Prepare surface for skirting boards

andywalker2005

Hi,

How would you

- Fill the gap in floorboards so the draught doesnt comes from the suspended floor (is it even advisable to do it) ?

- Do I need to fill the uneven surface on the wall with something so that the skirting boards are flush with the wall. (As you can see I have already applied some base coat but ran out hence its uneven)

I know people mentioning on other reddits about using expanding foam etc. but I am quite happy to use base coat (plaster) to make the surface even. My main concern is with draught coming from the floor and loosing heat.

Thanks

20122013

Expanding foam is not easy to control or remove.

Hopefully, someone will come along shortly to reply.

FreeBear

20122013 said: Expanding foam is not easy to control or remove.

If you use a gun, it is quite easy to lay down a thin bead in a controlled manner.

And if left to harden, it isn't that bad to remove (depending on surface).

@andywalker2005 B&Q (and I suspect Wickes will too) have 7.5Kg bags of plaster. I'd mix a bit more up and try to level it out as best you can. Scrape off the ridges & high spots before you start.

Go shopping on ebay or Amazon, and get yourself a 2-pack of foam guns - I've used these in the past -> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/396085383229 When you're done squirting foam, run some gun cleaner through, and unscrew the bit that the can seats on. Drop it in to a jar of acetone (or nail varnish remover). That will stop the foam from going off and gumming up the valve in the can seat.

rob7475

I wouldn't be messing with expanding foam personally. If you don't know what you're doing, it can get messy and you'll spend more time cleaning it up and cutting it back.

You can get cork strips especially for this purpose. You slot them in around the edge of your laminate flooring. With it being cork, it still allows the floor to expand. Have a google for cork strips for flooring edges.

andywalker2005

Thanks for all your response. Great insight about using cork strips. Didnt new this existed! ( @rob7475 )

For the uneven wall surface is it still worth using form or try to level it out using the plaster base (like @FreeBearsuggested)?

FreeBear

andywalker2005 said:  For the uneven wall surface is it still worth using foam or try to level it out using the plaster base (like @FreeBearsuggested)?

Don't try using expanding foam to give a level surface. The stuff isn't designed to provide support, just gap filling. It is also very messy to cut back to give a straight & level surface (don't even try to smooth the stuff out when wet).