Skimming over Artex in Sawston
Council Tax records count 300 Sawston homes from 1945 to 1954, 540 from 1955 to 1964, and more than 1,100 from 1965 to 1982. Houses from those years very often still have a swirled or stippled ceiling in the lounge, hall or bedrooms.
Lewis, our plasterer, skims over the texture so the ceiling is smooth and ready for paint. It is usually far less disruptive than taking the ceiling down. We sheet the room, remove fittings and prepare the surface so the plaster bonds.
Cracks, older walls and coving
Ceilings in houses of this age can crack along the joints between boards. Hairlines can be filled, but deeper or recurring cracks may point to movement or a leak, and we will tell you if we think so. Water marks get a Zinsser stain block.
In the couple of hundred Sawston homes built before 1919, walls may be lath and plaster or older lime, and stripping paper can expose problems. We can also hang new coving once the ceiling is skimmed. Plastering and interior decorating go on one quotation.
Sawston at a glance
- 16 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 24 minutesOSRM routing
- 27%were built 1945 to 1964VOA Council Tax stock
- 38%were built 1965 to 1982VOA Council Tax stock
- 7%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 3,057householdsCensus 2021
- 4%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
How we approach plastering
After skimming, the plaster dries out fully. We sand off nibs with Mirka dust-free sanders, apply a thinned mist coat to seal it and show any dips, fill and spot-sand, then finish with two coats. Floors and furniture are covered before the plasterer starts. The full method, products and FAQs are on our plastering page.