Not so long ago, Artex, that bumpy, rough, textured design that can be found on walls and ceilings, was thought to be the height in interior design trends. Homes around the UK were boasting their very own Artex artwork and no space was safe from its charm.

However, things have changed over the years and now Artex, the once much loved wall and ceiling finish, is seen to be outdated and past its best. You may think that this isn’t the end of the world, as you can just arrange to have it removed and replaced, but the truth is, Artex is a difficult material to work with and is just as hard to remove and replace, should you want to.

So, if you are currently feeling stuck with your Artex themed home, then you might want to read on a little further in this blog post.

What is Artex?

Before we go looking at how you can remove it, it makes sense to learn a little more about what Artex actually is. Artex is a water based covering that is usually seen on ceilings in older houses, but can also be found on walls too.

It is created by using a brush or comb, which, when moved through the covering, creates the instantly recognisable textured finish that we can still see today.

Removing Artex

As we have mentioned it is possible to remove Artex from a celling or from a wall, however, this is a tricky process to do. The first thing that you must do is ensure that it is asbestos free, this can be done yourself, however, we recommend that you consult a professional to ensure that the test is carried out properly and that the results are correct.

Is the Artex is 100% safe, then there are a variety of ways that you can do this. Some will remove it using a wallpaper steamer, this process is slow and it can be messy. There is also a risk that you could damage the wall or the ceiling as you steam it and the Artex is likely to liquefy and run everywhere.

You can also remove Artex using a specific removal product, which will soften it and allow it to be scraped off as you need to.

Plastering over Artex

If you don’t think that removing Artex is the right approach for you, then you may want to just ask for it to be plastered over. This is possible, however, first you will need to ensure that there are no loose parts. If you wanted to make it an even smoother surface to start with, then you could also consider sanding it down, however, this is not a necessity.

Once you have this, you can apply the skim to the surface and sand it down to ensure that it gets a smooth surface that is perfect for painting or for wallpapering.

The main thing to remember when it comes to this particular process, is that if you want to get the best results, then you are going to need to bring in a professional. You want to ensure that you have someone who knows what they are doing, what is possible and of course, the right materials and techniques to use.

You may feel comfortable tackling plastering yourself for those easy jobs, but, when things get more complicated, with a greater risk of errors, it makes much more sense to call in a professional.