The baseboard is an important and final part of the decoration of the room. It is laid only after the walls are decorated, the flooring is laid. Installation of the floor skirting completes the repair and hides all possible wall or floor errors. Nowadays, a huge number of varieties of such products have been released, so when buying you need to look not only at its color, but also know the features and quality characteristics of the material.
In the article, we will consider what types of profile are, how to choose the right and durable one, how to measure the necessary length, so as not to acquire a little or a lot. For masters who want to do the installation of the floor skirting on their own, we will give the necessary advice and recommendations, tell you how to properly install products from different materials. And what modern devices you can buy to help, how to remove the gaps between the sections of the profile and many other useful things.
The role of the skirting board for rooms
If you are sure that the role of the plinth is only in a smooth aesthetic transition from wall to floor, then we can assure you that its functions are much wider and more multifaceted. In addition to beauty and a harmonious combination of colors, the decorative bar should close a special compensation hole. This is a thin hole between the floor and the wall.
It is left because under the influence of climatic changes and humidity, the wooden coating can dry out and change its parameters. If you seal the gap to the walls on all sides, then the parquet or floorboard will deform and the floor will become crooked. In addition, skirting boards mask all the existing irregularities of both the floor and the walls. Many hide wires and cables behind them. Before telling how the installation of the floor plinth is carried out, let's look at what types it was invented by technologists.
Skirting board types
Skirting boards are made in different configurations and widths using modern materials. We list the most popular types:
- A wooden baseboard is a natural material, and people who care about their health choose it. Plinths of various profiles and heights are made from different types of wood . You can choose both an inexpensive option and from valuable breeds. It is perfect for parquet or flooring. Do-it-yourself installation of a floor skirting board is done using glue or a method of shooting with studs. The angles are set by the face saw.
- The veneered baseboard is similar to the previous version, only its outer surface is covered with veneer from more expensive wood. Such imitation from above is necessarily covered with varnish or melamine. There are even curved elements on sale that allow you to arrange a semicircular partition or podium. This skirting board is either glued with mounting adhesive to the wall surface, or mounted on a plastic bus. You can use metal clips.
- Plastic skirting board (PVC) has several advantages, such as low cost, smoothness of coating, lightness and the ability to quickly clean with detergents. But there are also disadvantages. This product is short-lived, it is necessary to buy plugs for joints and corners. Usually it is purchased for linoleum or tile.
- Option from MDF. This is a modern and durable material that is perfect for laminate or linoleum. It is cheaper than a wooden counterpart. The top layer is covered with paper imitating different types of wood. According to the reviews of the masters, it’s brittle during operation and forms a lot of dust when cornering.
- Polyurethane or duropolymer product. Modern materials are well washed, light in weight and in assembly.
- Aluminum baseboards. This variety is most often seen when decorating office or industrial premises.
Installing a wooden skirting board
Before buying such an expensive material, be sure to measure the perimeter of the room and add 1.5 - 2 meters in reserve. You will also need a miter box to cut the profile exactly at an angle of 90 degrees. However, in most rooms there are not so even angles, so when installing the floor skirting, you will have to manually adjust the trims for all the flaws of the room. According to the reviews of the masters, they use colored sealants and putty matched to match the wood for perfect joining.
To clearly mark the docking points, screw the screws into the wooden plinths so that they pass through and the sharp edges stick out from the back. Attached to the wall, they will leave scratches on it. In these places it is also necessary to drill holes for the dowels with a drill or punch. Then it remains only to attach self-tapping screws to them and tighten them to the end. So the baseboard will fit snugly against the wall.
According to the reviews of experienced masters, for installing a floor plinth with your own hands, it is best to take self-tapping screws long with small hats so that they do not stand out against the background of wood. For the aesthetic appearance of the finished product, holes must be made at an equal distance from each other. It is also advised to use wooden dowels and finishing nails as substitutes for self-tapping screws. However, there are limitations in the application of both. They cannot be used with drywall walls.
Mounting on mounting clips
There is also another way of mounting a floor wooden skirting board using special clips. They are used only in rooms with relatively flat walls. With the help of tape measure marking is done. The first clip is installed starting from the corner of the room. At a distance of 50 or 100 mm from it, a product is placed with a clip to the floor and a mark is drawn with a pencil through the hole. The following clips are placed every 300 mm. If the wall is perfectly flat, then the gap can be increased to 450 mm.
When everything is marked correctly, start drilling holes with a hammer or drill, depending on the strength of the wall. Then the dowels are clogged and the clips are screwed. They have special tabs for the cable bottom. If you need to stretch the wire, then do this before putting on the baseboard.
To join the wooden decorative strip of the edge, it must be filed at an angle of 45 degrees using a miter box. Be sure to carefully check the length of the segment so as not to spoil the material. Then simply snap the baseboard onto the clips with a touch of the hand. All joints are treated with putty, matched to the color of wood. Wipe them off with a damp cloth at the end.
Wide baseboard made of wood
Recently, a wide wooden plinth, which is part of the decoration of the premises, has been popular. A larger number of wires are hidden behind its surface, but before installing it, according to the experts, it is necessary to bring the products into the room and let it rest for a couple of days so that the wood "gets used" to the humidity of the room. Only then is the installation of a floor-mounted wide wooden baseboard carried out using clips or self-tapping screws. We will not repeat ourselves, since the described methods of fastening are discussed in detail earlier. We only note that on the mounting clips you can install only euro baseboards, in which there are special profiles for putting on on the back side.
