Artexing, Coving and Tape & Jointing in Basildon, Essex
Textured ceiling finishes, artex repairs and pattern matching, Gyproc coving fitted properly, and smooth tape and jointing on plasterboard — for homes, landlords and businesses across Basildon and Essex.
Artex Repairs, Matching and Textured Finishes
Artexing is a traditional plastering technique used to create textured patterns on ceilings and walls. We carry out artex repairs, pattern matching and decorative textured finishes for homes and properties across Basildon and the surrounding Essex area.
Matching an existing pattern is the part most people struggle with. Broken leather, stipple, swirl and broken scroll all behave differently, and a patch that does not match is more noticeable than the damage was. Years of plastering and finishing work is what makes the difference here.
What We Can Do With an Artex Ceiling
Whether you want the texture kept, repaired or gone entirely, there is usually more than one way to get there.
Repair and Match
Damaged or patched areas made good and the surrounding texture matched, so the repair disappears into the original ceiling.
New Textured Finish
A fresh decorative texture applied across a ceiling or wall, in a pattern to suit the room and the rest of the property.
Skim Over for Smooth
Textured ceilings covered and skimmed to a flat, modern finish, ready for painting — usually the tidier route than removal.
Overboard and Finish
Plasterboard fixed over the existing ceiling then skimmed, where the surface underneath is too uneven or unsound to skim directly.
Coving to Finish
Gyproc coving fitted to tidy the wall and ceiling join, hide settlement cracks and give the room a finished edge.
Decorate After
Once everything is dry, painting and decorating can be carried out to complete the room properly.
Gyproc Coving Fitted Across Essex
Coving remains one of the simplest ways to lift a room. It creates a neat, finished join between wall and ceiling, hides settlement cracking along that line and can conceal cable runs at the same time.
We fit Gyproc coving in the popular 100mm and 127mm C-profile sizes and the deeper 135mm Cornice S-profile. Which one suits depends on the size of the room and the ceiling height — a deep cove in a small low room closes it in, and a shallow one in a tall room barely registers. We will tell you what works before anything is ordered.
Choosing the Right Cove for the Room
All three come with a smooth white surface ready for painting and decoration.
100mm Gyproc Cove
A classic gypsum plaster cove with a smooth finish ready for decoration. A practical option for standard room heights, concealing cable runs and masking settlement cracks along the ceiling line.
127mm Gyproc Cove
A deeper C-profile cove suited to larger rooms and higher ceilings. The extra depth gives a more elegant finish, and room-sized lengths mean fewer joints and a quicker, cleaner installation.
135mm Gyproc Cornice
A 3m S-profile cove for a more distinctive decorative finish. The deeper moulding adds real character to a room, and the long lengths keep joints to a minimum across a wall.
Smooth Plasterboard Joints Without Full Skimming
Tape and jointing finishes plasterboard without skimming the whole surface. Jointing tape goes over the board joints, then jointing compound is worked over the top to create a smooth, even finish across the wall or ceiling.
It is most commonly used where tapered edge boards have been fitted, and it is often the sensible choice on dry lining and larger refurbishment jobs. Once dry, the surface is ready to be prepared for painting, decorating or wallpapering.
- Smooth plasterboard joint finish
- Suitable for walls and ceilings
- Good option for dry lining
- Ready for decoration once dry
- Often faster than full skimming
- Ideal for refurbishment work
From First Call to Finished Ceiling
Straightforward from the first phone call through to clearing up on the last day.
Talk It Through
Tell Ben what you have got — a damaged ceiling, a dated texture or a new job needing jointing and coving.
Look at the Job
We check the condition of the surface, the pattern, the room and the access, then give you a free quote.
Protect and Prepare
Floors and furniture covered, surfaces prepared, and any repairs sorted before the finish goes on.
Finish and Clear Up
The work is completed cleanly and the room is left tidy, ready for decorating once everything is dry.
What Our Customers Say
Feedback from homeowners across Basildon and the surrounding Essex area.
“Job well carried out by the Essex Renovation Solutions crew. Clean, good job and nice price!”Aran Pennick Kitchen Renovation Work
“I’ve used Ben a couple of times now, always been clean and tidy and the jobs have gone really well, I would recommend Ben and his team!”Livia Evans Bespoke Storage
“I have been very happy with Ben’s work. I have had several jobs done in the house including boxing in pipes, altering doors and plinths.”Bernadette Donovan Carpentry & Property Repairs
Artexing, Coving and Jointing FAQs
The questions we get asked most about ceiling and plasterboard finishes.
Could my old artex contain asbestos?
It is possible. Textured coatings manufactured before the 2000 ban could contain small amounts of asbestos, so anything of that age should be tested before it is sanded, scraped or disturbed. If we suspect it, we will stop and tell you rather than press on — testing is inexpensive, and licensed specialists handle removal where it is needed. Skimming or overboarding without disturbing the surface is often the safer and cheaper answer.
Can you match my existing artex pattern?
Usually, yes. Broken leather, stipple, swirl and scroll patterns can all be worked to blend a repair into the surrounding ceiling. A perfect match on a ceiling that has been painted several times over decades is not always possible, and if that is the case we will say so up front rather than let you find out afterwards.
Is it better to remove artex or cover it over?
Covering is usually the cleaner route. Skimming over the top, or overboarding first where the surface is very uneven, gives you a flat modern ceiling without the mess and asbestos risk that comes with removing an old textured coating. We will look at the ceiling and tell you which makes sense for yours.
What size coving should I have?
It depends on the room. The 100mm cove suits standard rooms, the 127mm suits larger rooms and higher ceilings, and the 135mm cornice is for when you want a more decorative finish. Getting it wrong is noticeable, so it is worth talking through before anything is ordered.
Is tape and jointing cheaper than skimming?
Often, on the right job. Where tapered edge plasterboard has been fitted properly, jointing can be quicker than a full skim and gives a surface ready for decoration. On boards that are not tapered, or where the finish needs to be flawless across a large area, skimming is usually the better result.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Basildon and work across Essex within roughly a 30-mile radius, including Wickford, Billericay, Rayleigh, Benfleet, Brentwood, Canvey Island, Hadleigh, Pitsea, Laindon, Vange, Stanford-le-Hope, Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea. Give Ben a call with your postcode.
Artexing, Coving and Jointing Across Essex
Based in Basildon and covering Essex within approximately a 30-mile radius, including Pitsea, Laindon, Vange, Stanford-le-Hope, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea.
Speak to Ben About Your Ceiling
Essex Renovation Solutions provides clean, reliable renovation, plastering, carpentry, kitchen fitting, bathroom work and property improvement services across Basildon and surrounding Essex areas.
07946 565296