If you are in the process of arranging your new apartment or are just renovating it, you probably already have thought-out wall colors, furniture style and a new floor. However, don't forget about the "details". Hardly anyone focuses on the selection of skirting boards, and they can complement or weaken the perception of space. In the following text, we have prepared some tips for you, which we hope will allow you to more consciously choose the right solution for your interior.
What are the skirting boards made of - what kind would be best choice for you?
As in the case of floors or underlays, skirting boards are made of various materials. Each material of the material gives the finished product specific functions, thanks to which it will perform well in certain conditions. That is why it is so important to choose the right product for the situation - so as not to feel disappointed when using it. Skirting boards can be made of PVC, HDPS and MDF or combinations of these materials. What do these abbreviations mean? Below we present an explanation and the most important advantages and disadvantages of each technology.
PVC skirting boards
- Plastics are used for production.
- A wide range of colors - the ability to accurately select the color and finish of the skirting board to the floor.
- Resistant to mechanical damage.
- Waterproof.
- Very easy to install - they have flexible rubber bands on the edges, thanks to which you save time on placing silicone and precise cutting. They also often have dedicated accessories to facilitate assembly.
- They can be installed in several ways - with glue, pins, staples.
- Finished in several patterns and shapes to avoid the traditional shape.
- They are available in two versions:
o PVC boards with channel (f.e. for cables)
o Solid PVC boards
- They are an improved version of boards with a channel.
- They are of higher quality.
- Have a harder, impact-resistant surface.
- They can be finished elegantly with a matte varnish for a more noble look.
HDPS skirting boards
- Made entirely without PVC additives
- Extremely light.
- Very resistant to mechanical damage.
- Waterproof.
- Stylish and elegant.
- High product quality.
- They have all the features of solid PVC slats, but without the use of PVC.
Skirting boards made of MDF
- The most traditional solution produced from low or medium density wood-based board.
- Wide possibilities of adjusting the budget due to variety of pricing.
- A wide range of heights, shapes and finishes. Very easy to process.
- Resistant to impacts and scratches.
- They rarely have dedicated accessories, which requires long-term cutting.
- Mounted on clips or glue - often requiring persistent cleaning.
- Lack of or low resistance to water - they are easy to accidentally destroy by applying water to them, eg during mapping.
How to match the skirting board to the interior?
Choosing the right skirting board is not just about color. The height of the slat, surface structure and milling on the front wall are also important. The offer of Arbiton skirting boards includes both solid core boards, e.g. TORE, VIGO or STIQ (these are boards made entirely of appropriate material, with a specific thickness), traditional boards, e.g. INDO, MACK, LM (the boards is a thin layer of plastic and is attached to it using a base or directly - by attaching it to the wall through a channel that will later be covered) as well as traditional MDF collections such as PAINT IT or CAVARE.
The selection of the appropriate skirting board should take into account the type of the laid floor - then we can choose a skirting board covering a specific expansion gap. There are skirting boards on the market that cover the expansion joints between 10 - 26 mm. So depending on whether you are installing vinyl or laminate flooring, you should choose the appropriate skirting board.
The height of the room is also important. The good practice is to use boards with a height of at least 80 mm in the case of rooms with a height exceeding 2.5 m.
The color of the skirting boards is a river theme: it can be matched to the color of the floors, to the color of the walls, door frames, furniture style, or to use universal white boards or - more and more popular - anthracite.
The perfect choice always takes into account the client's expectations and his sense of aesthetics, which is why it is so important to familiarize yourself with the possible solutions.
Time is an ally of the right choice!
When arranging your apartment, you spend a lot of time choosing the key elements. Often the willingness to finish the work is so great that not enough attention is paid to the final stages. However, nothing could be more wrong! The right amount of time devoted to, for example, getting acquainted with the types of skirting boards is the key to a beautiful, coherent interior that will please the eye and will be pleasant to use.