How To Fit Skirting Boards

Skirting boards are adaptable and clever features that can be added to any room. Not only are they used for aesthetic purposes to add character and design features to a room, but they conveniently hide gaps and discrepancies between the wall and floor. Therefore knowing how to fit skirting boards is necessary so you can achieve both points successfully. In this article, we give further tips and guidance when tackling this task.

When thinking about fitting skirting boards, the type of wall that you are fitting the skirting board to needs to be considered. If the wall is ‘tough’ with masonry bricks then appropriate fixings will be needed to support and fix the feature. We at Skirting Boards Direct advise assessing and determining this before starting the process.

 

You are bound to have different lengths of skirting which need to be covered in your room with skirting boards. Start with the biggest area first and use whole pieces of skirting board as much as possible. Using individual pieces of skirting board avoids a ‘patched up’ or jointed look all over the room. The joints can, however, be filled in later if necessary.

To carry out the job of installing a skirting board you will need a special tool called a skirting board mitre tool. This will allow you to work with the angles of the skirting board accurately. Once the tool is ready to use, balance the skirting board and then cut the left hand / right hand / or straight pieces (as appropriate to where you are targeting).

There are mistakes that can happen which should be avoided including:

• Cutting the wrong angle
• Cutting the board too long or too short (too short is much worse)
• Sawing in a haphazard way, thus damaging the feature

Bear all these in mind when you are cutting. Another important step is to check that the skirting board is cut correctly and that no cables are in the way BEFORE fixing the feature.

If nailing the skirting board, gently tack the nails through the skirting board into the wall with a hammer.

If screwing the skirting board (most appropriate for stud or masonry walls for example) pre-drilling ‘pilot holes’ can help, as it stops the wood from splitting and damaging the skirting board. Putting plugs through the skirting board before fixing the screws is also helpful. ‘Countersinking’ screws is wise, as it helps to hide the effect made. When selecting a screw, make sure it is of an appropriate length – too long or too short can cause complications and potential damage during the process.

If glueing the skirting board (and in our opinion, this is the easiest method) dab sections of adhesive in various sections along the length of the board. Alternatively, use a zig-zag pattern evenly across the piece.

Tip: Most walls are not straight, and therefore the skirting board makes it look as though it’s bowing (also known as ‘proud’) along the length. Take account and extra care of this when nailing or screwing. If glueing, add extra adhesive to the corresponding areas of the wood/wall so it helps to ‘pack’ the gap.
Once finished and you are happy with your skirting board fitting, seal any edges with caulking which will also create the perfect finish.

 

A finished skirting board, with sound lengths and corners, which are properly caulked, looks polished and clean as the picture demonstrates. This look is what you should be aiming to achieve.

When thinking about how to fit skirting boards, this can be an intricate operation and we always recommend you seek help or assistance if you are unsure. However, we hope our guide has given you some helpful pointers to consider.

For further information please visit our FAQ page or get in touch today.