Fitting Skirting Boards: Professional Results

Skirting boards finish the junction between wall and floor. Well-fitted skirting looks professional and hides any gaps left during flooring installation.

Preparation

Before starting:

• Remove old skirting carefully (you might reuse it)
• Check wall condition - repair damaged plaster
• Ensure flooring is complete
• Acclimatise new MDF skirting indoors for 48+ hours

Planning the Layout

Work out the most efficient cutting order:

• Start with the longest walls
• Plan joint positions to minimise waste
• Avoid joints in prominent locations
• Full boards look better than pieced sections

Measuring and Cutting

Accurate measurement prevents waste:

• Measure each piece individually
• Mark which end is which
• Cut slightly long and trim to fit
• Use a mitre saw for clean cuts

Internal Corners

Two methods:

• Mitred: Both pieces cut at 45 degrees - gaps can open with movement
• Scribed (coped): One piece cut to match profile of other - stays tight

Professionals usually scribe internal corners.

External Corners

External corners should be mitred:

• Both pieces cut at 45 degrees
• Check corner is actually square first
• Adjust angles if corner isn't 90 degrees
• Pin through the joint for strength

Fixing Methods

Options depend on wall type:

• Brad nails: Fast, small holes to fill
• Screws: Stronger, more visible unless plugged
• Adhesive: No holes, but harder to remove

Scribing to Uneven Floors

If the floor isn't level:

1. Set skirting on spacers at the highest point
2. Run a pencil along the floor contour
3. Cut along the marked line
4. The skirting now follows the floor profile

Finishing

• Fill nail holes and joints
• Sand smooth when dry
• Apply caulk along the top edge against the wall
• Prime and paint (or buy pre-finished)

Quality nail guns and mitre saws make skirting installation much faster.