New flooring often means new skirting
One of the most common reasons we are asked to fit skirting is new flooring. Old boards get knocked, chipped or pulled away when carpet, laminate or engineered wood goes down, and the gap at the bottom of the wall needs covering properly rather than papered over with a bead of sealant.
We measure the room, cut the new skirting to fit around corners and door openings, and fix it so the finish sits flush against the wall and the floor. If you have just had flooring laid in Rickmansworth or Chorleywood, it is worth booking skirting at the same time so the two jobs line up neatly.
Matching existing profiles in older homes
Many Victorian and Edwardian homes have deep, moulded skirting that is no longer sold off the shelf everywhere. Where we can, we match the existing profile so a repaired section does not look out of place next to the original.
Where an exact match is not available, we talk through the closest practical option and where in the room it would be least noticeable, for example starting a run behind a door or piece of furniture.
Mitres, scribes and uneven walls
Few older houses have perfectly square corners or level floors, so cutting skirting is rarely as simple as a straight mitre. We scribe internal corners to follow the wall rather than leaving a gap, and adjust mitres on external corners so the joint stays tight even where the wall is slightly out of true.
This extra care at the cutting stage is what stops skirting looking gappy or uneven once it is painted, and it is the main difference between a quick fit and one that lasts.
- Scribed internal corners on uneven walls
- Adjusted mitres on external corners
- Packing out behind boards where floors dip
Fixing skirting securely
We fix skirting using a combination of adhesive and fixings appropriate to the wall type, whether that is masonry, stud partition or old lath and plaster. The aim is a board that stays put without movement, because loose skirting is one of the quickest ways a paint finish starts to crack along the top edge.
Caulking and painting afterwards
Once new skirting and architrave are fitted, we caulk along the top edge and any joints to give a clean line before painting. We are happy to paint skirting and architrave as part of the same visit through our painting and decorating service, so you are not left waiting for a second trade or trying to match the finish yourself.
If you would prefer to paint it yourself, we will still fill and sand ready for you to pick up a brush.
Skirting height and style choices
Skirting comes in a range of heights and profiles, from a simple low chamfered board to taller period-style mouldings well over 150mm high. A taller skirting can suit the high ceilings found in many Victorian and Edwardian houses, while a simpler, lower board often looks more in keeping with a newer extension or a recently renovated room.
We talk through which height and profile suits a room before ordering material, since a noticeable mismatch between adjoining rooms on the same floor can look odd once everything is painted and the furniture is back in place.
Boxing in pipes near skirting level
Pipework sometimes runs along a skirting line, particularly in older houses where plumbing has been added or altered over the years. Where this applies, we can box the pipe in neatly alongside new skirting, keeping it hidden behind a removable panel rather than left exposed, while still leaving access for any future maintenance work.
Architrave around doors
Architrave often gets replaced at the same time as skirting, particularly around door openings that have been affected by a new door or a change in flooring height. We fit architrave as part of our internal door work when a door is being hung or adjusted, keeping the gaps even on both sides and the mitres at the top neat.
Call Micky on 07735 852901 to talk through what needs replacing and we can give you an idea of cost before we visit.