Plastering over Artex is not preferred because Artex is porous and you have to remove the stipple to get a smooth coat. If your ceiling or even walls have Artex on them and you want to plaster them you will have to smooth the Artex to get a solid coat of plaster.
Top Tip: If your Artex is falling away then it should be removed because your will might crack and fall away. Artex can be dangerous depending on the time it was applied, take caution with Artex Because of asbestos.
Preparing the Artex For Plastering
To prepare Artex on ceilings and walls you must remove any prominent bumps so you can cover the Artex with plaster. You do not have to remove all the Artex but just enough to get a coat of plaster. You can use a scraper to remove all bumps, different Artex designs such as bark, fan and swirl.
Once you have taken as much Artex off as possible you need to seal the Atex because it will suck out the moisture from the plaster and your time to get a good finish will be lost! We use a PVA and water mix half water and half PVA that works every time.
The PVA Mix
A PVA mix will seal the porous Artex and stop it from absorbing all the moisture from your plaster making it crumble and crack. You need to cover any ceilings and walls that have Atex applied. We normally give it to or three coats so we are not chasing the final finish.
Once your PVA solution has dried you ready to start plastering. It takes around an hour for the PVA mix to fully dry, but this depends on the temperature of the room. Use your fingers and feel if the PVA mix has dried, if it is sticky then you will have to leave off plastering until it is dry to the touch.
- Mix half PVA and half water
- Paint with a brush over the area designated for plastering
- Give the ceiling or walls two or three coats
- The solution should dry in around an hour or two
Plastering Over Artex
Artex is everywhere because it was a cheap solution to repair walls that are not good enough for painting. Since the ’60s and 70’s Artex was used more than plaster because it’s easy to apply and anyone can do it with a little knowledge.
Plastering over Artex is not hard if you have a professional plasterer to smooth your walls and ceiling after you have prepared it for plastering!