How

[Ann Ross]

artex removal

[incitatus]

Tricky.....or at least I don't know the easy way. I had this problem a couple of years ago and the best thing I found was one of those air driven vibrating nail guns that are used for stripping paint off cars. Dust and bits everywhere, mind so wear a mask. If you come up with something better let me know.

[ursula]

You can try sanding it down but it's virtually impossible to a smooth finish and takes hours. If it hasn't been painted over, it might be possible to loosen it with a wallpaper steamer and scrape it off. If you can afford it, get a plasterer to skim over it to create a smooth surface (a process known as caulking). However, there's usually a good reason why the artex was put there in the first place - usually to cover cracks. Do you really want to see what's underneath?

[Step2hen]

One suggestion I heard recently was to take down the ceiling and replace it with a new plasterboard ceiling. Sounds a bit extreme I know and would create a lot of dust but if the original ceiling was artexed to cover up cracks (which seems to be the main reason for applying it) and they are still active (something which the artex may inhibit as it is applied in quite a thick layer) then a new ceiling may provide a more permanent solution to having to deal with the cracks and holes in the original plaster if you just try removing the artex instead. Alternatively if the artex and original plaster underneath is sound (difficult to ascertain without lifting floorboards above) then skimming over the top may be the easier solution.

[workieticket]

If it has been applied thinly, paintstripper should shift it. If its thicker use a scraper.

[cpcpcp]

I looked in vain on the internet for an easy way to remove artex. None of the methods recommended seemed suited to someone who wanted to avoid hard work so I did a few experiments of my own. As a result I can recommend the 'gloop and scrape' method. I was able to remove my artex with about the same amount of effort it takes to remove stubborn wallpaper - which must be about as easy as it gets. 1. Mix up some wallpaper paste with a nice gloopy consistency. 2. Spread paste onto the wall fairly thickly. Don't brush it in; just leave it lying there. 3. Cut open some black bin liners and put on the wall as if you were applying black plastic wallpaper. 4. Sit down and watch television for about six to eight hours, or do the shopping, or go to bed. 5. Make sure you return to the job before the paste dries completely. (The plastic bin liners stop evapouration and ensures the moisture is taken up by the artex. You can always add more paste if you oversleep!) 6. Remove one bin liner at a time and using a wide wood chisel (e.g. 1 inch) remove the artex. I found it came off relatively easily. Pressing lightly some of the artex remained and could easily be sanded down when it dried out. A little more pressure and the artex (with a bit of care) came away from the original plaster.

[chiv]

I have used X-Tex Textured Coatings Remover on my whole house to remove artex from walls and ceilings.It is brushed on and left for a couple of hours. In some cases you can leave it on overnight if the artex is painted. The just scrape it off. It also works on pre 1985 artex containing asbestos, as it keeps the artex wet and does not let any fibres into the air. There are no fumes and it is totally safe so it wont burn your skin like other removers or steam method. I bought it from decorating direct.