Preparing 1960s Plasterboard for Skimming

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Moisie

New Member
Hello:

I'm currently preparing a room for skimming; it's a 1960s house which has had artex on the ceilings, and multiple layers of wallpaper on top of lining paper directly on top of the plasterboard on the walls.

I'm wanting to completely get rid of the artex, so am stripping it off with a steamer. This is exposing the cardboard from the original board underneath, which is getting a bit torn as I remove the coating - not enough to expose the plaster inside the board though. Likewise, stripping the lining paper off the walls is slightly tearing into the top layers of the cardboard on the walls.

Is this going to be ok to skim over? Should I prepare the surface any further before getting the plasterer in?

Thanks for any advice!
 
As above. You could have saved your money and your health by just getting a plasterer to overboard the ceiling. Artex is ridden with deadly asbestos. Don' worry about the walls tearing. You can use a special kind of plaster called unifinish that's specially made for problem backgrounds.
 
blackdog said:
As above. You could have saved your money and your health by just getting a plasterer to overboard the ceiling. Artex is ridden with deadly asbestos. Don' worry about the walls tearing. You can use a special kind of plaster called unifinish that's specially made for problem backgrounds.
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@gps do your job lol
 
blackdog said:
As above. You could have saved your money and your health by just getting a plasterer to overboard the ceiling. Artex is ridden with deadly asbestos. Don' worry about the walls tearing. You can use a special kind of plaster called unifinish that's specially made for problem backgrounds.
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Pmsl yes it's very special after a while it falls off and after initial interest from @BritishGypsum they have no interest in the client or plasterer.
The claim it's made for problem backgrounds is total tosh it's purpose is to stop the need for pva, but guess what on problem backgrounds pva is needed lol you really couldn't make it up.

On a serious note get a plasterer in who will advice on the prep needed beforehand, but please take note and I'm very serious if they mention uni finish show them the door and thank them for there time, and wasting yours.
 
Moisie said:
Hello:

I'm currently preparing a room for skimming; it's a 1960s house which has had artex on the ceilings, and multiple layers of wallpaper on top of lining paper directly on top of the plasterboard on the walls.

I'm wanting to completely get rid of the artex, so am stripping it off with a steamer. This is exposing the cardboard from the original board underneath, which is getting a bit torn as I remove the coating - not enough to expose the plaster inside the board though. Likewise, stripping the lining paper off the walls is slightly tearing into the top layers of the cardboard on the walls.

Is this going to be ok to skim over? Should I prepare the surface any further before getting the plasterer in?

Thanks for any advice!
Click to expand...
This is the product I'm talking about. For a variety of different surfaces. You can get it in B and Q

 
blackdog said:
This is the product I'm talking about. For a variety of different surfaces. You can get it in B and Q

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can you also post up the literature that says its for "problem" back grounds ? or did you just make that up ? the original poster will be very interested in your claims
 
@Moisie we have an ongoing issue with uni finish with a respected member of the forum, basically it fell off, the manufacturer has been out to inspect and have not as I write this confirmed if it is an issue with the plaster or the background it was on, leaving our respected member and more importantly the client high and dry.
as I've mentioned avoid this product, do your job properly with an appropriate pva, blue grit or such like and use multi finish or board finish or even knauf do a finish which will give you a room you desire.
 
gps said:
can you also post up the literature that says its for "problem" back grounds ? or did you just make that up ? the original poster will be very interested in your claims
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I meant that it's for different backgrounds that would otherwise require various preparations - glossy paint, artex, patched plasterwork with different rates of suction, walls with tile adhesive or wallpaper paste left on them etc. If you bother to read the literature you'll find there are various situations where it's not recommended - surfaces treated with exterior grade paint, distemper, surfaces where the existing covering has delaminated. We've all had them in the past. You've quoted one example of the plaster failing. perhaps the OP forgot to mention something and then didnt want to appear like a complete cock. Who knows?

Our recommendations follow controlled testing and extensive
trials across many sites and situations. In re-skimming work,
other backgrounds will inevitably occur for which we do not
have sufficient data to support a clear recommendation. We can
only suggest that customers apply common sense and caution
– e.g. it may be appropriate to test a small area, remembering
that the whole system of previous layers needs to be stable both
during and after refinishing. If there is doubt that it will, then
removal or overboarding should be considered

https://www.plasterersnews.com/british-gypsum-unifinish-review/
 
Hello all

Thanks for your replies. I'm intrigued by the discussion about Unifinish - but that's probably beyond where I'll get involved...

