The first thing to know about installing skirting boards is that they are often used in conjunction with plinths to give a finished look to the finish. Skirting boards are used in rooms with hard floor surfaces such as tiles, stone, vinyl, solid and laminated wood. For many years, quarter-round plinths (the name comes from the end view) were considered the basic skirting board option.
The small scale and straight lines of most skirting boards make it easy to work them inside corners. Once you’ve cut inside corners all over the room, the job seems quick and easy. The flexibility of skirting boards allows them to adapt to uneven floors, which are common in older homes and still quite common in new builds. The most important thing to know when installing skirting boards is that they are always nailed to the wall, not the floor. Once you’ve gathered your tools and materials, follow our step-by-step instructions for installing skirting boards.
Choose skirting boards
A wide spectrum of skirting board profiles is available on the market. Quarter pedestals range in width from a delicate quarter inch to a massive 1-1/16 inch. True plinths are taller than they are wide, allowing you to hide a large vertical gap without being overly thick. With a table saw and router, you can also create custom profiles for plinths and skirting boards.
Mark the dimensions of the baseboards
To make skirting boards that continue to the band, cut the strip to the correct length and then adhere to the band. Tilt the pencil to get the line as close to the band as possible and draw a vertical mark. Before applying your final skirting board, try this step and the next on a few sample skirting pieces to get the exact fit you want.
Cut the baseboards
Set the table saw to 45 degrees, then remove a small piece of wood that ends at the pencil line. If you’re working with stained moldings that have a clear finish, a staining marker will quickly remove the raw look of the wood.
Adjust the inside corners
Adjust inside corners for close-fitting joints that look great even when the corner is outside the rectangle. (And the corner is almost always outside the rectangle.) Machining most skirting boards is a matter of following a smooth line.
Place outer joins
The outer corners of the skirting boards are angled, just like the skirting board itself. Adding a bit of glue is a cheap safeguard that the joint will stay closed. To avoid cracking this small scale wood, refrain from driving nails too close to the end.
Summary
By properly installing skirting boards, you can achieve a beautiful and professional finish to the room. Considering the tips and instructions above, you can easily carry out this process and enjoy the end result. Get your tools and materials ready, then follow the instructions to get the perfect finish for your renovation.
