Ceiling & Wall Finishes
Artex Removal in Bournemouth and Dorset.
Swirls and stipple, gone in a day. Paint-ready ceilings. If your decorator is sucking air through their teeth at the artex on the hall ceiling, we’re the call. Skim-over or full removal, dust-controlled, asbestos-tested where it matters.
Why Artex Removal Is One of Our Most Common Jobs
Half the houses in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch were built or refurbished between the 1960s and 1990s. That means textured ceilings everywhere. Swirl patterns, stipple finishes, fan shapes. They date a property instantly. And if you have ever tried to paint over deep artex, you know how much paint it drinks and how rough the finish still looks.
We offer two approaches: skim over or full removal. For most homes, skimming over is faster, cleaner and more affordable. We apply a bonding coat, then two passes of finish plaster. The result is a genuinely flat ceiling you can paint straight onto, no texture showing through.
Full removal makes sense when the artex is very thick, badly applied or already peeling. We scrape back to the original surface, repair any damage, and then skim to a smooth finish.
The Asbestos Question. Honest Answer.
Artex applied before 2000 may contain chrysotile (white) asbestos. We are not going to sugarcoat that. If your property was textured before 2000 and you want the artex scraped off, it needs testing first. A simple lab test costs around 30 pounds and takes a few days. If asbestos is found, a licensed removal contractor handles the stripping before we plaster.
The good news: skimming over artex does not disturb it. If the texture is intact and firmly bonded, we can skim straight over without any asbestos risk. This is the route most of our Bournemouth customers take.
Once the artex is dealt with, most rooms also benefit from a fresh skim on the walls to match. We can quote both at the same time. Ready to get started? Get my itemised quote.
What to expect
The process from textured to flat. Step by step.
Assessment
We check the texture type, how firmly it is bonded, and whether a pre-2000 asbestos test is needed. Then we recommend skim-over or full removal.
Preparation
Floors and furniture dust-sheeted. For full removal, we dampen and scrape back to the original ceiling. For skim-over, we apply a bonding agent to the textured surface.
Skim Finish
Two coats of finish plaster applied and worked flat. No ridges, no trowel marks, no trace of the old texture underneath.
Drying & Handover
Allow 3 to 5 days for the plaster to dry fully. It turns from dark pink to pale cream when ready. Then a mist coat of diluted emulsion, and you are good to paint.
Artex Removal FAQs
Artex applied before 2000 may contain chrysotile asbestos. If your property was built or textured before 2000, we recommend an asbestos test before any scraping or sanding. The test costs around 30 pounds and takes a few days. Skimming over artex without disturbing it is considered safe and does not require testing.
The main factors are area size, ceiling height and access, the depth of the texture pattern, whether asbestos testing is needed, and whether you want a skim-over or full removal. Skimming over artex is typically faster and more affordable than full removal. We provide a free, itemised quote after visiting the property.
A typical room ceiling takes one day to skim over artex. Full removal takes longer, usually 1 to 2 days per room depending on the texture depth and ceiling size. Drying time is an additional 3 to 5 days before you can paint.
Yes, and for most homeowners it is the better option. We apply a bonding agent, then skim two coats of finish plaster over the textured surface. The result is a flat, smooth ceiling ready for paint, without the dust and disruption of full scraping. The artex stays sealed underneath and causes no issues.
Related services from Pearl Plastering
An artex ceiling job often turns into a wider replaster or repair. These are the trades the same Pearl gang covers next.
Domestic Plastering & Skimming
Once the artex is off, the ceiling needs a finish skim. Same team, same standard, same day usually.
Read morePlaster Repairs
Cracks, blown plaster, ceiling bubbles from old leaks. Most of it doesn't need a full replaster.
Read moreDrylining & Plasterboarding
When the ceiling is so far gone it needs new plasterboard, not just a skim-over, this is the next step.
Read moreTell us about the ceiling.
Send us a photo (or a rough room size) and we’ll come back inside 24 hours with a real number. Skim-over or full strip, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for.