Skirting Board: What is it and why do you need them?

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What is a Skirting Board and what does it do?

Considering Style and Design

Finding the Proper Size and Proportion

Installation Basics

Skirting Maintenance and Care

Skirting boards are items that are overlooked quite often, but they undoubtedly play an instrumental part in giving your house a polished and finished appearance. It complements the room's general style and feel in along with protecting the base of your walls and covering in the spaces between them and the floor. 

We'll provide more detail on material, style, size, and installation factors to consider here. This will be your go-to guide for skirting boards that holds up throughout the years.

What is a Skirting Board and what does it do?

Skirting boards (baseboards) are operational, as well as aesthetic. From a practical standpoint, they stop scuffs and bumps and dirt that can build up at the base of a wall. Similarly, a skirting board will mask any little bumps or gaps where the wall meets the floor so that the finish is nice and tidy. 

Usually running around the room at its bottom, skirting boards are there to decorate the room. Depending on the style you choose - simple, streamlined or more elaborate - they can either blend into the background or become an architectural focal point.

Picking the Right Material

Choosing a material is the first step in picking a skirting board. All of them have pros and cons, so weigh how it will fit into the overall style and durability necessities of your house. If you are on restricted funds, try Medium-Density Fibreboard, or MDF, as it is cheaper and commonly used. It is resistant to twisting and warping since it is composed of resin and wood fibres. Since a lot of MDF skirting boards are pre-primed, you can paint them a certain shade.

This is saving you at least some time if you want a clean, uniform finish.

Solid wood is also a little more durable, though it can swell or shrink slightly with changes in temperature and humidity. PVC or plastic skirting boards are commonly used for high moisture areas like bathrooms or laundry rooms, as they do not absorb water or decay. 

Considering Style and Design

Use ultra-modern, completely flat profiles or something traditionally ornate and wonderful with deep, beautiful beads as your skirtings. A sleek, minimalist design fits well in modern homes or areas with a minimalist style. Alternatively, decorative shapes with curves and ridges work well with period properties or retro interiors. 

For a more subtle effect, paint the skirting board the same colour as the wall or the floor, so that it blends in rather than draw attention. Ideally, it should be unified with the rest of the room, by blending into the colour or standing out as a feature.

Finding the Proper Size and Proportion

It’s not only the style of your skirting that matters, the height plays a role too. High skirting boards can look great in high-ceilinged rooms, while low skirting is often used in small rooms or more contemporary settings. If you’re working with a standard ceiling height, though, you might choose one somewhere in between - tall enough to be noticed, but not so tall that it takes over your walls.

Another consideration is depth. A thicker board is generally sturdier and can conceal more irregularities, but too thick and it will protrude awkwardly. You might also think about any electrical outlets or wiring to place near the floor. 

Don’t forget about thinking about how to place furniture. Large skirting boards may have an impact on how compliant your cabinets, bookcases, and couches are with the wall. Before choosing a profile, make sure to measure the available area thoroughly to avoid having unforeseen spaces between the wall and the furniture.

Painted vs Pre-Finished Boards

When it comes to colour and finish, you generally have two options: Finishing the board yourself or buying pre-finished boards. Pre-finished options save time and, more often than not, come out of the box with a uniform appearance. 

If you paint your own boards, it’ll take longer, but you’re in charge. They can be matched perfectly to the colour of your wall or contrasted. This is incredibly useful if your design style requires a certain tone that you can’t find in a pre-finished range. Just make sure you’re using a durable paint that’s made for woodwork, so it stands up well over time.

Others like the natural appearance of real wood. If that’s you, you could go for a clear varnish or oil-based finish that shows off the texture and knots. This is a common approach with wood like oak where the character of the wood is a selling point, not something to disguise.

Installation Basics

Adding a skirting board can be a relatively straightforward task, but in reality, getting a clean result often requires measured and precise cutting. To avoid gaps, you should make accurate cuts if your area has a lot of corners or uneven walls. Where two boards meet, mitre or bevel cuts can also help them fit tightly. 

To top that, it's a good idea to check your wall for any cracks or bumps before painting. A good coat of glue on the back of the skirting board can guarantee that it holds just fine, even though many people will screw or nail it in place. We stock different types of suitable adhesives.

After the board goes down, inspect the gap between the skirting and the floor. In older homes, the floor may be slightly uneven, which can cause small gaps. A quick fix is to run a flexible decorators’ caulk along the bottom edge. This will help to create a smooth, finished appearance and will help to minimise the build-up of dust underneath.

Skirting Maintenance and Care

As they’re at a level that experiences a lot of footfall, skirting boards can get dusty and scuffed up quicker than you realise. A quick dust or vacuum along the top edge keeps them fresh. If you have painted surfaces, a moist cloth can assist remove dirt or marks. However, if you have real wood, don't saturate the boards because this could harm the finish.

It might only take a quick touch-up if you see minor chips or flaking paint. After lightly sanding the impacted area, repaint or reapply your preferred finish. Deeper gouges or cracks may require filler prior to repainting, particularly if you have children or pets who accidentally knock the boards.

You might, after some time, also choose to substitute your skirting boards if you remodel the room or change its colouring. Boards that are simple to remove or paint over can be useful if your décor changes frequently. Maintaining clean and sharp skirting boards only requires occasional work, even if you're going to stick with the same design for the long run.

Conclusion

Even though choosing a skirting board might not be the first thing on your designing list, it can have a big impact on how your house looks and feels overall. The correct board may cover gaps, protect your walls, and in certain situations, act as a subtle design feature that gives a space coherence.

Considering your preferred material, style, size and finish will leave you in great position to choose something that is a perfect fit for your home.

Taking the time to measure carefully, considering how the boards will interact with your furniture, and thinking about their maintenance needs going forward will pay off. With a little preparation and care you can achieve great looking skirting boards that will last and add a final touch to your room to enhance your décor for years to come.

Don’t forget we stock premium quality skirting boards in our quality accessories collection.