Skirting Boards

Choosing Skirting Boards for Different Rooms

Skirting boards finish the junction between internal walls and flooring, protect the lower wall and conceal the perimeter gap left around many flooring systems. Choose the material, height and depth according to the room conditions, required wall coverage and available space around doorways or fitted furniture. Curved, square-edge and grooved skirting board profiles provide different levels of decorative detail, allowing the trim to suit both traditional interiors and projects using modern skirting boards.

MDF Skirting Boards or Polymer Skirting Boards: Which Material Suits the Job?

MDF skirting boards are supplied primed in long lengths and include reversible profile options, helping reduce joints across wider wall runs while providing a choice of visible finishes. Their moisture-resistant MDF construction is intended for internal applications, but the material should not be treated as waterproof.

Polymer Skirting Boards are supplied in shorter lengths and are specified by the supplier as waterproof and UV resistant. They are therefore relevant where moisture exposure or strong natural light is an important consideration.

Choose MDF where longer runs and reversible machined profiles are priorities. Select polymer where verified resistance to water and sunlight is more important than minimising the number of joints.

Preparing Primed Skirting Boards for Painting

MDF primed skirting boards have a factory-applied base coat, reducing the preparation required before the decorative finish is applied. Cut ends, filled fixing holes and repaired joints still require separate preparation because these areas do not have the same factory-coated surface as the visible face.

When painting skirting boards, remove dust and fitting residue before applying a compatible finish. Exposed MDF edges may require spot priming, while primed polymer profiles should be finished with a suitable water-based paint in accordance with the supplier’s guidance.

For longer painted runs and reversible profile choices, explore the available MDF skirting boards.

Cutting Corners and Planning Board Joints

Measure every wall separately, deduct door openings and include additional material for corners, joints and cutting waste. Board length affects how many visible joints are required, so plan the layout before making the first cut.

• Confirm the profile – Check which face will remain visible before cutting reversible boards.
• Plan long runs – Position joints away from corners and prominent wall sections where possible.
• Check angles – Measure each corner instead of assuming it is exactly square.
• Allow for waste – Include material for mitres, damaged ends and correction cuts.
• Dry-check pieces – Confirm the fit and profile alignment before permanent fixing.

MDF profiles can be worked with standard carpentry tools, while polymer mouldings should be cut using methods and accessories recommended by their supplier. Keep each length fully supported during preparation to help maintain accurate cuts.

Fixing Skirting Boards to Different Wall Surfaces

The fixing method must suit both the skirting material and the condition of the background. MDF profiles can be installed using adhesive or nails, while polymer profiles require an adhesive confirmed as compatible with decorative polymer mouldings and the wall substrate.

• Masonry walls – Remove dust, loose plaster and unstable coatings before adhesive fixing.
• Plasterboard walls – Use suitable fixing points where additional mechanical restraint is required.
• Timber backgrounds – Nails or pins may be used where sound timber is available.
• Uneven surfaces – Correct prominent high spots before fitting rather than relying on excessive adhesive.
• Door junctions – Check the skirting thickness against the adjoining architrave before installation.

Where skirting terminates beside internal doorways, compare its depth and profile with the available MDF Architrave to create a deliberate junction between the two mouldings.

Allowing for Expansion Gaps, Uneven Walls and Floor Movement

The selected skirting must provide enough height and depth to cover the flooring perimeter gap without relying on excessive filler. Confirm the required expansion allowance from the flooring manufacturer before installation, as the skirting should conceal the gap rather than prevent the floor from moving as intended.

Uneven walls can leave visible gaps behind the top edge or pull the moulding out of line. Check the background before fitting and correct loose plaster, raised areas or unstable finishes that could weaken the fixing.

Measure from the finished floor level, particularly where new flooring changes the height of the room perimeter. This helps ensure continuous coverage beneath door trim, around corners and along adjoining walls.