6 " Oak Skirting

Wolverine77

I have just bought skirting boards 35 5.5 mtr lengths in total to install in most of my house.

I have never done this type of thing before but is there anyone there who can give advice of how to do this?

I have been reading some DIY blogs and there is some good stuff, I understand the external joints but the internal joints I am still unsure about??

olias

It's very difficult to explain but basically the internal joints need to be 'coped', not 'mitred'.

The only way I can describe it is that you need to use a coping saw (one of those with a fine blade used for cutting tight arcs. The skirting on one wall nedds to butt up to the corner, the skirting for the other wall needs to be 'coped', by cutting the end to the profile of the first section of skirting and back at 90 degrees to ensure a tight fit that won't open up.

I'ts very fiddly to get right and if you have spent what sounds like a considerable amount on solid oak skirting, then I would suggest getting a carpenter or joiner in to doit, unless you are really confident of your DIY skills.

Sorry if my description is a bit poor, you really need to either look at the pics in a DIY book or search for them on line (a picture is worth a thousand words!)

Olias

debbie42

I had 5" oak skirt fitted a while back. Although I'd fitted the floor, I left the skirting to a joiner as it's not easy to cut at all. He had a decent electric mitre saw.

markie1980

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/WOODWORKINGSKIRTING_BOARD.htm

I find the easiest way is to cut a mitre on it in a mitre saw and then follow the front edge of the cut with a coping saw. That probably make no sense to anyone other than myself!

Steve_Groves

This technique works for the majority of situations (but not all).

The basic idea is to mitre the corners (internal or external) as normal with a mitre saw to give you a good approximation of where they meet. Offer them up together and decide whether it is acceptable or not. Some will be and some won't.

Those that are not good enough should be packed out from the wall with a couple of blocks of wood of the same depth. Then bring the 2 pieces of skirting board back together.

Now you should have your mitre but it will be a small distance from the wall. This then allows you to run a saw down the joint (multiple times if required) and because you are cutting the same angle off both pieces at the same time then they will fit together very snuggly.

You need very flexible limbs to pull this off at times or a helper.
My father, who is a ninja in woodworking joints, can do this without the blocks by running the saw through the joint whilst it is in-situ so you could also try that.

A tip if you have long runs of skirting that is made up of multiple pieces of skirting board. Instead of simply cutting these joints straight, cut each piece with a mitre angle going in the same direction. This makes for a lot tidier finish and no gaps if you get the length slightly wrong.

Steve_Groves

debbie42 wrote: »

I had 5" oak skirt fitted a while back. Although I'd fitted the floor, I left the skirting to a joiner as it's not easy to cut at all. He had a decent electric mitre saw.

I only have a B&Q saw and was finding that 45 degree angles etc were never consistent. However I had a saw with one of the silly laser sighting lines so I got a piece of scrap wood, drew on accurate 45 degree and 90 degree lines and now line up following those lines and not the scale on the saw

olias

markie1980 wrote: »

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/WOODWORKINGSKIRTING_BOARD.htm

I find the easiest way is to cut a mitre on it in a mitre saw and then follow the front edge of the cut with a coping saw. That probably make no sense to anyone other than myself!

That's the sort of photos I meant - bit better than my description:p

Olias

Wolverine77

Just put on my first batch of skirting yesterday.

I have mitred the internal joints and all seam ok just a few joints need a wee bit of filing before i gripfill them to the wall.

Another problem I have hit is the sunroom angles. I have a 50 pence piece

Between C & D I have a chimney built and bewtween B & C there are double doors. I connot work out the angles between D & E and the angle at B & C are external but not 45 degree.

Does anyone have any advice of how to work these out?

Wolverine77

I think these angles are 45 degree which means a cut of 22.5 cuts!!

Reading up on scribing can someone explain maybe show pictures I dont understand the method!!

angelavdavis

I found this video when I was fitting skirting recently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4gs1Zattcs&feature=related