Skirting board: advantages and disadvantages

A skirting board is a strip that covers the gap between the wall and the floor..

Important

Installation of the skirting board is carried out after the completion of the installation of the floor covering. You can replace the skirting board at any time without replacing the existing flooring.
Depending on the type of flooring used and the general style solution of the room, choose the material for making the plinth.

note

The main materials for the manufacture of skirting boards are:

foamed PVC: used for framing laminate, linoleum and carpet flooring. Most plastic skirting boards resemble wood skirting boards in shape and size. On the rear side, they are equipped with fastening channels and a niche for the wire. Plastic skirting boards for carpet and household linoleum often have a groove on the front side, where a carpet or linoleum tape is inserted, cut from the main roll, as a result of which the textured and color unity of the skirting board and floor covering is achieved. Plinths are also plastic, they are simply glued to the wall with adhesive tape, which is supplied with the back side of such a plinth;

solid wood and veneer: It is used for framing parquet and laminate floors, the base of the structure is usually made of solid spruce or pine, which is covered with veneer from precious wood on top. In addition, it is possible to manufacture it entirely from solid wood (oak, ash, cherry, etc.). Some models can be equipped with a cable channel.

MDF: for framing laminate and linoleum floors, it is also possible to use as the final finishing of walls lined with decorative panels based on MDF.

Read more Laying wall tiles

Advantages

plastic skirting board: high moisture resistance, due to which the plinth does not corrode and decay, and when the temperature and humidity in the room changes, it retains its shape and size, which makes it possible to use them in rooms with high humidity;

solid baseboards: environmental friendliness, high strength and durability;

MDF skirting boards: low price, resistance to moisture penetration and the emergence of persistent pollution, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, do not attract dust and are considered hygienic.

disadvantages

plastic skirting board: insufficient strength and durability;

solid wood skirting board: the high price makes it rational to use such a plinth only in combination with block parquet;

MDF skirting board: insufficient resistance to surface damage.

Care

During cleaning, the plinth is wiped with a damp cloth. Stubborn dirt is removed with detergents that do not contain abrasives and solvents.
When caring for wooden skirting boards, avoid excessive moisture, as well as the ingress of abrasive substances and solvents. Dust is wiped with a dry or slightly damp cloth or removed with a vacuum cleaner.

Styling features

The plastic skirting board is installed in a hidden way, using the fixing channels laid from the back. The wall to which it is attached must be flat.
Wooden skirting boards (keyed and solid) are most often simply glued to a flat, clean and dry wall.
The MDF skirting boards are attached to a flat wall with hook-shaped staples, onto which the skirting board is tightly fitted. The end cuts of the skirting board are closed with plastic plugs, and the corner joints are closed with “corners”. Thanks to this fastening, during subsequent repairs, the skirting boards can be removed and then put back in place..
Mounting boxes

are channels for laying various types of wires and cables. Their use is rational in the event that it is necessary to lay a large number of wires for different purposes and different sections (electrical, telephone, television, computer) in the house.
Junction boxes are made of PVC and aluminum, differ in a large number of standard sizes and sections, which allows you to lay cables for various purposes and cross-sections in separate channels, thereby increasing the safety of electrical wiring.
The shape of the boxes is also different. They can be rectangular and angular for installation in wall corners, under the ceiling or under wall cabinets.