How to seal gaps between carpet and skirting board

steveh2001

Hi
I have no clue how to approach this but I am trying to seal up all the gaps in my flat as I have insects coming through

There are a lot of big gaps where the carpet meets the skirting board and other than getting it recarpetted better I am not sure how I could seal up the gap and what to use - e.g. silicone is just asking for a mess!

a photo is below of a gap - some are bigger it was just the easiest one to photo - it’s around a 0.5cm gap.

Thank you!
steven

rob7475

The best solution would be to refit the skirting boards properly so they are flush to the floor. Other options are lifting the carpet and using a bit of expanding foam to fill the gaps before trimming and covering with a bead of silicone.
Put a thick underlay under the carpet maybe?

Indigo_and_Violet

Do you own or rent? 
I can't think of a permanent solution that doesn't involve either mucking up the carpets (silicone/caulk) or re-carpeting. 
A temporary fix might be a well-placed line of masking tape or even something a bit thinner like electrical tape to cover the gap. 

MovingForwards

I put this round my flat:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/diall-draught-seal-white-20m/316fr

Whats on the otherside of the wall if the insects are coming in that way?

You could put paper down, push it under the skirting, caulk, wait for it to dry / set, then rip / cut the surplus paper up.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

what about beading or trunking?

  

twopenny

All good ideas but it's not going to look brilliant

I did what MovingForwards said and used wads of newspaper in the gaps and caulk. It' did the job.

Make sure whatever it is goes from skirting to floor then put the carpet back. It will probably cover whatever filler you use.

Is the yellow stuff on the skirting glue from the carpet? Put to make it look fitted and wear and vaccuming pulled it away?

Bodgejob

something like this draft excluder they are flexible and if the size is right can be stuffed in tight and wont come out. 
Will also exclude any draft that is coming through

Chickereeeee

Bodgejob said:

something like this draft excluder they are flexible and if the size is right can be stuffed in tight and wont come out. 
Will also exclude any draft that is coming through

Yes, gap filler rod is what I used. Various thicknesses available, very cheap, no mess, and flexible enough to allow for floorboard movement.

YoungBlueEyes

The original post is over 2 years old now so I expect it's sorted...