Skirting boards add a decorative and attractive touch to a room. These boards hide the plaster between the floor and plaster and protect the plaster from any damage. They protect walls from daily knocks and scuffs.
In the past, skirting board were quite deep. They had to be fitted in two sections to attain their height. However, in recent years the skirting board fashion trend has found a happy medium. Nowadays, 150mm and 125mm boards are more common. Low ceiling rooms will not be able to take advantage of deep skirtings.
There are many types of skirting available, in both soft and hard wood. While Redwood is popular in the lower priced range of timber, the better quality skirting boards made from solid oak will last longer. Solid Oak Skirting board has the main advantage of being resistant to wear, damage and denting.
Take down old skirting boards
It’s easy to take out the old skirting. If you find a section of skirting that is particularly stubborn, it might have been attached with nails or screws. It will be difficult to identify the heads as they will be covered with filler. If you find the screws holding the board in its place, you might be able remove the screws and then disassemble the boards.
Fixing
Prepare the boards that will meet at corners before attaching your new skirtingboard. Since most corners are intended to be square, skirting boards should be fitted around 45 degree corners. Mitre blocks can be bought pre-cut at this angle to help you make accurate cuts. Ideally, mitre box are better for cutting skirting board, because they provide better control.
Uneven flooring can result in ugly gaps beneath the skirting. To fix this, mark the skirting’s bottom and cut it so that it follows the floor’s contour. Put small wedges under your skirting board to make it level. The new skirting boards should be the same height or higher than the one that you are replacing.
Wall
For boards that will be stained or varnished, a grab adhesive works well to fasten the skirting. It all depends on how straight the wall is. To attach a stud petition to a wall, simply nail the skirting. For brick walls, knock wooden wedges in the gaps between the bricks before nailing into the wedges.
When fixing skirting to a long hall or corridor wall, you will need to make a joint. To transfer the angle to the skirting, you will need to mark the skirting boards. This can be done by positioning the board against a wall and marking skirting board the base of your skirting where the external lines intersect on the floor. Another mark is made at the plaster arches.
The wide variety of tools these days makes fitting skirts easy. A sliding mitresaw can be hired at a tool shop and fitted most skirtings easily. After some practice, you’ll soon be fitting skirts with precision like a master craftsman.