How to install a skirting board from MDF
The good characteristics of MDF skirting boards are increasingly attracting customers. According to reviews, these products are resistant to ultraviolet radiation, moisture, wash well and do not require special care. Smooth and curved skirting boards are available that are easy to match to the conditions of the room. You can consider the option of parquet or laminate, as the material imitates any color.
Installation of MDF skirting boards can be done with glue or liquid nails. Suitable products that do not have a mounting channel. According to the recommendations of the builders, this method can only be used on very smooth walls. Be sure to adjust the required sizes in advance and calculate all the surfaces. After the preliminary fitting, apply the adhesive base to those parts of the baseboard that will be in contact with the wall and floor. Each segment needs to be held for some time, firmly pressed to the base to give the glue time to seize.
Installation of MDF floor skirting with the presence of special grooves on the back can be done with special hooks. Also use clips, mounting rails. At the end of the row, decorative caps are installed.
Features of installing a plastic baseboard
Plastic skirting board goes well with wood, laminate, tile, carpet, linoleum, because its color is the most diverse. From the back you can extend the cable, as there is a hidden channel. Based on the recommendations of the masters, it is best to choose rails with a removable core.
Installation of the PVC baseboard (polyvinylchloride) is carried out using metal clips or a special plastic strip that is mounted on the wall. There are also rare options with a self-adhesive strip on the back. These are elastic materials that are used in unusual situations with semicircular or curly walls.
A typical skirting board usually consists of rails, channel plugs for wires, elements for docking and closing the sidewalls. Start work from the corner next to the door. With the help of a miter box and a hacksaw, slats of the required length are prepared. The burrs resulting from cutting are removed with a knife. Using a jig on the wall, holes are drilled at the same height from the floor for dowels. If the basis is drywall, then dowels are not used.
When all the holes are prepared, a rail is applied to them and markings are made with the help of an awl. It is carried out in the center of the channel for wires. Next, the plinth rails are installed in series, putting on the docking elements and side plugs. Plastic corner caps are also attached to the outer corners to cover the joints.
Installation of polyurethane floor skirting
The polyurethane baseboard is made of foam plastic. This is a fairly lightweight and durable material. According to customer reviews, it compares favorably with all other products with its environmental friendliness and health safety. The decorative strip is easy to clean and install, it does not appear chips and cracks during operation. Plastic baseboard is able to visually hide all the irregularities of the surface of the walls and floor. You can lay wires and other communications behind it. Polyurethane is not affected by UV rays, humidity and temperature differences. The material is beautifully painted, so you can design a room in different ways.
Installation of the floor skirting board for glue, according to the masters, is carried out after preliminary preparation of the walls for their installation. They should be not only putty and painted, but also carefully sanded, and most importantly, dry. This approach will ensure a dense joining of materials among themselves. Masters advise to bring products into the room for "getting used to" at least for a day before starting installation. Also, be careful when transporting so that dents or bends remain on the skirting boards.
After marking the lines with a pencil on the wall, it is necessary to align the parts by cutting them with the help of a miter box at angles of 45 degrees. This can be done with a miter saw or a paint knife.
Sticking
Installation of the floor skirting board on the adhesive is carried out after trying on the parts in the required places. The fixing agent, according to the recommendations of the masters, is best chosen with the designation of a snow-white sign. Do not use adhesive with solvents as this will damage the material. Also, to hide the connecting lines, purchase a special joint adhesive. Its effect resembles melting, which will avoid rupture of the polyurethane profile in case of shrinkage.
Installation of a polyurethane baseboard always starts from the corner of the room, for example, from a door. On the back of the plank there are thin grooves in which glue is applied in a continuous layer. Then the slats are pressed tightly to the marked places and additionally held by hands for 20 minutes. For the glue to finally set, a day must pass. In order to make the attachment as tight as possible, it is advisable to load the baseboards with something heavy at this time. It is advised to use small bags with a dry building composition.
To install a wide polyurethane baseboard, apply two strips of adhesive. The rest of the installation is similar to the method of attachment to the fixing means described above.
Duropolymer baseboard
Compared to the previous material, the duropolymer is much stronger because it has a higher density. Skirting boards differ in weight, so these products, according to the masters, are much more resistant to external mechanical damage. Some compare its strength with the oak counterpart of wood.
Such environmentally friendly material is suitable for any room, even with high humidity, as it does not absorb water at all. The installation of a duropolymer baseboard is similar to a polyurethane material. It is easy to cut, and there is also a special groove for wiring communications. Even a novice master will be able to work with the skirting board, it is enough just to mark with a pencil the attachment points under the ruler and apply a continuous layer of glue with a thin layer.
After attaching the material to the wall, it can be painted in any color to achieve a harmonious combination with the colors of both the walls and the flooring. Many builders for final repairs choose skirting boards from duropolymer. Despite the high density, the cost of such a material will cost much less when buying polyurethane. According to builders, it has a definite advantage: this material does not shrink.
Final reviews
The article provides detailed information about the varieties of skirting boards made of natural and synthetic materials. You learned the advantages of each of them, how to install them on different surfaces step by step, and had the opportunity to consider reviews. When choosing material for your apartment, be sure to follow the advice of the masters. The purchase of the skirting board should be done taking into account the quality of the walls. Wooden products are suitable only for absolutely flat surfaces, as they are not elastic and will not be able to hide the curvature of their base. It will be necessary to additionally putty or work with sealant. The same applies to veneered wood or MDF options.
Elastic baseboards are plastic, polyurethane and from duropolymer raw materials. Therefore, they are extremely popular among builders. And, according to the reviews of the masters, working with them is the easiest.