Smoothing textured ceilings
Skimming is the usual answer to an Artex or textured ceiling. A bonding coat goes on, then finishing plaster is trowelled flat, leaving a surface ready for paint. If the coating might be old enough to contain asbestos, have it tested before anyone disturbs it.
Where a ceiling has cracked from years of movement, Lewis or our master plasterer can skim that too, as our ceiling skimming and repair page shows. New coving is often added at the same time, and it hides the joint between wall and ceiling.
New homes and older plaster in Fordham
As new houses dry out, plasterboard joints and corners open up in fine lines. We wait until the main movement has slowed, then rake, fill and sand flush before painting, so the cracks aren't chased twice.
In the area's pre-1919 homes, about 18% of the stock, lath and plaster can sound hollow when tapped. Graham judges whether filling and lining paper will do, or whether a section needs skimming, and puts that in the written quotation.
Fordham at a glance
- 19 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 24 minutesOSRM routing
- 12%were built 1945 to 1964VOA Council Tax stock
- 12%were built 1965 to 1982VOA Council Tax stock
- 18%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 1,176householdsCensus 2021
- 9%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
How we approach plastering
We'd clear and sheet the room, remove light fittings where safe and protect walls below the ceiling line. After skimming, the plaster dries until evenly pale. We sand lightly with a Mirka dust-free sander, mist-coat with thinned emulsion to seal it, check for dips under raking light, then apply two coats. Stains get Zinsser first. The full method, products and FAQs are on our plastering page.