does whether he can plaster over it successfully.
Scrape off the high points or in the case of a ceiling the low points
PVA will provide a medium to get it to stick
scrim will sort out the cracks if they`re not structural or huge
HTH
all the best
rob

 

[Jamesc]

I can's add anything to the above save that we have had every ceiling in our house done like this and have had no problems (I hope I'm not tempting fate here) in the last 15 years.

James

 

[JakeS]

Scrape off the high points or in the case of a ceiling the low points

On this note - I seem to recall reading that artex applied prior to the 80s or so may well contain asbestos - is that a) true and b) a consideration for replastering over artex ceilings? We have a long-term plan to flatten some of ours at some point in the future, so I'm quite interested in this myself...

 

[carlb40]

Scrape off the high points or in the case of a ceiling the low points

On this note - I seem to recall reading that artex applied prior to the 80s or so may well contain asbestos - is that a) true and b) a consideration for replastering over artex ceilings? We have a long-term plan to flatten some of ours at some point in the future, so I'm quite interested in this myself...

Yes it is true re the asbestos. If the artex isn't really bumpy/ patterned type, then a couple of coats of skim should cover it. You would be enclosing the asbestos ( if it contains any) which you are allowed to do. If you suspect it and are worried, having it tested is the way forward.

 

[Waka]

My daughter had her artex ceilings skimmed over, any plasterer worth his weight will be able to do it.