Have read many forums reguarding this and need to know what to do. Basically it is a small downstairs toilet that I need to tile. At the moment there is some kind of gloss paint that has been there since we moved in (about 2 months ago) and under that im guessing artex as it is all textured with a very crud pattern. What would i use to get the paint off? I have read that sanding it is the solution but part of the wall (where the old toilet cycstern used to be) is just cement with paint over it and sanding that might be a bit of a problem. Also the artex (judging from the rest of the house) is quite old and might contain asbestos so I dont really want to start sanding away at it all. Is there any other method of getting rid of the paint? Could i just line the walls with something and then tile onto that? (cant be plasterboard as with that and the tiling on top i wouldnt be able to open the door into the room anymore. Any advice is very welcome.

aarghhh what a nightmare,!! paint and artex will have to be removed if you can't overboard.

is there nothing else i can use to overboard instead of plasterboard?

not really, in fact, no. Soz don't mean to be a harbinger of doom and gloom, but both substrates you've mentioned ( paint and artex) are the devils porridge to tile on. If you can't overboard, they will have to be stripped back,

ok so how do I get the paint and artex off?

6mm hardibacker...glued and screwed......think health and safety if asbestos is about..

not guaranteed to have asbestos (will get it tested) but assuming there isnt what is the best way of getting rid of the paint and artex? Sanding would just take forever.. also where can I get that 6mm board that you are talking about?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

not guaranteed to have asbestos (will get it tested) but assuming there isnt what is the best way of getting rid of the paint and artex? Sanding would just take forever.. also where can I get that 6mm board that you are talking about?

If no asbestos..then a steam stripper...

Any idea how old the artex is

also thiking about it the stripper wouldnt be able to get around the cemented bit on the wall so the lining option would seem the easiest way around the problem. So where can I get the stuff from and what will be the cost? Also could marine ply be used if it was glued and screwed to the wall or are there problems with it?

the artex is at least 20 years old speaking to the previous house owners

Don't use marine ply like that your'd be better of using plasterboard.

It's not a quick fix job

Originally Posted by Unregistered

not guaranteed to have asbestos (will get it tested) but assuming there isnt what is the best way of getting rid of the paint and artex? Sanding would just take forever.. also where can I get that 6mm board that you are talking about?

doesn't matter how old your artex and paint is, tiles will not last on your wall

well I have signed up now... is there any way of getting thinner plasterboard for the job as I cannot find the other stuff mentioned earlier anywhere near me. (stoke on trent)

ive found this Wickes *–*Building Materials*–*Plasterboard*–*Vapourshiel d Plasterboard but that's about it... any good? and i still think at 9.5mm it would be too thick just going to measure up now

where abouts in Stoke are you goatboy?

out towards milton

you need to get yourself to Tile Giant. There's one in Burslem and one in Longton. They stock a similar board to 6mm hardibacker.

But I do think you need to solve the paint and artex issue before overboarding. Maybe it's worth considering getting a couple of local tilers in to quote for the work? It might work out easier for you in the long run.

But don't let me put you off doing it DIY style, just remember you need to get your preparation right before you can tile.

GRR

didnt realise you were from stoke too lol. Do you do tiling? or at least the prep work?

Originally Posted by goatboy

didnt realise you were from stoke too lol. Do you do tiling? or at least the prep work?

Unfortunately I'm not that talented

But the forum has a "I'm looking for a wall and floor tiler" area where you can post an advert stating that you're looking for a tiler to quote on your job. There are a number of members in the local area who may be able to assist you.

I found this place as a DIYer about a year ago, and it's a goldmine of information and loads of professionals are willing to share their knowledge, so keep doing your research about the artex as there maybe another member on here who's been through a similar job.

GRR

looking at it all it would be easier just to knock everything off back to the bare wall and plasterboarding it before tiling but that would be such a major pain... and lord knows what else it might uncover!

actually could you recommend anyone in the stoke area? Im from derby originally and although ive been here now 8 years it is very hard to find a decent builder or labourer. From my experience they either do a very poor job or cut corners. Hence the reason why I end up doing things yself these days but if i could get someone just to take it back to bare brick and plasterboard it then would make tiling it sooo much easier... Is there any sort of primer that would have to be used in order to stick it to the plaster board and would it need to be moisture retardant plasterboard?

my biggest concern would be the possibility of asbestos in the artex. I've just done a yell search and there's only one company in Stoke that is listed as doing asbestos removal. I'll pm you the details. The Direct.gov.uk website also has some good information on there about asbestos.

If you pop into Tile Giant, they know a few regular tilers and would be happy to pass you the details of tilers in this area.

You will need an acrylic primer in order to prime the plasterboard. You would only need a moisture resistant board if the area is going to get soaked i.e. if it's a shower area. You'll be fine to tile on plasterboard once the primer coat is dry.

GRR

isnt an acrylic primer the same as tiling onto paint? im confused :S

well taken off some of the artex... using a steamer was ok but if it heated it up too much it just turned into glue and was impossible to take off.. the thin skim of plaster that was on there has come off in huge chunks so now im left with an enormous job.... would it be better just to take it all back to brick and start again? and what are the costs of plastering... the room is about 1m by 2m

take it back to the brick and board out. It'll leave you nice surface to tile onto. If it's looking like too big a job for you, just get a local plasterer in to dot n dab the plasterboard onto the walls. No need to skim if the walls are being tiled, but i'd imagine with a room that small, you might want to just tile upto a border? If you go down this route, you'll need to get the plasterer to skim the top half so you can paint it.

I just dont want to get it plastered again for it just to fall off the walls again in a few years... dot nad dabbing plasterboard would be the best option i think but what are the costs of doing it as it seems like a very easy job... if i could get the plasterboard to my house easily enough then i would just do it myself lol

Goatboy, a lot of people think dot and dabbing is easy, it isn't, I come from a plastering background and I would recommend you take it back to the brick/blockwork and get a good local plasterer in to either dot and dab plasterboards or sand and cement render

one other slight worry about putting up plasterboard is part of the wall already had a small strip of plasterboard on it and when i took it off it was damp yet the brickwork underneath was dry.. wouldnt this just happen all over if i got it plasterboarded?

it sounds like that strip of p/board may have been dabbed on with bonding, it seems to hold and attract moisture