I have been advised to overboard - but I'm wary of doing so, leaving the layer of artex underneath it. I'd rather be rid of it, and not have to worry about any of the risks of cutting into the ceiling later on.

Obviously, I could remove all the existing boards and replace - but that's presumably going to be a lot of mess and work which I'd rather avoid...

Thanks.
 
blackdog said:
I meant that it's for different backgrounds that would otherwise require various preparations - glossy paint, artex, patched plasterwork with different rates of suction, walls with tile adhesive or wallpaper paste left on them etc. If you bother to read the literature you'll find there are various situations where it's not recommended - surfaces treated with exterior grade paint, distemper, surfaces where the existing covering has delaminated. We've all had them in the past. You've quoted one example of the plaster failing. perhaps the OP forgot to mention something and then didnt want to appear like a complete cock. Who knows?

Our recommendations follow controlled testing and extensive
trials across many sites and situations. In re-skimming work,
other backgrounds will inevitably occur for which we do not
have sufficient data to support a clear recommendation. We can
only suggest that customers apply common sense and caution
– e.g. it may be appropriate to test a small area, remembering
that the whole system of previous layers needs to be stable both
during and after refinishing. If there is doubt that it will, then
removal or overboarding should be considered

https://www.plasterersnews.com/british-gypsum-unifinish-review/
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Saying it's for problem back grounds and then saying it's for different backgrounds is some back tracking wouldn't you say ?
You see the trouble is @Moisie there is around 5 members that use this and will write utter rubbish and make false claims, the other 20 odd thousand members do not use it or would not trust it, that's the truth of it.

And those 5 members probably have posters of Nick Clegg on their bedroom walls
 
Moisie said:
Hello all

Thanks for your replies. I'm intrigued by the discussion about Unifinish - but that's probably beyond where I'll get involved...

I have been advised to overboard - but I'm wary of doing so, leaving the layer of artex underneath it. I'd rather be rid of it, and not have to worry about any of the risks of cutting into the ceiling later on.

Obviously, I could remove all the existing boards and replace - but that's presumably going to be a lot of mess and work which I'd rather avoid...

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Overboarding is absolutely fine, do not be concerned about cutting into the ceiling if any asbestos is in the artex it's so minimal it's really not worth worrying about, or spending a fortune having it removed by a specialist company.
 
gps said:
Saying it's for problem back grounds and then saying it's for different backgrounds is some back tracking wouldn't you say ?
You see the trouble is @Moisie there is around 5 members that use this and will write utter rubbish and make false claims, the other 20 odd thousand members do not use it or would not trust it, that's the truth of it.

And those 5 members probably have posters of Nick Clegg on their bedroom walls
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With the exception of our good friend vincey who only has pictures of himself up.
 
gps said:
Saying it's for problem back grounds and then saying it's for different backgrounds is some back tracking wouldn't you say ?
You see the trouble is @Moisie there is around 5 members that use this and will write utter rubbish and make false claims, the other 20 odd thousand members do not use it or would not trust it, that's the truth of it.

And those 5 members probably have posters of Nick Clegg on their bedroom walls
Click to expand...
Get a life mate. You can nitpick the syntax all you want but it boils down to the point that out of however many thousand times this product has been used you zoom in on one complaint on this forum and without any analytical reasoning at all conclude that it's all faulty. LOL. And then other members take a lone lunatics word for it and decide not to use it. LOL
 
I've used both versions of uni
The first one that was recalled and the second which is currently available.

I had trial bags of them both and to be honest I thought this is horrible stuff.
It will also make you sweat on anything other than gloss/silk surfaces.
Everytime I used it I had to 3 coat or put tiny tiny sets on.
Even then anything other than a I've it's a nightmare.
The first attempt from bg spread like chewing gum.
This lot available now speeds better but still for me is shite.

That's just my opinion.
Mind you I prefer mp75.
Love that stuff. If only I had a big enough pair of b*ll***s to buy a machine and enough new build/Extension work I'd be on it.
At the minute it doesn't seem viable in the domestic market and I won't be going back to site anytime soon.
 
I thought i was the only one on the tpf to talk a lot of shiite ....it seems your all at it !!!
Just mix it all together and use danny's new £1.99 trowel.
Im sure the planet will keep turning.
 
algeeman said:
I thought i was the only one on the tpf to talk a lot of shiite ....it seems your all at it !!!
Just mix it all together and use danny's new £1.99 trowel.
Im sure the planet will keep turning.
Click to expand...


No, it is still just you lol
 
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