Artex ceilings in post-war Willingham houses
Council Tax records list roughly 510 properties in the village from 1945 to 1982, with the 1965 to 1972 band the largest at about 270. If yours still has a textured ceiling, skimming over it is usually quicker and less disruptive than taking the ceiling down.
Before Lewis starts, we clear or cover the room and protect the floors, and light fittings and smoke alarms need to come down. Our Artex skimming case study shows the finish.
Older walls, cracks and making good
At the other end of the scale, around 15% of Willingham homes predate 1919. Walls in those houses may be lath and plaster or old lime, and stripping paper can expose loose patches. Graham decides at the survey whether a wall needs skimming or just filling and lining, so you don't pay for more plaster than the room needs.
Cracks that keep returning can point to movement or a leak above, and we'll say so rather than fill and paint over them.
Willingham at a glance
- 8 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 14 minutesOSRM routing
- 8%were built 1945 to 1964VOA Council Tax stock
- 17%were built 1965 to 1982VOA Council Tax stock
- 15%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 1,844householdsCensus 2021
- 7%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
How we approach plastering
Fresh plaster is left to dry fully, then lightly sanded with Mirka dust-free sanders to take off nibs. A mist coat of thinned emulsion seals it and shows up any dips, which we fill and spot-sand. Two full coats follow. Water-stained ceilings get a Zinsser stain block first so marks don't bleed through. The full method, products and FAQs are on our plastering page.