Skim over Artex the Easy Method 

This is better than ANYTHING on television...!

been drywall'in 47yrs, I've done it all. I been doing ornamental plaster work and some synthetic (ugh) for the last few yrs. I always am teaching, but with you my friend, I am learning. It's great to see a man who is a master at his trade and shows pride in it!

The Paul Hollywood of the skimmers!

I have been plastering for 33 years, and I have to say fair play your very neat and tidy, when I skim over artex I put a 1 hand full of bonding per bag into my first coat, lay it on quite thick then speedskim both ways, and flatten with a trowel, then when you top coat a hawk full goes miles, there for it will trowel up faster, also you took of the light fitting cover (to keep it clean) but that exposed live wires, I also unscrew the pendant lower it down a couple of inches put the cover back on then you only have to work around the wire, it's safer and easier, also the new plaster called fast set is a game changer, it totally works from mixing to final trowel in 1 hour 40 mins, good for a bedroom ceiling but not for an akward set,

Not a plasterer but I could.not think of a better teacher brilliant video gets a like from me

that information about smaller trowel because of pain in wrist, very important to me thanks for that. i learned to skim left hand as i have pain in right one, so now using right hand only sometimes, most of the time i do skim left hand.

Your totally amazing not many people I asked would do this, I thought all the good old guys had passed, but your leading the way big thanks for what your doing 🤗

A real man doing real work. Getting rarer every day.

Simple no fuss plastering. Great channel 👏

Just started out myself and starting to work for a plasterer soon. The way you explain the process is brilliant. Cheers Kirk

What an amazing skill you have, thanks for all the films, love watching them, more to the fact - love watching highly skilled tradepeople, taking time and doing a professional job.

Thanks - new to plastering after having recently completed British Gypsum’s skim course and love your clear, simple (that’s a compliment) approach, advise and lovely calm work. Thanks!

Stay out the angle on your first pass I'd the best plastering tip I've ever heard 👍 rookie here and angles I find hardest

Your a good lad. I look forward to your videos, you never disappoint with top tips coming thick and fast👍

Lovely job Kirk. Superb video as always. Thank you.

Brilliant!! No more scraping artex off!!

I always add a bit of bonding in skim. Makes a nice fluffy mix, and goes over artex a treat.

Great tip to keep edges clean 👌 thanks

Finally just watched mate. Fantastic close up shot testing the plaster for the next stage! Definitely appreciate all those extreme close-ups!

You are a true craftsman of your trade. I wish you lived near me in Scotland.

Hi ,nice work , a plasterer one could take home to mother , a 3 cup of tea man . Any one for cakes . Well done and no mess .🤔👍👍👍👍👍

I’m a decorator, I’m going to start sending your videos to the plasterers down London 😂 I’ve had to skim a lot of work over with filler because of wavy finishes, sand of mixing splatters 🤦‍♂️ this guy not got one drop on the wall! Not many top notch plasterers like this around these days!!

That was a great lesson in plastering I’m a joiner who does plasters because l can’t always wait for the plasterer to be available and be fair l quite enjoy it and wanted to get a speed skim so thanks mate

I'm not a plasterer but just love the way this man explains on how to do the job and the best and proper way to do this, good video as usal 😊👍👏

That's exactly how I do my edges even with skirtings makes going round edges trowelling up so much more faster 👍

First time finding your channel, mint tip applying slightly away from the wall, and touching in with some excess after to keep the walls emaculate. Nice work 👌

Great tip about the light bulb

Hiya mate great video. I’m 35 and have been plastering for 18 years. Seriously impressed by your tidiness, especially when skimming over artex. 👌

Your an excellent spread! I use a similar technique to straighten stuff but rarely overskim artex due to risk of delamination. I think your edge technique is excellent for cleanliness which is something I have always struggled with, I named myself flick when I was doing bigger stuff but really want to get to dropping nowt so I enjoy the smaller domestic jobs, a lot of my work in my twenties was massive barn conversion stuff so it was more about being able to get it on in one or hang off a tower, the mess often didn't matter

Some nice tips ,will try that tomorrow when I do cieling.

it's interesting how i tend to do all my plastering how you do artex, i don't tend to rush my second coat as i don't think it gains me any time rushing it on, it sets when it wants. oh and i love using a refina plaziflex to put on my second coat. thanks for the effort and info

Brilliant lesson 👍

first time I've found your channel and this was a really good commentary - a lot of what you said rings very true for me. :) I was surprised you didn't prime it with PVA - saved me a step there :)

I've been watching your vids and you are a master of your craft, gave loads of tips and made me want to have a go myself, thanks kirk 👍 😊

Hi i have just found your videos and have to applaud your excellent service on explaining how to do the jobs ,you make it so easy to follow and the tips you give are great ,so thankyou and keep up the great videos

Brilliant , absolutely beyond my skill but I loved watching it

These guys work for their money.

Mate that’s a awesome advice on how to skim artex ceiling

very good work kirk ! the speedskim looks a great bit of kit !

