Artex

[Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp]

Hi, This is really a continuation of the plasterbord ceiling question.

I am about to redecorate a room and the artex ceiling is suffering from splitting along the perimeter of the plasterboard panels.

I made a fairly strong mix of PVA and tile cement [it was white and anything else resembling filler has long since formed "marbles"].

I whacked this on with a roller and it seems to be covering the cracks. I'm tempted to continue with PVA and finishing plaster. Any thoughts?

Incidentally the original reccomendation of flexible caulk sounded brilliant, but with Artex :-(

AB

The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing.

~Babylonian Proverb

[Andrew]

You will never avoid cracks at the 90 degree joint between wall and ceiling unless you install an aircon system that keeps the room at a constant humidity and temperature all year round.

As we go from winter (heating on full, dry air) to July (hot and humid) the ceiling will expand and contract naturally.

The only viable solution is to put up decent coving. This will act as a 'flexible' joint cover.

Either that or overboard it with decorative panels like the ones made by Parador (German company) which have a special decorative edging strip.

Or you could just do it the quick-n-cheap way, by using something like Polycell Fine Surface filler and push this into the cracks using your finger.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Utter bollocks

[tabbypurr]

You can certainly use that as filler.

NT

[Andrew]

Non-negotiable fact.

We don't all live in 'kit build' 'faux timber framed' buildings like yours.

[Andrew]

You could always buy bag of artex-repair or even the proper stuff and just mix a stodgier mix and use that as filler.

[The Natural Philosopher]

non negotiable fact. It doesn?t make a blind bit of difference,

And my house is not kit built and is 100% real wood framed.

[Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp]

Thanks, I thought the plaster/ PVA mix might work it's way into the almost hairline crack. I am tempted to give it a go and it would have the advantage of "smoothing" the Artex a bit.

I have flexible caulk for the ceiling/ wall junction and know exactly where you are coming from with your humidity/ temperature statement.

It is logical and I cannot understand why every ceiling doesn't crack along the plasterboard edges.

I also find it difficult to comprehend why a mesh in concrete aids strength, when it seems more likely that the differing expansion rates would leave a buckled mesh with cracked concrete adhering in a few places.

AB

[tabbypurr]

any filler works. People put way too much emphasis on their fear that it will fall out or fail to stop recracking.

differing expansion rates only show up if you temperature swing it enough.

NT

[harry]

You need to put scrim over the joints before you put anything on top. This is a complete fix.

[Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp]

Thanks, but it's a little late to do anything like that now.

If it lasts a few years without looking a mess, I'll be happy though.

AB