The short answer
Plastering over artex in the UK typically costs between £250 and £600 for an average ceiling, depending on its size, its condition and whether the plasterer skims directly over it or overboards first. Artex is a textured coating, and there are two common ways to cover it: skim straight over it after treating the surface with a suitable bonding agent so the plaster keys properly, or screw new plasterboard over it and skim that. Overboarding costs a little more because of the boards and extra labour, but it gives a reliably flat result over a heavily textured or uneven surface. A key point with older artex is that it can contain asbestos, so it should be checked before being sanded, scraped or disturbed — plastering over it without abrading it is generally the safer approach.
Artex was hugely popular on UK ceilings for decades, and covering it for a flat, modern finish is one of the most common plastering requests. The texture, the condition and the age of the coating all shape the cost.
Cost to plaster over artex
- Skim over a small artex ceiling£200–£350
- Skim over an average artex ceiling£250–£450
- Overboard and skim an average ceiling£400–£700
- Asbestos considerationOlder artex may contain it
- Safer approachCover without sanding/scraping
Skim over or overboard?
There are two standard ways a plasterer covers artex, and the choice affects both cost and result:
- Skim directly over the artex: the surface is first sealed and treated with a suitable bonding agent (a high-grip primer or PVA-type sealer chosen for the surface) so the new plaster keys to it, then a finish coat of multi-finish is applied and trowelled flat. This is the lower-cost route and works well where the artex texture is shallow and the surface is sound. Heavily raised or 'stippled' patterns can be more difficult to flatten with a skim alone.
- Overboard then skim: new plasterboard is screwed up over the artex into the joists or studs, the joints are taped with scrim, and the new board is skimmed. This gives a dead-flat result regardless of the texture underneath and avoids any need to abrade the artex. It costs more because of the boards, fixings and extra labour, and it lowers the ceiling very slightly.
For a heavily textured or uneven artex surface, many plasterers recommend overboarding for a more dependable finish; for a light texture in good condition, a skim is often enough.
| Method | Average ceiling cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Skim over artex | £250–£450 | Light texture, sound surface |
| Overboard and skim | £400–£700 | Heavy texture, uneven surface |
| Skim over artex wall | £150–£350 | Sound textured wall |
| Overboard and skim wall | £250–£500 | Uneven or heavily textured wall |
Indicative UK figures for guidance only. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote cost guides. Texture depth, size and asbestos status change the approach and price.
The asbestos consideration
This is the most important point about artex, and it affects how — and how safely — it can be covered. Textured coatings produced before the early 2000s could contain a small amount of asbestos (commonly chrysotile) as a binder. Asbestos is only a risk when it is disturbed and fibres are released, so:
- Do not sand or scrape old artex to flatten it without knowing whether it contains asbestos.
- Plastering over it without abrading it — either a careful skim or, better still, overboarding — keeps the coating intact and is generally the safer approach.
- If in doubt, get it tested. A simple sample test can confirm whether asbestos is present before any work that might disturb it.
- Removal of artex containing asbestos is specialist work and should not be attempted as a DIY scrape.
Because of this, covering artex (rather than stripping it) is often both the lower-cost and the safer choice for older ceilings.
What changes the price
Within the typical ranges, several things move an artex job up or down:
- Texture depth: a light texture can be skimmed cheaply; a deep, raised pattern is harder to flatten and may steer the job towards overboarding.
- Size and height: larger ceilings cost more, and a high ceiling needing a tower or scaffold adds access cost.
- Condition: sound artex is straightforward to cover; cracked, loose or water-damaged areas need attention first.
- Ceiling vs wall: artex on a ceiling costs more to cover than on a wall, because overhead work is slower.
- Method chosen: overboarding costs more than a direct skim but gives a flatter, more reliable result on heavy texture.
When you request a price, confirm whether it is for a skim or for overboarding, whether the surface treatment is included, and whether the plasterer has considered the age of the artex. A quote that proposes sanding old artex flat should prompt a question about whether it has been tested for asbestos first.
It is worth weighing the long-term result as well as the cost. A direct skim over a light texture is the lower-cost route and works well, but if the artex pattern is deep or the surface is at all uneven, a skim can leave a faint ghost of the texture or a slightly wavy finish that shows under good light. Overboarding costs more up front but gives a dead-flat, modern ceiling that behaves like new plasterboard, which can be the better value over the life of the room — particularly in a kitchen, living room or any space with bright or angled lighting that would reveal imperfections. Matching the method to how the room is used and lit is as important as matching it to the budget.
If you have several artexed ceilings to deal with, doing them together is usually more efficient, because the plasterer is set up for overhead work and the dust and disruption are confined to one period. It also lets you take a consistent approach — for example overboarding throughout — so the ceilings match. Whatever the method, confirm that any cracked, loose or water-stained areas are made good first, and that the source of any old water staining has been resolved, so the new finish goes onto a sound, dry surface rather than over a problem waiting to return.
Frequently asked questions
Can you skim straight over artex?
Often yes, provided the surface is sound and treated with a suitable bonding agent so the new plaster keys to it. A light texture skims well; a heavy, raised pattern is harder to flatten and may be better overboarded. Crucially, the artex should be covered without sanding or scraping if its asbestos status is unknown, as older textured coatings can contain asbestos.
Is artex cheaper to skim over or to remove?
Covering artex — by skimming over it or overboarding — is usually both lower-cost and safer than removing it, especially for older coatings that may contain asbestos. Removing asbestos-containing artex is specialist work that adds significant cost. Unless there is a specific reason to remove it, most homeowners cover it for a flat finish.
Does plastering over artex lower the ceiling?
A direct skim adds only a few millimetres, so the change is negligible. Overboarding adds the thickness of the plasterboard plus the skim — typically around 10–15mm in total — which lowers the ceiling very slightly but is rarely noticeable in a normal room. The reliably flat result usually outweighs the small loss of height on a heavily textured ceiling.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific room. They are guidance, not a quotation.