Again Kirk, another great video. Loving the little tips you keep throwing in. This is exactly how my artex ceilings are done. Not cuz I know what you know, but rather than I'm not on the trowel daily and a lot slower putting on so it picks up a lot more by the time I 2nd coat 🤣. Be good to see a larger ceiling filmed and how to do a rolling set or just to be able to manage timing a little more for us slower plasterers/ multi's.

Excellent video mate make it look so easy no stress 😂 💪

Get yourself and the lad a beer on me! ;-) Gave this dark art a go today with my boy - started with an Artex ceiling. Not recommended, but got there in the end thanks so much for sharing your knowledge Kirk!

Good job my son! I always give an artex ceiling a scrape first- the flatter the better to start with. I normally bang the first coat on as fast as possible and flatten it after it’s all on. A speedskim is handy as long as the room is virtually empty. Like you say, leave the first coat to go pretty firm before the 2nd. It’s easy to try to rush so be able to finish by lunch… On the odd occasion I would use a zombie mix but that would only be if the artex is particularly deep or uneven. There is one crucial thing you missed out… you MUST wear safety glasses. I know from experience by being nearly blinded in one eye due to chemical burns. I always have safety glasses on now.

Another great video Kirk

Great video Kirk mate you made it look easy

Great videos, Always learn something new from them.

Nice neat job mate 👍

So satisfying!

Lovely job.

Once I’ve second coated it I run a flexy trowel over it absolute game changer I find It’s also my go to trowl when easi filling that apart I’m a marshal man I’m defo gonna invest in a extension pole for my speed skim saves getting the stilts out till the final trowl

Great video! Really learnt a lot from this one!!!

I’m a diy plaster and have done my own houses, the house I’m in now was artex up stairs. The joists were so up and down, I added a quarter bag of bonding to the first coat to help get over it. Scary when you think of the weight your putting up there when it’s near 8mm thick in places 🙄😂. Your videos are very good mate 👍

Another great vid. I personally enjoy artex ceilings, I usually do a magic mix first coat, leave it a good 35/40 mins, then whip around with multi and if there’s any left I’ll go back round with a really right pass. Has a few jobs where even when it seems I’ve got the first coat flat, when I flatten the second coat I seem to have bumps and hollows, so now I just generally allow enough for worst case a tight third coat

I wish this video was a couple days earlier I had a nightmare of a ceiling the other day artex wise This really could of come in handy 😂

Impressive mate

Thanks, you gave me a good idea

Gonna give this a go on Monday I've got a 4 bag ceiling on artex so let's hope I'm up to it. might have to get myself a speedskim. Spot on video again bud and all my joints are shot just have a few rums when I'm home sorts them out

Same as I do mine. Leave that first coat to pull right in then second coat easy.

Great vid as always useful tips

Hi hope all are happy n well. Great vid as usual 👌 I Mix a bit of bonding with multifinish for my first coat. Put it on thick but not too thick. Flatten it with a speedskim both ways & Leave it for no less than 40 mins. On the 40th minute, I put on my second coat & finish off as you usually would. Sealing it a day before helps a lot.

You are the man ....

Yesss! Another video. Been waiting for another mate!

Great video ;)

Great vid super tidy on the wall ceiling junction aswell I do wonder though how many people out there watch a professional spread like u ,Alex Morley or blain grey ( and u guys r skilled tradesmen) and think wow that looks easy I could do that and get themselves in to a right old state cos u guys do make it look easy but as I know it rearly isn’t it’s almost an art than a trade to do fine plastering

Another good video mate. I like to mix bonding in to my 1st coat, thickens up your first coast of multi/ board finish so it covers the ceiling without having high spots showing through. Depending on how thick the artex is depends on how much bonding I’ll add. Never had any problems with it. It dose hang around for a while though as it’s a little thicker. Gives you time to prep your next set or have a cuppa 😊

I feel like id be able for a small patch job plastering if one ever came up,,only thing in i havent seen much of polishing or wet trowling videos and the paint brush for the edge other than that id fancy me self now as D.I.Y PLASTER NOW ,THANKS TO OUR KIRK FROM ROYAL FAMILEY😂❤❤

Got an artex ceiling to do, will try this out!

Excellent tutorial and a sub for being just so likeable 😆

Thanks

Joiner here no idea why I’m watching this video but I enjoyed it. Young plasterer we had on a kitchen skimmed a ceiling before and when we came in the next morning it was on the floor… Felt sorry for the lad. It must have been painted with that stuff back in the day

I feel a silly goose now. I scraped off the artex or just put new plaster boards up in my entire home. The artex was thick and awful. Never once thought I could skim over it for fear of it dropping af in clumps. Good game sir

I have always used PVA , mixed 3 Parts water to 1 part PVA , I roller on and brush on ( edges ) then, go and mix multi - finish plaster, then if dried out ei: very hot weather I give a second coat of PVA. before starting the first coat of plaster , as the ceiling should feel tacky/sticky before starting. As most ceilings are white I find it helpful to add a small amount of dye to the 3 to 1 mix of water and PVA , I use the red or blue chalk from Toolstation/ Screwfix for use with a chalk line , or any mortar dye ,just stir in , just add a little at a time , don’t overdo it !!! It’s only so you can easily see where you applied the PVA , When I did all my house I gave the ceilings a coat of 3 to 1 PVA the night before , and one in the morning before skimming, never had any problems, Lounge -diner has been done 27 years now and still perfect . Hope this helps 👍

Subscribed!

