The final touch in the finishing of the premises is the installation of the skirting board. It plays not only a functional, but also a decorative role in the interior. This useful element allows you to give a neat and complete look to the floor covering around the entire room, hide electrical wiring, close and decorate the joints of floor and wall cladding, protecting them from dirt and moisture and thereby preventing the multiplication of pathogens.
As for the material, today on sale you can find wood products, plastic and MDF. However, the duropolymer skirting board has recently gained more and more popularity. This type of plastic, as well as products made of it, appeared on the building materials market relatively recently - about 11 years ago.
What is a duropolymer?
Duropolymer is a modern, environmentally friendly material made of polystyrene foam under high pressure and temperature. Products from this polymer have a density of 360 to 400 kg / m 3 . Due to this, the duropolymer skirting board can be installed in places of increased friction. The material is resistant to mechanical damage and other influences. Duropolymer baseboards cannot be damaged by chairs, tables and other furniture.
According to reviews, duropolymer skirting boards are not inferior in strength to analogues made of selected oak wood. Such products do not crack, they are resistant to moisture and do not rot. Mounted with glue and screws. When staining, you can use any decorative paints. Inside the duropolymer baseboards there is a channel for electrical wiring.
Not so long ago, skirting boards appeared on the Russian market, in which charcoal is present, due to which the weight of the product is only 200 kg / m 3 , and this is without compromising on quality (i.e., the main performance characteristics remained at the same level).
Strengths
The advantages of duropolymer include the following:
- high density in comparison with polyurethane;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- environmental friendliness;
- lack of reactions to temperature changes in the room;
- simple installation in a short time;
- resistance to repeated staining;
- high moisture resistance;
- ease in leaving and processing (cutting, creation of corner joints);
- lack of linear and lateral shrinkage;
- excellent value for money.
Duropolymer products are about one and a half to two times more weighty than polyurethane. But at the same time they are more shockproof. Due to this, they can be used in conjunction with parts of the interior that are subject to friction - window openings and door jambs.
Mounting Methods
There are two ways to install a duropolymer skirting board:
- assembly on self-tapping screws;
- fixing by glue.
The first fastening option is preferable, because when installed on building glue, the possibility of subsequent dismantling of products without harm to their appearance is completely eliminated. If the installation is made on self-tapping screws, then, if desired, the panels can be easily and quickly removed, and then put them back.
Self-tapping
To install the baseboard on the screws, you need:
- make the necessary measurements of the wall and duropolymer products using tape measure;
- prepare corner joints - cut the edges of the slats at an angle of 45 °, using the miter box;
- attach the bar to the wall, make holes through every 30-35 cm;
- put duropolymer products aside and drill the corresponding holes in the wall, plug them with dowels;
- fix the bracket to the wall on the screws;
- mask mounting holes with decorative pads.
Glue installation
Installation of a duropolymer skirting board on glue involves the following actions;
- measurement of walls and planks;
- cutting profiles into pieces corresponding to the length of the walls;
- trimming one edge at an angle of 45 ° for joining;
- degreasing the inner surface of the skirting board using a special composition;
- applying adhesive to a plane that will subsequently adhere to the wall and floor;
- fixing the strip to the bearing surfaces after a certain exposure time, necessary for better setting and indicated on the adhesive packaging.
Glue the product to the wall and floor. If you attach the baseboard only to the wall, then dirt, dust and moisture will clog under it, which will lead to the development of fungi and mold.
Dyeing
Duropolymer floor and ceiling skirting boards perfectly tolerate reusable staining with paints based on acrylic or an aqueous dispersion of polymers. Before applying the coloring mixture, the bar is best primed. It is more convenient to apply paint to products before installation: this eliminates the need for additional protection for floors and walls.
The coloring composition should be applied with a narrow brush with an elastic and dense pile. So that during the procedure on the surface of the plank there are no streaks from the brush, you need to use thick dyes or apply the composition in two or even three layers.