Installation of skirting boards

Skirting boards are a finishing element that is of great functional importance. Whether the floor panels will look beautiful depends on their quality, durability and appearance. Even the most beautiful panels will not give their shine if they are not accompanied by a properly selected skirting board. The choice of the skirting board is one thing, the other is its assembly. Flooring specialists are most often involved in the installation of the skirting boards. However, the installation of skirting boards is not complicated at all. Permanent fixing will be provided by either glue or special clamps or rails. Here you can read about the quick installation of skirting boards.

Choose the method of mounting the skirting boards

Skirting boards are most often used to cover expansion joints. When installing the floor panels, we leave a free space next to the wall, thanks to which the floor has a chance to expand or shrink without damaging or detaching individual panels from the locks. We cover the unsightly gap with a skirting board, which is a perfect connection between the floor and the wall.

A well-chosen skirting board

It covers all the shortcomings and makes the room look complete. The finishing skirting, apart from aesthetic values, also has important utility functions.

It minimizes the risk of staining the wall by eliminating direct contact. It protects the wall against the risk of staining the walls or damaging the corners of the walls, which may occur when vacuuming or mopping the floor.

Fixing skirting boards can be done in several variants. Both the installation of mdf skirting boards and the installation of pvc skirting boards is simple. We have several systems in the field of skirting assembly. MDF skirting boards can be installed with professional mounting glue.

There are also special skirtings boards on the market screwed to dedicated rails. The most frequently chosen method of mounting the skirting boards is by gluing. Mounting glue can be used, or a special adhesive tape can be used. In the skirting boards produced as a system, there is very often proprietary assembly systems based on clamps and rails screwed to the wall.

How to properly install skirting boards?

The skirting board can be fixed with clamps attached to the wall or with glue. We choose the assembly method depending on our preferences. The second option is quick and convenient, but quite expensive compared to clamps. For every eight running meters, we will need one cartridge of glue, the price of which oscillates around several dozen zlotys. Fastening the skirting boards with glue does not require drilling and is very convenient. However, it must be remembered that the boards mounted in this way becomes a permanent element of equipment. So if we ever paint the room again, we must protect it very well. It may happen that the element detaches from the wall due to stress. This is especially the case when choosing non-flexible slats. When gluing skirting boards, choose adhesives dedicated and recommended by the manufacturer. You can also choose installation in the form of a self-adhesive tape, but in this case, the skirting board may also come off the wall. When it comes to glue, this method is not recommended for installation only when you want to be able to quickly disassemble the pieces. The glue guarantees that they stick to the wall permanently.

In the case of mounting skirting boards on clamps or rails, we are dealing with proprietary systems of manufacturers of laminated and vinyl panels. Before starting any type of assembly work, read the manufacturer's instructions. We can install MDF boards with the use of mounting clips. It consists in first mounting the structural element to the wall and then hooking the board. The finishing skirting are held on the clamps or the rail thanks to the appropriate cutters on the inside. Clips are attached with pegs every 40-50 cm and at a distance of 5-10 cm from each corner.

Concealed fastening of the skirting boards

The plastic rails have the advantage over the clips that it is easier to achieve a straight line and we do not have to wonder if our rail will keep the level. Usually, the walls in the rooms are unfortunately uneven. Some skirting boards have systems of elastic rubber bands that help to compensate for these unevenness. The rubbers adhere to the wall creating a waterproof surface.

If our product does not have silicone gaskets, we will probably have to finish the contact with the wall with acrylic filler. Flooring products are usually attached after the walls are painted.

Installation of mdf skirting boards

When considering the installation of skirting boards, we must also remember to precisely cut the boards at an angle of 45 degrees. Installation of MDF skirting boards is most often performed with the use of professional mounting glue. By using a modern, fast-setting glue, we can avoid pressing the board against the wall for a long time. Glue manufacturers guarantee the certainty of adhesion each type of skirting boards, provided that the substrate is well prepared. They should be dust-free and primed. The gluing method should be adapted to our product.

For skirting boards produced as a system, matching the floor decor, we choose solutions dedicated by the manufacturer. Depending on the material, we can use ready-made elements, the so-called accessories with which we can finish the corners or cut the slats at an angle of 45 degrees. Trimming is more labour-intensive and requires a lot of experience.

Screwing MDF skirting boards to the wall can come in several variants.

The most traditional are dowels or ordinary screws mounted from the outside. It is a quick and reliable solution, but moderately aesthetic. Let's choose this method of installation in the case of a skirting board typically intended for technical rooms. This method of installation permanently fixes the board, but does not provide a good visual effect.

The most common mounting method is clamps. It is much nicer, but also requires more skill and time from the installer. The board is held on the rail thanks to the appropriate milled channel on the inside. The fastening is invisible and very durable. At the same time, it allows for quick dismantling of the board if necessary. When drilling in the wall, we must take into account the risk of damaging the electric wires, so before starting work, check with a meter where the cables run or commission the work to professionals.

How to install the skirting boards?

By far the most popular way to install skirting boards is to glue them to the walls using mounting glue. The skirting boards should be installed after the final painting of the room. In this way, we practically minimize the risk of getting anything dirty. After carefully measuring the room, we start the work with measuring and cutting the skirting boards to the desired length.

After the initial "dry" joining of the elements, we can proceed to assembly. If we use the glue mounting method, we must remember a few things. In the case of traditional adhesives that require mixing of components, we must remember to keep the proportions recommended by the manufacturer.

When applying the glue, be careful that there is not too much of it - in this case it may flow out when pressing, dirtying the wall, or too little - in this case it may not stick. When choosing such a method, remember that the glue is intended for use with a specific type of skirting boards.

A different adhesive is dedicated to each material, because we can use strong acrylic glue for wooden or MDF skirting boards, and for hard polystyrene or polypropylene boards, use an adhesive specifically for this material. Traditional glue requires initial evaporation, often also with its use, the strips require longer pressing. Remember that in the case of wallpaper, remove a fragment of it at the point where the skirting board is attached.

Choosing a dedicated glue is simply a perfectly simple solution. The glue should be applied to the back of skirting board. A good glue will stick to virtually any construction substrate, as long as it is dust-free. The type of installation should be adapted to the type of skirting. In the case of wooden strips, glue is recommended that guarantees their permanent sticking.

The next step is to glue the cut skirting boards to the wall. For this purpose, we can use a special assembly glue or silicone. It is worth remembering that the initial high adhesive strength may weaken over time and the operation will have to be repeated.

Measure and cut skirting boards

A much more practical way to install skirting boards is to use ready-made systems for fixing them. Thanks to it, we can both efficiently and reliably attach the boards connecting the floor with the wall, as well as easily disassemble them if we want to paint the walls. The first stage is measuring, cutting and matching the skirting boards to the places where they will be installed. Remember that you need to leave a few millimetres at the ends of the pieces to apply the corners to them.

Attaching connecting clamps to the walls

The next stage of this type of installation is to attach the brackets that will connect the skirting boards to the wall. Fasten the clamps at a distance of approx. 40–50 cm between each other. However, if the walls are crooked, place the fastening clamps more densely. You can choose plastic or metal buckles. At this stage of the work, we can route electric cables along the wall, which we plan to cover with a skirting board.

Fixing skirting boards

The installation of skirting boards does not have to be complicated. Skirting boards are essential for our floor to look beautiful. We can choose from many types of skirting boards made of both plastic and wood-based panels.

Even when we choose skirting boards from a lower price range, the effectiveness of the assembly will largely depend on the basic skills of the person carrying out the renovation. If we are a DIY enthusiast at home, installation with glue and with clips or rails should not be difficult for us.