I learnt to plaster with my dad, he worked as a plasterer in Liverpool as well. Most of the old plasterers knew each other in those days lol. One of the things he used to tell me was as the plaster sets it gets warm and would soften the old artex. Causing it to pull away. He taught me to leave the first coat as long as possible as well. Also quite often he would use a half/half mix bonding and board finish for the first coat. He used to say it would help it stick. With modern plasters I don't think this is always necessary any more but still do it from time to time. Great channel a lot of the things you mention is just like listening to my dad talking about how to do things.

Well done Kirky, nice one as always. Your side kick is getting better with the camera. Zooming in on the right stuff now haha. Pity he breaks speedskims though

exhalant video love watchin

I now always use Crown Xp3 primer to seal bad ceilings the day before to stop delamination. Would be interesting to see how SBR compares.

Any textured/ artex ceiling Pre 2000, could have Chrysotile Asbestos in the textured ceiling

Great little video and some top tips. Easy question, would you normally use bonding or go straight on with hard-wall/finish plaster ?

Hi Kirk, can you put bonding on first then 2 coats of multi-finish. If so, how soon can you put multi-finish on the bonding. Also can you bond it one day and skim it the next. Or what about mixing bonding with multi-finish for the first coat, if so what ratio. Perhaps you can do a video answering these questions so others can get to know the answers. Great videos. I love to see that you have new videos in my suggestions. It's funny, when watching people like you, you kind of feel that you know them personally and its just a mate giving you advice and tips. Keep them coming and have a great weekend

Great video thanks! What pva mix did you use and did you pva the day before?

Gaz's Magic Mix works a treat over artex.

👍

I use fast set multifinish . Cheaper like buy half time pack .

Great video. Im a diy plasterer fixing up my own house and this video and you tips really help. Just 1 question, do you pva or sbr the ceiling first? Many thanks.

Yes This Def was the answer for me today. Celling was so big I did not need half time added either. Great advice Kirk. Thanks for Email reply too. Respect 👊😎👊 Paul (Spraya)

I'd like to add that this is totally different too house bashing on a site where it's crash bang wollop outer there lol boarding and skimming 3 bed flats in 2 days 😂😂😂

You talk about how nice it is to plaster over an artex ceiling because the first coat makes it like finishing on board ..... Well I'm sure your Dad will have tole you - Back in the day, ALL of our finishing was Three-coat ... Steel Float - Wooden Cross-Grain - Steel Float .... Made finishing Sooo comfortable - No bubbles, No Tiger-Stripes - And a marble-like finish every time ..... We had Thistle Board, Statite & Siraphite back then ..... Up to 1976 when the really HOT summer frightened the Less-Experienced To-Death .... So they developed Multi-Finish which hung about a bit longer but came with those problems most plasterers get these days .... Because when it 'goes' it GOES! ... Statite & Siraphite could always be brought back with a splash of water and the cross-grain 'if' you did let it get AWAY from You ..... Those were the days EH?? .... OH! and we only had the 12" Steel Trowels back then .... And STILL got a RAKE of area covered daily 🤠

Superb video mate. Just a quick question to ask if I may. I have a Artex ceiling that I want to cover, is quite thick like a merengue. It’s newly done jn last 10 years by previous owner. Would you suggest boarding or skimming? Thanks.

Artex can contain asbestos , by skimming over it you are hiding it potentially from someone in the future, therefore over boarding is a better option , ive also found cracks you might not spot until after its been skimmed , another good reason for overboarding

Great tip for laying on the edges neater… il be trying this out 👍🏼

Appreciate the tip on the speedskim clamp and the explanation of limewash(wish I knew that a year ago...). This ceiling looked shiny, gloss paint? Did you PVA or SBR? I researched the video to make sure I didn't miss that aspect but can't see it. Cheers

Love your videos mate.just curious do you need to pva the ceiling before first coat? Cheers mate 👍👍

Good job, l need to plaster my ceilings but although l have plastered ceilings in my past l have 2 large ceilings that when my house was artexed it looks very bad my lounge you can see were the boards join and thay are in line so you can see them, ceiling in my bedroom it looks as if they cut out a large section to get up in the loft this ceiling is as bad as it gets with what looks like nail heads that were not hit in so l have lots of lumps all over the ceiling plus the board joins were they never smoothed out the tapes. before l retiered l was a finishing foreman for 30 years

the speed skim clamp i use greenhouse bolts as they wont rust because they're aluminium

Not telling u you got multi in the beard 😂 the little rascals cracking watch as always mukka

How’s your shoulders matey.had to pack up as mine buggered.you lucky lad you

I always apply two coats of uni bond to stop sucking in two quick on first coat

THanks great video! - Is it a must to apply a layer of PVA for the finishing plaster to bond properly? Thanks.

Great watch mate im going to attempt a little bathroom ceiling at home . Is it worth sealing with anything, blue grit etc. This is what happens when a chippie attempts a bit of plastering 😂