How to seal up gaps?

blackstar

Hi all

Can I ask, what would be a good way to fill up the gaps along where there flooring meets the skirting board? Ie just a filler or foam etc?

FreeBear

Normally, the ends of the floorboards go under the skirting and get hidden.

I'd get a gun to use with a can of expanding foam - Much easier to lay down a thin bead without getting a mess everywhere. Whilst you can get cans of foam with a tube attached, those things tend to be an all or nothing and impossible to control.

Something like this - https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-foam-applicator-gun/28483 But I wouldn't recommend that one. Instead, get a cheap plastic one from ebay and treat it as a disposable item -> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354184993634

Tip - If you get any foam on clothing or somewhere where you don't want it, leave it to harden. Much easier to remove, and will often peel off leaving minimal marks.

ThisIsWeird

I think I'd be inclined to use a decorator's caulk for this, as it's much easier to control and use, and wipe-smoothable.

Squeeze it right in, and smooth off with a filling knife, rubber blade, or damp cloth.

Or, use a frame sealant - these will likely be spirit-based, so not so easily wiped clean, but should still be easy to get a smooth finish with a filling knife pulled along.

MysteryMe

would a scotia trim be any good?

Emmia

MysteryMe said:

would a scotia trim be any good?

I had to look up what a Scotia trim is...

We have that beading stuff hiding the join between laminate and skirting board, and I just think it doesn't look that good (I'd get the floor redone (it does need redoing) but DH gets anxious about this sort of thing, so it's on the back burner).

If I was the OP I'd use caulk/expanding foam/frame sealant as suggested by others

Lorian

Personally I'd use grey or white stixall (dries to solid but rubbery a bit harder than silicone) on that. Can't imagine using expanding foam it would make a huge mess on that sized gap. Best finish would be some new skirting.

ThisIsWeird

Blackstar, is this mainly for aesthetic reasons, or to blocks draughts?

For aesths or both, something I've done in the past is to cap the existing cast skirting using architrave and MDF - 4mm MDF should be ok, provided you use enough filling adhesive behind it. But i'd still seal the gaps first using cheap frame sealant or caulk.

1404

Caulk is what I'd try first.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

MysteryMe said:

would a scotia trim be any good?

If you are putting something over the floor boards then as Freebear says but if you having the boards exposed the trim would be a tidier option IMHO, might be tricky to find something as weathered as the boards, perhaps a standard pine trim (the scotia is usually foil covered MDF) would over time match the boards (or you could age it a bit by rubbing some grey dust into the trim).

ThisIsWeird

I cannot see the use of spray foam ending up as anything other than a messy disaster, tbh. I guess if the floor and skirting were masked off first, things could be kept under control, but what a hassle. And even then it wouldn't look nice.

Acrylic frame sealant. (Not silicone based).

victor2

Presumably you plan to leave the floorboards exposed and treat them with something? Otherwise, underlay will cover the gaps. Or fit new skirting board and if you can't find any the right height, get the bottom trimmed. Or do something like @ThisIsWeird suggests?