How to Guide- Fitting a Skirting Board

Start from the left hand side of the door and work anti clockwise, deal with each corner one by one

External Corner- Mitred Joint

Step 1- Measure the distance to the next corner and mark that distance on the skirting board. Lightly mark the direction of the mitre cut

Step 2- Use the mitre box to secure the skirting, with the side facing the room, facing you. Using a fine tooth panel saw make the 45- degree mitre cut

Step 3- Place the next piece of skirting in the mitre box and make another 45-degree cut in the opposite direction, near the right hand of the piece

Step 4- sand the cut ends, make sure the cuts fit together, and make small adjustments if necessary

Internal Corner- Scribed Joint

Step 1- Cut the piece of skirting that will form the right-hand part to length, ensuring the end is cut at a 90degree angle to it can butt against the wall in the corner

Step 2- cut the piece that will form the left hand part to length using a mitre box with a 45- degree angle going into the corner

Step 3- mark the front edge of the skirting where the mitre cut starts. Secure to workbench. Use a coping saw to remove all the material to the right of the pencil line, angle the saw at about 25 degrees so it also removes material behind and to the left of the pencil line

Step 4- Test the scribed skirting in the corner against the previous piece and if need be, make adjustments using the coping saw or sandpaper. Make the appropriate cut at the other end of the section of skirting before fixing.

How to fix the skirting

Step 1- use a pipe and cable detector to check the area is clear.

Step 2- if fixing to a stud wall locate the vertical timber studs and mark the centre

Step 3- apply grab adhesive to the back if the skirting, following the manufacturers guide and push the skirting into position, you may need to screw of nail the skirting

Step 4- If fixing to a masonry wall use a 6mm masonry drill through the skirting to the wall. Start them 50mm from end of wall, 25mm from the top and bottom of the skirting board. Repeat at 500mm intervals.

Step 5- insert a 6mm wall plug and an 8 gauge screw, tapping into place and then screwing.

Step 6- if fixing to a stud wall, hammer two 40mm lost head nails through the skirting. Using a hammer and nail punch to sink any nails to just below the surface.

Step 7- when applying a second piece of an external joint you should use PVA clue to each mitre cut

Step 8- for internal joints no PVA glue is needed as the square piece will be fixed first

Step 9- Use flexible decorators caulk applied with a cartridge gun to fill any gaps between the wall and the skirting board.

 

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