Skirting board issue

brilliantstuff

We recently had new skirting boards fitted, including along a wall with a radiator. One thing we didn’t really think through is that there are pieces of wood nailed onto the floorboards around the radiator pipes (see photo), so there’s now a big gap under the skirting board along most of the wall. We are a bit clueless with DIY stuff, but what we’re wondering is:
1. Is it normal to just have big bits of wood nailed on top of the floorboards? If we removed them, what options do we have for filling the gaps in the floorboards? 

2. If we’re leaving the pieces of wood there, what’s the easiest way to fix the current issue? Some kind of filler? Fixing some trim along the bottom? Cutting a chunk out of the skirting board? 

Any thoughts very welcome!

SaverRate

Whats the intended floor finish?

If its carpet, remove the screwed down timber, deal with any holes accordingly then by the time the underlay and carpet is down it will hide the gap in the skirting board. 

Can you unscrew the timber around the pipework and show us whats underneath?

brilliantstuff

Yes, finish will be carpet. When you say ‘deal with any holes accordingly’, what are options? Will remove timber and post another pic ASAP. Thanks. 

FreeBear

Someone probably butchered the floorboards when installing the central heating pipes. The neatest fix would be to lift the damaged boards, and replace with new. A hole can be cut very neatly for the radiator pipes so you can lose those !!!!!! bits of scrap screwed to the floor. Easy DIY job especially if you have a multitool, and trivial for any decent carpenter or handyman.

Gavin83

How far above the floorboards do those bits of wood rise?

A lot will depend on what’s underneath. Given the “fix” I suspect you’ll find fairly substantial gaps in the floorboards underneath which will make filling the holes difficult. Give us a pic and then we’ll go from there.

Megaross

Bodes well the deckies caulk is already cracked. Big meaty gap underneath too

Take that wood up, see what you're working with. Not sure why it's there

brilliantstuff

Thanks all - just had a chance to unscrew the wood now - see photos. Not a massive hole in either case but looks like the wood is there to support the pipes. Could we use expandable filler to do the same thing and then file it down? Or other ideas?

brilliantstuff

Photos here 

SaverRate

Best solution is to replace that floor board with new. 

Cheaper, possibly easier solution is to fix some timber to the underside of the board for the expanding foam/filler to sit on then fill with wood filler or expanding foam up to the level of the rest of the skirting board.

EDIT - The radiator pipework seems extremely tight to the skirting, does the radiator sit okay with it being this tight?

Megaross

Just leave it, most people will have gaps like that around the floorboards for pipes. Won't make a blind bit of difference once it's got carpet down

EmmyLou30

Most chipboard flooring looks like that around radiator pipes, no need to do anything other than get your carpet fitted once the skirting is painted.

I would say that the skirting is way too tight to the radiator valve though - looks to be touching. You aren't going to be able to turn them in the future or paint the skirting properly. Also the pathetic dribble of caulk that has already parted company with the wall will need to be redone. Whoever fitted them should have removed those blocks of wood and never fitted the skirting so tight to the radiator valve either but the caulking tells us how much of a master craftsmen they are!