Skimming textured ceilings
Council Tax records show around 330 homes in the parish from 1965 to 1982 and about 150 from 1945 to 1964. Many have had their textured ceilings skimmed already; others still have swirls or stipples. Lewis, our plasterer, or the master plasterer we work with, can skim straight over sound Artex once the room is sheeted.
Some Artex from past decades contained asbestos, so a sample should be tested before any sanding or scraping. Our Artex removal and skimming page explains the options.
Lath, lime and cracks in Haddenham's older houses
In pre-1919 houses, ceilings are often lath and plaster. Where a section has come away from the laths, it may have to be cut back to sound plaster and patched before any skim. Short hairline cracks can be filled during decorating, longer ones need taping and plastering, and repeated cracking along the same line is a sign to look for movement or water before decorating.
In a Cambridge bedroom we stripped and skimmed over old lath and plaster, a mist coat after skimming showed up imperfections before the finish went on.
Haddenham at a glance
- 10 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 16 minutesOSRM routing
- 10%were built 1945 to 1964VOA Council Tax stock
- 22%were built 1965 to 1982VOA Council Tax stock
- 16%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 1,457householdsCensus 2021
- 7%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
How we approach plastering
Floors and furniture are sheeted and light fittings taken down. Our plasterer patches or skims, and the plaster is then left until fully dry. Once dry, the new surface gets a watered-down mist coat; any dips it reveals are filled and sanded with our Mirka dust-free kit before two finishing coats. Belinda books plaster and paint back to back. The full method, products and FAQs are on our plastering page.