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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> fitting new skirting board? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1170443551 Message started by cimo on Feb 2^nd, 2007, 7:12pm

Title: fitting new skirting board?
Post by cimo on Feb 2^nd, 2007, 7:12pm

Hi folks
hoping to pick some brains re: fitting new skirting board.

I'm planning to put on new skirting throughout entire 3bed semi. 6 rooms in total. Would like to use 6" wide skirting board. Finish will be white gloss. Currently not planning to make a living from skirting and this will probably be a once off affair.

Would appreciate any recommendations on which saw to buy - power or hand mitre - (will hand mitre give me the cuts I need with 6" board?). Also, what fixing method do you feel works best - adhesive type? or nailing?

Any secrets wrt measuring/marking out to get that elusive neat fit on first cut greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance
regards
cimo

PS - great forum.

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by runninwata on Feb 2^nd, 2007, 7:28pm

hi there, does the skirting have a moulded profile? if so and its softwood and the boards are approx 6" deep i would not be too surprised if most of them will be cupped especially if purchased from b& q and the likes this makes it not too clever to get an excellent fit with either a hand cut joint or a machine cut joint. i would be tenpted to hire a mitre saw from your local hire shop.

if using an mdf board cupping wouldnt be the issue getting a true cut might be though especially at 150mm deep they would most probably have to be cut on the flat all internal joints/ corners would be scribed.

to get a tight joint you need tomeasure accurately then cut the board a shade longer and spring into place (bend out the middle a little allow the corners to go into the corner then push the centre in.

as for adhesive i wouldnt bother just in case the boards have tocome out at a later date!

p.s if the joints aint that great there is always decorators filler to disguise them ;) ;)

regards

steve

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by cimo on Feb 2^nd, 2007, 8:14pm

most likey I will use softwood with a profile - although I hadn't considered cupping :o

My idea to buy a saw was to keep within budget as my little project will have to been done in stages over a three month or so period (its a full renovation and I'm living in the middle of it! :-D).

Also wasn't sure if I could hire a power saw what with health'nsafety an' all that (or am I thinking of chainsaws?).
Anyway I figured I could re-coup some cash by offering the purchased saw for re-sale.

"to get a tight joint you need tomeasure accurately then cut the board a shade longer and spring into place" - I'm learning!

"p.s if the joints aint that great there is always decorators filler to disguise them ;) ;)"
...... and the white gloss will hide the sin.... now why didn't I think of this ! ;)

much thanks steve
best regards
cimo

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by woodsmith on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 7:18am

I'd definately consider MDF skirting, as Steve said no cupping is a big advantage.

I'd glue it with Pinkgrip or the like though much neater.

As for cutting it how about the unthinkable :-/ cut it by hand :o

With 6" wide boards you are going to need a decent machine to cut them and you have the learning curve and the cost. With so little to do over such a long period makes sense to me [smiley=yes.gif]

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by JerryD on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 8:34am

I'm with Woody on this, mdf definately and glue it definately. Only use timber if you're going to stain it, if you're painting then mdf is miles better.

A large NOBEX saw (to take 6" high board) will set you back about £90+ but you only need a mitre saw such as this if you have external corners. All internal corners should be scribed so a mitre saw is no use for the internals.

Do you have any external corners to 'skirt'? You may only have a couple so to spend that kind of money for a few cuts seems extravagant but there's really no better way to do it other than a huge chop saw which will cost £500+..................... :o

Can't you hire a large NOBEX for a day or a weekend?

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by big_all on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 10:55am

one other small point 6" is pre worked stock size[sawn size] the act off moulding /planeing[working]the timber removes around 6mm
so althought six inches is 153mm it will fit in a saw with 150 capacity

same applies to any worked timber [dressed planed]although the larger the timber the greater the reduction

1"= 22mm 2"= 45mm 3"=70mm 4"=95mm 5" 120mm
ect and by the time youve reached 9x1" your only a fraction over 8 1/2" at around 218mm

different timber from different sources will of course vary slightly but in general wood from the sheds[b&q ect] is around 2 to 3mm thinner than wood yards so try not to mix and match for the easiest results

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by Andrew003 on Feb 5^th, 2007, 11:30pm

Hi

'All internal corners should be scribed so a mitre saw is no use for the internals. '

What does this mean?? I'm used to scribing cardboard, but can't think how you scribe mdf to make an internal corner??

Cheers
Andrew

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by cimo on Feb 6^th, 2007, 12:10am

cheers folks
plenty of food for though here.

Will give MDF some consideration. Also pricing the saw options.

(meanwhile must crack on with the floor tiling .............. :))

thanks again
cimo

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by big_all on Feb 6^th, 2007, 7:45am

wrote on Feb 5^th, 2007, 11:30pm:

the easiest way to scribe is take the length thats least looked at when you normaly look at the wall ---along the side of a chimnie breast for example
mitre this piece then highlight the "ridge" you now have [shade the edge youve just cut] and cut along the line but slightly undercutting the back edge so the back edge of the scribe is around 2mm clear
cut at right angles at the top and as you drop beneath the molded top work the back edge round slightly to"undercut"

clear as mud eeehhh ;D ;)

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by RobS on Apr 14^th, 2007, 12:18am

Big_All, could you try explaiing again please?

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by JerryD on Apr 14^th, 2007, 6:02pm

Let me try :D

Cut a normal mitre in the skirting.

Now look at this mitre, where the face of the skirting meets the start of the mitre is the scribe line. (say you are using primed mdf, where the mitre has been cut will show bare mdf - where the primer and the bare mdf meet is the scribe line)

Cut along this line using a coping saw or similar.

This will now fit onto a similar shaped piece of skirting to form a perfect internal corner.

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by WOLF on Apr 14^th, 2007, 11:13pm

Quote:

perfect internal corner.

NO SUCH THING JD!, well at least not after a brickie and a plasterer have been at it!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by RobS on Apr 20^th, 2007, 2:08pm

Sorry still don't get it - is there any hope for me? I'll try cutting a 45 degree mitre on a peice of scrap board and have a look. I assume that the other oard that will make teh joint is cut square and the piece refered to above fits in?

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by JerryD on Apr 20^th, 2007, 9:00pm

wrote on Apr 20^th, 2007, 2:08pm:

That's right.

When you have cut the first piece at 45 degrees the 'scribe' line is the line where the mitre cut meets the face of the skirting. Cut along that line with a coping saw and you will have magically cut out the exact shape of the skirting.

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by RobS on Apr 24^th, 2007, 5:21pm

Thanks it works. All I have to do now is cut it and fit it! Still not sure whether to glue or screw. What are the pros and cons?

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by JerryD on Apr 24^th, 2007, 5:48pm

I always glue. No holes to fill afterwards and no danger of hitting hidden pipes and cables. :)

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by RobS on Apr 25^th, 2007, 3:38am

Thanks for all your help. Just one final question - when you have to join two pieces on a wall do you just butt them up or is there a better method.

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by woodsmith on Apr 25^th, 2007, 6:22am

If you have a compound mitre saw set the saw up to about 30 degrees in both settings and cut both pieces with the same setting. They will butt up perfectly together and the angled joint is stronger and less noticeable than a vertical one.

If you don't have a CMS then I'd just cut each board end to about 30 degrees, use one when cut, to scribe a line on the other so both angles are identical.

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by big_all on Apr 25^th, 2007, 7:33am

just to add to keiths wise words ;D ;D

angle away from the light and or away from the main traffic areas

in other words the slot points away from the window

Title: Re: fitting new skirting board?
Post by RobS on Apr 27^th, 2007, 1:30am

Thanks for all the help!