Painting skirting boards - any tips ?

totalguitar

I always tend to fold back the carpet when doing skirting to avoid any paint getting on the carpet. Pro decorators obviosly don't, so what the secret to doing a good job and not painting the carpet at the same time.

flea72

you can buy a plastic guard that you lay along the edge of the carpet - usually bright yellow, oblong (with a handle) and located near the paint kettles, in diy shops

beefster

Make sure you wipe the paint off every time you move on.......

plumb1_2

I would also recomend that you invest in a pair of kneeling pads.

innovate

The Pros are just too lazy to pull the carpet back and fix it again.

If you don't mind paint on the carpet, one of the plasticky thingies or a piece of cardboard minimises - but not eliminates - the mess.

The paint wipes you can now get in DIY places are also quite good to attend to a major accident.......

Overall, it's just a b****y painful job!

crankup

Stick down masking tape along the edge of the carpet next to the skirting.
Wait for the paint to dry before peeling off!
The time spent sticking down the tape will be made up quickly without the need to be so careful when cutting in the paint.

john0612

innovate wrote:

The Pros are just too lazy to pull the carpet back and fix it again.

Aheeeeem,

I think you'll find that "US PRO'S" don't need to pull back carperts and the like because we can cut it in properly lol.

Plus alot of the time people are renewing carpets etc at the same time so there generally lifted, and on new builds there isn't any flooring down. :snow_laug

MDUK

crankup wrote:

Stick down masking tape along the edge of the carpet next to the skirting.
Wait for the paint to dry before peeling off!
The time spent sticking down the tape will be made up quickly without the need to be so careful when cutting in the paint.

i tried this, and pulled it off when dry, it took paint off the skirt where the masking paint and skirt touched, far from a neat finish.

I thought i would try it while still wet next time.....although i may just move house to avoid the 'next time' less hassle all round

Ganyam

Usually i just some news paper and tuck it under the skirting... then ya slap it on.. no worries :snow_grin

Dora_the_Explorer_5

I've used heavy duty foil instead - tuck it under the skirting if you can and it's worth spending time doing that, you may have to experiment with single/double/triple thickness, and use a cutting in brush.

denlancs

I just cut 4 or 5 inch strips of cardboard to push between carpet and skirting,seems to work better than thin plastic strips you buy and can throw away after paint dry.