How-to · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Can you paint over Artex? Best paint, rollers and technique
When painting is the right choice
Painting makes sense when the coating is in good condition, you are happy with the texture, and you want a quick, low-cost refresh. It is also a sensible stopgap if you plan to skim the ceiling later, for example during a bigger renovation. If the coating is cracked, flaking or badly stained, or you want a smooth modern finish, painting will not fix it and skimming is usually the better choice.
Painting does not disturb the coating, so it is a low-risk option even if the Artex may contain asbestos, as long as you do not sand, scrape or wire-brush it first.
What you need
- Matt or contract matt emulsion for the ceiling, or a stain-block paint for marks
- Long-pile roller sleeve, typically around 18mm to 25mm pile for heavy textures
- Extension pole for the roller
- A 2 to 3 inch brush for cutting in and stippling paint into deep peaks
- Roller tray or scuttle
- Dust sheets and masking tape
- Soft brush or vacuum with a brush attachment for removing cobwebs
- Sugar soap solution and a sponge for cleaning
A short-pile roller designed for smooth walls will skip over the hollows in a swirl or stipple pattern and leave patchy coverage, so the roller makes more difference on Artex than on almost any other surface.
Step by step
- Clear the room or move furniture to the middle and cover everything
- Gently brush or vacuum the ceiling to remove dust and cobwebs, without scraping
- Wipe greasy areas, such as kitchen ceilings, with diluted sugar soap and let them dry
- Treat water stains or nicotine marks with a stain-block primer
- Cut in around the edges and light fittings with a brush
- Roll the ceiling in sections, working the paint into the texture from more than one direction
- Check from different angles for missed hollows and touch them in with a brush
- Apply a second coat once the first is dry
Load the roller well but not so heavily that it drips, and work in one direction then across, so paint reaches both sides of each ridge.
How much paint you need
Textured ceilings have far more surface area than flat ones. As a rough guide, allow around a third to a half more paint than you would for a smooth ceiling of the same size, and more again for deep swirls.
| Ceiling | Smooth ceiling, two coats | Artex ceiling, two coats |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom, about 9 m² | About 2 litres | About 3 litres |
| Double bedroom, about 12 m² | About 2.5 litres | About 3.5 to 4 litres |
| Living room, about 18 m² | About 3.5 litres | About 5 to 6 litres |
These are estimates. Check the coverage figure on the tin and buy a little extra, as matching later batches can be difficult.
Common painting mistakes on Artex
- Sanding or scraping down sharp peaks without knowing if the coating contains asbestos
- Using a smooth-surface roller that misses the hollows
- Using silk or high-sheen paint, which highlights every lump and shadow
- Painting over cobwebs and dust, which leaves fluffy streaks
- Not treating stains, which bleed back through emulsion
- Overloading the roller, causing drips and runs
Painting versus skimming
| Painting | Skimming | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost for a bedroom ceiling | Cost of paint and your time, or a decorator's day rate | Around £300 to £550 as a typical guide |
| Texture | Stays | Removed, smooth finish |
| Disturbs coating | No | No, if done properly without sanding |
| Time | Half a day to a day | About a day plus drying time |
| Lifespan before redecorating | Similar to any painted ceiling | Similar, and easier to repaint later |
Painting is the budget option. Skimming costs more but solves the problem permanently and makes future decorating much easier.
Kitchens, bathrooms and stained ceilings
Textured ceilings in kitchens and bathrooms collect grease and condensation, which can stop new paint sticking and lead to peeling or mould. Clean these ceilings thoroughly with sugar soap, rinse with clean water and let them dry completely before painting. Treat any black mould spots with a mould remover first, following the product instructions.
For bathrooms and kitchens, a moisture-resistant or kitchen and bathroom emulsion helps the finish last longer. Improving ventilation, for example with a working extractor fan, does more to stop mould returning than any paint.
- Wash greasy ceilings with sugar soap and rinse
- Kill mould before painting, never paint over it
- Use stain block on water or smoke marks
- Choose a moisture-resistant emulsion for wet rooms
- Leave windows open or fans running while paint dries
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prime Artex before painting?
Usually not, if the coating has been painted before and is sound. Bare, unpainted Artex can be porous, so a thinned first coat of emulsion helps the second coat go on evenly. Areas with water stains, smoke or nicotine marks should be treated with a stain-block primer first, otherwise the marks tend to show through ordinary emulsion within days.
Can I paint over Artex that contains asbestos?
Yes. Painting a coating that is in good condition does not disturb the fibres and is generally considered a low-risk way to manage it. Avoid sanding, scraping, wire-brushing or drilling before painting. If the coating is flaking or damaged, get advice before doing anything, as damaged material should be repaired or sealed by someone who knows how to deal with it.
Why does my painted Artex ceiling look patchy?
Patchy coverage on Artex is usually caused by a roller with too short a pile, not enough paint on the roller, or rolling in only one direction. The hollows of the pattern get missed, leaving shadows. A second coat with a long-pile roller, working in two directions and touching in with a brush, normally solves it.
painting Artex textured ceiling decorating how-to
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