Tips / Tricks for fitting new skirting board

littlerose12345

Hi all

We're about to fit new skirting board and wondered if anyone can divulge any tips or pearls of wisdom with how best to do this?

Ideally we should have fitted the skirting before we fit the radiators on so now we have the pipes to contend with and don't want any mid wall joints if possible. How would be best to do this?

Thanks

olias

You will probably have to have a mid wall joint to get the skirting behind the radiator pipes (unless you drop the radiators down or take them off). If you make the joint vertically behind the upright radiator pipe then you will be hard pushed to notice it. Also to get a tighter joint, angle the cut back from the face rather than butting pieces end to end.

Get a coping saw to cope the internal corners - see here


www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/WOODWORKINGSKIRTING_BOARD.htm

and a mitre saw to do the external corners

You can either screw or nail the skirting on (countersink or knock nails below surface and fill) or by far the easiest way is to use no more nails or similar product

If your walls are uneven (common in older houses) then you will probably have gaps at the top of the skirting - fill these with decorators caulk prior to painting. If the gaps are really big, pack them out with card or newspaper first to give the caulk something to fill against

Olias

bockster

olias wrote: »

If your walls are uneven (common in older houses) then you will probably have gaps at the top of the skirting - fill these with decorators caulk prior to painting. If the gaps are really big, pack them out with card or newspaper first to give the caulk something to fill against

Olias

if you have small gap here, i would paint first, then caulk, gives a very neat finish if you can use the sealent gun fairly well.
also , don't be tempted to fill behind skirting with expanding foam!
your new skirting could end up on the floor! (well, even more on the floor!)

hth,