To strip or replace skirting boards????

[Mara Sheldon]

To save ourselves time and energy, I thought we'd ask you guys first...... Whilst struggling with a hot air paint stripper to strip our existing skirting boards of paint, and melting the tiles around the edges of the room in the process, I was wondering whether the effort of stripping the existing skirting boards and trying to save the tiles, (in the whole of our 2 bedroom flat) is actually worthwhile, or whether it would be more cost-effective to just pull the existing skirting boards out and replace the whole lot??? We will need to replaster all the walls anyway since we have just rewired everything. Any thoughts?? TIA :) Mara

[Bob Mannix]

Almost always replace, yes, unless you are really hard up, especialliy if you are replastering. By the time you have finished scraping the surface will need redoing anyway. If you are replastering, then it will look better plastered down below skirting board level with new ones on top.

[Chris Bacon]

What sort of skirting is it?

[Hugh]

I'd suggest removing all skirting boards - then skim the walls, then fit new skirtings - that what we do when refurbishing a property - you'll find you need quite a bit of filler! Just a tip, if you want a period look - I use 6 x 1 timber (or 7x1 for a larger room - even bigger if you want) and sit 2'' ogee architrave on the top - looks good and works out cheap. Plain 6x1 for bathrooms, kitchens, and smaller rooms. Hugh

[Set Square]

Unless the skirting needs to be anything fancy - and therefore expensive - replace it, particularly as you're re-plastering. You'll probably damage the walls getting the old stuff off if it's nailed on in the conventional way - but the plaster will cover the damage. Stick the new stuff on with Gripfill, and fill any slight gaps along the top with decorator's caulk before ** painting.

** Actually, when I did my hallway - which included new hardwood flooring, I painted the new skirting *before* fitting it so as not to get any paint on the floor - and just touched up the paint, as necessary, after fitting.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Depends on what skirting your replacing with if you do decide to pull off the skirting? I found it cheaper to replace skirting in the living room as it saved a lot of hassle stripping the paint off and straining the heat guns life.

-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[Mara Sheldon]

Thanks for all the replies.... I shall replace the old skirting boards! But while on the subject, would the same apply for doorframes if we need to re-hang the doors to open from the other side, ie replace frames or fill in old holes?

........and can a skim of plaster be applied over painted walls (to cover the channels for the new wiring and the cracks....) or do we have to scrape all the old paint off...??? Those are the last questions for today I promise! :) Mara

[John Schmitt]

I concur with other posters that new is the way to go. If you are using single profile skirting and you have access to a circular saw, take a chamfer off the bottom, so that the back of the board is relieved slightly, say 3mm. This will make the skirting sit tighter to the floor at the front, where it shows. Dual profile already has the relief inbuilt as the two profiles are rotated 180 degrees in the major axis of the board. If you are really fussy, there are joiners with spindle moulders who can make custom profiles. Depending on how much you want, the price falls for more length. The cutters cost money to make, so the joiner has to defray the cost of one against his fee.

John Schmitt

[Chris Bacon]

Joiners? Pshaw. Just go to a BM which has a mill, they will charge maybe £20 setting-up fee, and run sawn timber through. It's not dear. You will need to supply a sample, or look in their cupboard for something you like the look of.

[Chris Bacon]

So the skirting is made of wood, not very high, nothing special. Another question is: why are you stripping it?

Just fill the inge rebates/holes, rub down, paint.

the channels for the new wiring and the cracks....) or do we have to scrape all the old paint off...???

Much less work to fill, I should have thought.

[david lang]

Pre primed MDF skirting is the way to go IMO. No knots to seal, no twists, stick it on, caulk and just a coat of gloss.

Dave

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'd caution that it should be well site conditioned before use. Long lengths of skirting used straight from the yard are likely to shrink.

[Chris Bacon]

Nail the blaasted stuff straight on and let it "condition" in situ, unless you want to be banging up a load of old cupped shaken curved xxx xxx xxx.

[chris French]

In message , Mara Sheldon writes

I'd probably leave be, filing the holes isn't a great problem.

Yes - to the former. as long as the paint layer is sound of course. Will need priming with dilute PVA.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

And you, pet. ;-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

when in doubt, rip it out.

Its less labour and te capital cost of te wood is sweet f*ck all compared with everythig else.

[Matthew]

Just been going through our house refurb room to room and replacing the skirting with new Ogee profile. We used Pine but MDF is probably better. Remember with pine to use knotting. Bought a cheap power sliding mitre saw from Argos fro =A3100 and nearly finished the whole house. Tip 1 Buy a power sliding mitre saw Tip 2 Use a crow bar with caution to get skirting off Tip 3 Use the Pink Quick Grab stuff as adhesive (better than no nails) Tip 4 Use decorators caulk for the gaps and joints (when painted looks great) Tip 5 Order an extra few lengths to account for wastage and in our case a few warped pieces. Tip 6 Dont try to remove the old nails just knock them flat into the plaster its quicker. Tip 7 The odd nail will be needed if the walls are not true.

Our house is a large 4 bed detached and the skirting was less than =A3200 for the entire place and looks the business defo do it in our next place.

Matthew