Choosing skirting boards

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Choosing Skirting Boards
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• The little details can make or break a decorative
  scheme so its important that you put time into
  choosing elements that sit comfortably in their
  surroundings.
• One area thats worth particular consideration is
  choosing the right skirting board. Skirting
  offers a number of functional and aesthetic
  benefits and it's pretty much an essential if you
  have wood floors, as it will hide the unsightly
  expansion gap around the perimeter of the wall
  (which prevents damage as the timber expands and
  contracts).

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Skirting styles profiles

• Skirting has evolved into much more than a
  practical prop it can serve to underpin your
  homes character, too, with a myriad of moldings'
  and materials available to suit your decor.
• If youre replacing existing skirting boards, the
  obvious starting point is to swap like-for-like.
  Take a section of your skirting down to the local
  hardware shop to see whether they have a close
  match they should stock all the common profiles.
  Their ranges will include the decorative skirting
  profiles that tend to sit well in period-style
  settings (such as torus, ogee and ovolo) as well
  as simpler designs for a clean, modern look (such
  as square-edge, pencil round, bullnose and
  chamfered).

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MDF skirting

• Easy to install and widely-available either
  pre-primed or pre-finished, MDF has become a
  popular choice for skirting board in new homes.
  Its resistant to warping and swelling so its
  a low-maintenance option.
• MDF skirting is affordable, too, with prices
  starting from as little as 2 per linear metre
  for basic versions. The main downside to standard
  MDF is that it can only be painted (although it's
  very easy to finish thanks to its smooth
  surface).

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Softwood skirting

• It is a type of Wood skirting. While softwood
  skirting is more susceptible to movement than
  MDF, it offers a number of advantages.
• For a start, it can be stained or varnished to
  provide a natural look which is a huge
  advantage in period homes. It can also be sanded
  down and re-finished, so wont need replacing as
  often.
• What's more, it's generally available in a wider
  variety of unusual profiles and is easier for
  joiners to work if you need to match an existing
  design on a renovation project.
• A basic pine board shouldnt cost you any more
  than the MDF equivalent and gives you access to a
  range of finishes as well as, typically, a
  greater choice of skirting heights (Georgian and
  Victorian houses tend to suit taller profiles).

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Hardwood skirting

• It is a type of Wood skirting. For a top-end
  look, try hardwoods. Prices for solid oak
  depending on the specification.
• The timbers honeyed tones sit beautifully in
  historic homes, and its an obvious match
  alongside oak floors, doors, staircases or other
  high-quality internal finishes. Alternatives
  include ash, beech and walnut.
• Hardwood skirting is usually machined to order
  and available pre-oiled or pre-stained if
  required. It's more resilient against knocks and
  scuffs than softwood, making it a low-maintenance
  option.
• Fitting hardwood boards is more complex than for
  MDF or softwood, typically involving pre-drilling
  the timber, screwing into wallplugs and plugging
  the screwhead with real-wood pellets.

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Using skirting to hide cables

• Today, skirting is increasingly used to provide
  an easy-access cover for pipework and electrical
  cables leaving them more accessible than if
  theyre embedded into the wall.
• You can get plywood or self-coloured plastic
  versions with pre-routed channels (the latter
  material is often available as a clip-on product
  for easy fitting). Many self builders prefer the
  look of rebated skirting boards, which are
  available in MDF and solid wood.