Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Skirting Boards
Installing skirting boards can transform the appearance of your home, providing a polished touch to walls and floors. Whether embarking on a DIY home improvement project or enhancing a professional renovation, using tools like the Milwaukee Mitre Saw ensures precise cuts and a professional finish. This comprehensive guide will walk you through installing skirting boards efficiently and effectively.
Tools and Materials Needed
Tools
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
- Knee pads
- Tape measure
- Carpenter pencil
- Combination square
- Milwaukee Mitre saw
- Coping saw
- Pry bar (if removing old skirting boards)
- Sandpaper
- Hammer or nail gun
- Drill (if using screws)
Materials
- Skirting boards
- Nails or screws
- Wood filler (for any holes or cracks)
- Adhesive (if using glue instead of nails/screws)
- Caulk (for finishing edges)
- Paint or varnish (if finishing the skirting boards)
Preparation and safety
- Safety First: Wear safety goggles and a dust mask.
- Prepare the Area: Clean walls and floors to remove dust and debris.
- Ensure surfaces are dry.
- Remove Old Skirting (if needed): Cut through caulk or paint with a utility knife, and gently remove old skirting with a pry bar.
- Inspect and Repair: Fill any holes or cracks in the walls.
Measure and Mark the Skirting Boards
- Measure the room’s perimeter, excluding areas where skirting board is not required (e.g., doorways).
- Calculate Extra Material:
- Add 10% to your total measurement to account for waste from cutting.
- Mark Guidelines:
- Mark the wall where the top of the skirting board will sit to ensure a straight and level installation.
If this is your first time installing skirting boards, ordering an extra 30-50cm of material is wise. This allows room for practice cuts, especially if you need to create scribed joints for internal corners.
Cutting the Skirting Board
Cutting External Corners
To fit skirting boards along the length of your walls and create external corners, you’ll need to cut each board at a 45-degree angle using a Milwaukee mitre saw. This method ensures that when the skirting boards are joined, they form a precise right angle at the external corners.
Creating a Scribed Joint for Internal Corners
In the UK, finding a perfect 90-degree corner is uncommon. Creating a scribed joint is typically necessary for internal corners, especially where angles are irregular.
- Keep one skirting board piece with straight ends for installation. On the second piece, use a Milwaukee mitre to cut a 45º angle on one end to create accurate joints during installation.
- Use a carpenter pencil to highlight the skirting board’s profile on the angled surface as your cutting guide for precise fitting during installation.
- Use a hand saw to create a slight back cut on the angled surface, ensuring the cut stops at the marked profile curves.
- Switch to a coping saw and carefully cut along the marked profile to create a scribe joint.
- Back cut slightly to ensure a precise fit between skirting boards.
Skirting Board Installation
Use wall plugs and masonry nails or zinc-coated screws for brick or block walls. Alternatively, apply gap-filling grab adhesive for adhesion. Fill any wall cavities with an infill board as needed.
Using Adhesive
- Apply PVA glue on external mitres and spread adhesive blobs evenly across the back of the skirting board.
- Consider using small-diameter pins to secure joints tightly (if needed)
Fixing the Skirting Board
- Position the skirting board’s bottom edge on the floor near the fixing point and press firmly against the wall.
- For flat walls, additional fixings may not be necessary. Use screws for walls with bows.
Using Screws
- Mark fixing points on the skirting board approximately 60cm apart and 2.5mm below the chamfered edge.
- Lay the skirting flat along the floor to transfer these marks onto the wall behind it.
Detecting Cables and Pipes
- Use a detector to locate cables and pipes. Adjust fixing points away from them.
Drilling and Countersinking
- Drill pilot holes into the skirting board using a wood drill bit.
- Use a countersink bit to create recesses for screw heads below the skirting board’s surface.
Installing Wall Plugs and Screws
- Drill corresponding holes in the wall and insert wall plugs.
- Tap plugs flush with the wall and secure the skirting board with screws.
Finishing Touches
- Fill holes with matching filler and smooth with a damp cloth.
- Seal gaps between the skirting board and wall with flexible decorative caulk applied using a mastic gun.
FAQ
How can I cut my Skirting Boards if I don’t have a Milwaukee Mitre Saw?
Using a Hand Saw and Mitre Box
- Mitre Box: A mitre box is a simple tool that helps you make precise angle cuts. It has pre-cut slots at various angles, typically 45 and 90 degrees.
- Hand Saw: Use a fine-toothed hand saw for cleaner cuts.
- Measure and Mark: Measure the length of the skirting board and mark where the cut will be. For corners, mark the angle cut required.
- Set-Up: Place the skirting board in the mitre box, aligning the cut mark with the appropriate slot in the box.
- Cutting: Hold the skirting board firmly and use the hand saw to cut, following the slot in the mitre box to ensure a straight and accurate angle.
Can I install Skirting Boards over the carpet?
Installing skirting boards before laying the carpet is generally easier. If installing over the existing carpet, ensure you tuck the carpet underneath the skirting board for a neat finish.
Can I install Skirting Boards on uneven walls?
Yes, but you may need to scribe the skirting board to fit the contours of the wall. This involves marking and trimming the bottom edge of the skirting board to match the wall’s profile.
At Toolden, we offer a wide range of DIY Tools and Accessories for domestic and commercial applications. For more DIY ideas, check our Blog section, How To.
Unsure which to choose? Need some help with your order? Our new help centre has a wide range of helpful articles and guides!
If you have any additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at 01358 726719 or by email at admin@toolden.co.uk