Summary: Learn how to fit skirting board, remove old skirting board, cut skirting board, fix skirting board, fix skirting board to a masonry wall and fix skirting board to a timber stud wall.
Before fixing your new skirting board prepare those boards which will meet at the corners of the room.
If fitting ornate skirting board the method of creating an internal corner joint is different.
An uneven floor may leave ugly gaps below the skirting board. To remedy this you can mark and cut the bottom of the skirting board so it will follow the profile of the floor. But remember that if you do this, the other lengths of skirting in the room will also need to be cut - even if they are flush to the floor on which they rest - to keep all the skirting the same height.
An internal corner should have a mitred join of 45º.
An external corner should also have a mitred join of 45º but the direction will differ.
Using an off-cut of skirting board mark the outline of the shape of the skirting board onto the end of the piece of skirting that will make the joint.
Run the scribing block and pencil along the surface of the floor, this will match the floor profile.
Ensure your new skirting board is the same height as the one you are replacing, otherwise you will have a gap between the top of the skirting and the bottom of the plaster, which will need to be patched. If your skirting board is not as thick as the old one, place another strip of wood behind to push it out further from the wall.
The type of wall to which you are fixing the skirting will determine the fixing method. Different methods may be required for different walls in one room.
Prior to fixing, apply a wood preserving product to the back of your new skirting board to prevent rot. Ensure the wood preservative is completely dry before applying adhesive in line with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Fitting skirting board to a timber stud wall requires you to locate the vertical studs. If replacing old skirting board the nail holes may be visible on the plasterboard. However, if this is the first time skirting is being fitted to the wall you'll need an electronic stud finder. As a rule vertical studs are 400mm (1ft 4in) or 600mm (2ft) apart.
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