How to fit skirting boards

How to fit skirting boards

Skirting boards are used to cover the joint where the wall and floor meet each other.

Depending on the project you are completing, you will either be fitting the skirting or replacing the skirting of the room. We recommend if you are planning to use either skirting or architrave, that you match the styles for an aesthetically pleasing design.

Luckily, when it comes to fitting skirting boards, you don’t need to be a skilled carpenter. This simple step-by-step guide to fitting skirting boards.

1) Having the right tools

Chances are if you have done a similar project before, you will have the right tools already. But if this is new to you then you will need the following tools:

• Mitre saw or mitre box
• Claw Hammer
• Chisel
• Coping saw (optional)
• Silicone gun
• Caulk
• Gripper glue
• Tape measure
• Profile gauge (optional)

2) Measuring up and removing existing skirting boards

We recommend that you start with the longest wall with internal corners, you will then need to measure the wall and make a mark on the top of a length of skirting as this will help you to where you will need to cut it.

Once you have measured up and ordered skirting from our excellent range, you will need to remove the existing skirting boards you have. Removal of your current skirting boards will require your claw hammer, simply tap your hammer where your wall meets your existing skirting boards by around 8-10 inches and then hammer away!

It’s also important that you remove any leftover debris which contain any pins or excess glue that could potentially be stuck to the walls.

3) Creating exterior cuts

We recommend you also start with making cuts to your longest wall to start off with as this will make it much easier for you in the long run. All measurements doing this process must be measured against the wall and then when a measurement is needed you will need to put a pencil mark on the skirting board.

Next, you will require to use your mitre saw. When you are at the point of making cuts to your skirting board, you should note that your skirting board will protrude past the edge of the wall so make sure to add this to your measurements for the best result.

4) Creating interior cuts

Creating interior cuts is pretty much a similar process to creating exterior cuts, just simply go through the same process but all the angles will be reversed.

5) Attaching skirting to walls

When you have reached the step to fitting your skirting boards to your walls, there is several different options you can choose from. The method we recommend you using is sticking it on with gripper glue, as we have found this has been the easiest method of doing so.

When applying the gripper glue, you must run two lines of gripper glue along the rear of the skirting making sure you aren’t to close top or the bottom of your skirting board.

6) Finishing up

Finally, to complete the job you will need to apply decorator’s caulk to fill any gaps that might have been left because of uneven walls. When doing so, you must make sure you run this along the top of the board where it meets the wall to create a smooth finish.