Artex is a water-based covering, usually used to decorate ceilings, and generally brought to a textured finish with the use of a brush or comb. There are many potential ways of removing artex but there are only 4 correct ways to do so; using a steamer, using a specialist artex removal product, plastering over it or plaster boarding over it. Each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. If there are, gently remove them and place if a plastic bin bag. However, if your surface has asbestos in it, don’t touch it! You will need to get the professionals in to remove it correctly and prevent any fibres from being released into the air. If on testing it’s soft enough, before scraping anything off, coat the next 1m square patch with X-Tex so that by the time you’ve scraped the first patch clean, the next patch should be almost ready to go. Patience and Persistence: The process of removing plaster from a wall is physically demanding and time-consuming. Take regular breaks to rest and reassess your progress. Remember, it’s not a race. The goal is to get the job done safely and effectively, even if it takes a bit longer.

Whenever you’re doing a home renovation project, it’s important to know what’s behind your walls—like electrical wiring, plumbing, or insulation—before you start cutting or demolishing. If you’re unsure, it’s best to consult with a professional. Plaster Boarding Again a very effective way of resolving an artex problem, especially if it contains asbestos. Like the plastering route, it simply involves boarding over the artex using plasterboard. If you do it yourself and don’t plaster it, it can be fairly cheap, however if you use tradesmen and have it plastered, again it can be rather expensive It’s recommended to start at the top of the wall and work your way down. This is mainly for safety reasons as removing plaster from the bottom first could destabilise the sections above, causing larger, heavier pieces to fall. By starting at the top, you ensure that the wall stays stable for longer, and the plaster falls safely onto the already cleared area. Using the Tools

Prepare for a Dust Storm

As we have mentioned above, it is always a good idea to practice before you attempt the real things. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. So that you can easily fix the boards in place you will now need to work out exactly where each joist is. This can be easier said than done and id done in several ways: If you have any cables attached to the skirting board remove the cable clips with a pair of pliers. Grips the nail in the clip and pull; if difficult to remove gently twist and pull. Regular DIY Doctor reader, Steve, made a great point. Having been a fully qualified asbestos surveyor and been responsible for the asbestos management at one of the largest housing associations in the UK we feel he was offering excellent advice with real hands on experience.

Using a Wallpaper Steamer: This is a fairly cheap and effective way of removing artex from a ceiling, but it’s extremely messy and if you leave the steamer in one place for too long it can damage the surface beneath the artex. Do not use if asbestos is present The systematic approach of working your way down the wall has several benefits, not least of which is safety. Here’s how to go about it: Cleaning As You Go: After you finish with each grid square, take a moment to clean up the debris before moving on to the next section. This not only keeps your workspace tidy and safe but also prevents the buildup of dust and debris, which can become overwhelming if left until the end. Steaming artex off is a very messy process that involves lots of water dripping down, especially when working on a ceiling and lots of soft, damp artex, so the first task is to remove any furniture present in the room and then cover anything left and the floor with plastic dust sheets or tarps. Once ready to scrape, hold your scraper as flat to the surface as you can and then simply scrape the artex off in strips. Work your way over your patch until clear.

If you have plastered up to and around any corners these will need to be defined, including any areas where the new plaster butts up to another surface. To do this you will need to use a soft, wet half-inch paint brush.

These need to be cut and fitted properly to get a matching hard to spot fit. Learn how to scribe skirting boards to get the perfect internal join. How Can I Remove Skirting Board Nails? Plasterboarding over artex is pretty much the same process as plastering over it, only instead of laying on plaster, you’re covering it with plasterboard. The purpose of scoring the plaster is to create control lines or breaks in the plaster, which will help when you begin to chisel it off. By scoring the plaster into squares, it will break along these lines, reducing the risk of large, unmanageable pieces falling at once and making the process safer and cleaner. Choosing a Utility Knife As mention in the intro, My dining room plaster definitely required replacing for two main reasons:

Scrape Off the Plaster Walls

Remove Nails or Screws: Once you’ve pried off a section, there may be nails or screws left in the wall studs. These can be removed with a claw hammer or a screwdriver, respectively. Select a sturdy utility knife. The blade should be sharp and long enough to score through the depth of the plaster. A dull blade won’t be as effective and can actually make the task more difficult. You can typically find suitable utility knives at your local hardware store. Scoring the Wall But if the skirting boards have been damaged and need a lot of repair – which can be time-consuming – then it's best to replace them. However, if they are an original feature in an old house they might be hard to replace so you will need to put in the time and effort to fix. Before you apply any finishing coverings, fill and sand any holes or depressions so that you get a perfect flat finish.

If the plaster that you want to remove is within the inside walls of your house, you will be required to remove all the pieces of furniture for the sake of avoiding further costs of repair that might be because of the breakages. You floor will also need some form of protection. You look for some old pieces of iron sheets or any other material to help you in the same for your own good. The plaster that you would have removed needs to be collected ad taken to a different place hence there will be the need to have the garbage can with you so that the process becomes simple and effective. In case the wall of your house has, some screws or certain plates do not just work on it that since you might them later. Using a screwdriver, you can safely remove them and have them kept at a secure place for future use. Next, remove all obviously "high spots" of artex, where the stipples hang down. You can do this using a hand scraper or wall scraper as this will further aid in the final finish and also the ease in which it can be plastered over.Starting in a corner, place the steamer plate on the surface for several seconds and then lift it away and use a 3 inch scraper or filling knife to test how soft it is. Repeat this over and over until you can feel the scraper penetrate all the way through the artex and then you can scrape it off. Next, cut into a small section of this with the trowel held at 90 degrees to the hawk. Tilt the hawk towards you while pushing and “scooping” the trowel and plaster away. Before using a wallpaper steamer it needs to be prepared and this means filling it with clean water up to the max fill line on the tank and then screwing the lid on fully. Each tool would be used in a separate place, and this technique is usually good right at the start to get the board moving. Removing skirting boards fixed with screws