Plastering over Artex

[cjam24]

Hi all, Just been to price up a job that i'm in two minds about, the people who own the house have plastered with thick textured paint, with high spots of 7 mil all over Ceiling, walls and reveals.
They are selling the house so they want it done as quick & cheap as possible.
Any advice would be much appreciated, would it be best to reboard or try and scrape off high points (although there are lot) etc............????

 

[roy c]

Scrape off the high spots, don't worry too much about them, then a thin skim of bonding, flatten it out a bit, let it go off (Go dark and firm) then a couple of coats of multi like you would normally..Little tip I usually put a good scoop of cement in the bonding mix, helps it go off a bit quicker but if your not sure about this try this little tip if you have to use a bit of bonding for fireplaces that have been bricked up that you have got to bring in, or little patches on old walls. This tip could be the difference between a days work and a mornings work I have used it for 20 odd years and no come backs ....If you scrape the highs off you may get away with a couple (or three) coats of multi, but if you are going down this route I would scrape it off put a strong coat of PVA ( 3-1) leave it over night and then another coat and then skim while "tacky".,Another tip always keep a roller and tray in your kit for unibonding and clean the roller out when your finished with it. 10 times quicker than appyling it with a brush

 

[cjam24]

Cheers Roy what would you think would be a reasonable price for that as i work for a company and don't get involved in the money side of things its around 35 square metres

 

[andy2306]

Ive just had exactly the same remedied at my house. ie knock off peaks, bond, skim

It cost £240 for a room 12x12, thats in yorkshire, but that was about the average, although not the cheapest price i got.

You have to look at how long it will take, decide on a day rate and then charge from there, if its gonna take 2 days and say you charge £100 a day plus materials, then think how long it will take you to the next full day and charge that amount!!!

If it takes 2 days then what £250 is about right?

Andy

 

[roy c]

Set yourself an hourly rate depending on your finishing and confidence. If you are confident you will do a good job then name your price,(between £15- £20 an hour) If your not then forget it until you are confident, I charge £20 an hour and I always tell the customer what I am going to charge before I start the job. They can then take it or haggle, but if you are charging that much then it has to be a "good" job. Some times its worth lowering your hourly rate if you are gauranteed a lot of work, but for one off jobs make it worth your while.

Now you said 35 m2 are you sure about that size?

 

[cjam24]

Iam not sure they gave me measurements over the phone and i popped in afterwork doesnt seem right but didnt want to say anything so i thought i would price it on day rate

 

[roy c]

Ok cj just price it on what you are happy with as a day rate , don't forget when you work for yourself you command the price when you work for a company you get what they command......When you get more experienced you can always become self-employed and "sub" your-self out. Your rate will be hirer but you will have to pay your own stamp have a tax-exemption cert. and no holiday pay no sickness benefit and if you dont work you don't get paid.. Or you can work with another spread and a labourer and make a fortune and go where the work is the one thing you have on your side (I may be wrong) is youth? correct me if I'm wrong

 

[roughcaster]

I use an old garden hoe to knock off any high spots in artex, but always make sure you don't breathe in the artex dust, always wear a mask. What roy c says about bonding coat onto artex is worth noting, and it also gives you a good surface to skim onto. I use bonding coat onto everything, either as a deeper float coat, or a prep coat, and then multi.

Roughcaster.

 

[cjam24]

Thanks everyone great help all points taken on board and yes roy c i do have youth iam my side at 24 still have loads to learn

cheers all

 

[clout stench]

24!!!

You weren't on the apprentice were you??

 

[cjam24]

How did you know