Why Is It Important to Match Skirting Boards?
Unifying the aesthetic of a home through consistent skirting boards is important for several reasons:
Matching Skirting Boards helps create a polished, unified look throughout a home. Skirting defines the boundaries between floors and walls, so using the same material, color, and style keeps this definition consistent from room to room. Having mismatched skirting boards of different colors or textures can look disjointed and take away from the clean sight lines of a room.
Skirting boards are also useful for hiding imperfections in the junction between floors and wall surfaces. By covering the crevices and gaps that sometimes occur here, a cohesive strip of skirting conceals unevenness and makes floors appear seamlessly integrated with lower wall areas. This adds to the overall sense of refinement in living spaces.
Unifies the Look of Your Home
Matching skirting boards helps create a polished, unified look throughout a home. Skirting defines the boundaries between floors and walls, so using the same material, color, and style keeps this definition consistent from room to room. Having mismatched skirting boards of different colors or textures can look disjointed and take away from the clean sight lines of a room.
Hides Gaps and Imperfections
Oak Skirting Boards are also useful for hiding imperfections in the junction between floors and wall surfaces. By covering the crevices and gaps that sometimes occur here, a cohesive strip of skirting conceals unevenness and makes floors appear seamlessly integrated with lower wall areas. This adds to the overall sense of refinement in living spaces.
Adds Finishing Touches to Your Renovation
For homeowners undertaking renovations involving new flooring, doors, windows or painting, installing matched skirting boards serves as an excellent finishing touch. Coordinating skirting with the style and palette of other new interior elements creates flow and harmony throughout an updated home. Skirting boards “pull the room together” at the end of such projects.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Skirting Boards
When selecting skirting boards, several factors must be considered to ensure an ideal match with the style, layout and intended use of spaces. Properly evaluating material, finish, dimensions and other attributes leads to a tailored design suited to individual homes.
Material (wood, PVC, etc)
The first key consideration is the material used to construct potential skirting boards. Homeowners have various options when it comes to composition:
Wood skirting boards offer a natural, traditional aesthetic and come in diverse hardwood varieties like oak, maple or pine. While wood has enduring curb appeal, it requires more maintenance like periodic sanding and sealing. Moreover, wood may not suit high-traffic zones or humid areas prone to warping.
PVC is a popular more durable synthetic material for skirting. Being water-resistant and not as susceptible to damage, PVC holds up well in busy familial spaces. It comes in wood-grain textures to mimic natural styles. Downsides include a lesser eco-friendly footprint and fewer design options versus wood.
Color
Complementary skirting requires consideration of both the surrounding interior design palette as well as the flooring hue. Neutral off-whites, greys and blacks often match myriad room tones, while bolder skirting colors may integrate specific accent walls. Stain colors for wood options should align with cabinetry or trim work.
Width and Thickness
Standard skirting dimensions are 3 1/2 inches wide by 1/2 inch thick. However, the “coverage” and robustness afforded by wider or beefier boards must be weighed against potential claustrophobia in tighter spaces. Additionally, very thin strips may buckle, while extras thick ones appear awkwardly heavy along shorter wall runs. Striking a balance of proportions is key based on specific architecture.
Installing Skirting Boards
Once skirting boards are selected based on the design considerations, proper installation is vital to achieving a high-quality finished appearance. Here are the key steps:
Cutting Boards to Size
Skirting strips require precise cutting to fit each unique wall section. Measure twice and cut once using an angle grinder, miter saw or jigsaw to mitigate wasteful mistakes. Cutting internal miters for corners poses an added challenge.
Interior Corners
When joining skirting pieces at inside angles, miter both faces at 45 degrees for a tight fit. Glue assists adhesion and filing ensures a seamless union of cut edges.
Outside Corners
For outside corners, square cut one edge and miter cut the other at 90 degrees. A specialized plastic corner joiner provides stiff structural support at such junctions.
Door and Window Jambs
Delicately cut skirting to butt snugly against vertical trim without gapping. Alternatively, return strips can cover the juncture for an upscale detail.
Floor Level Variances
- Shims or beveled cuts address any floor dips to keep skirting level and flush all around the perimeter.
- Finishing Touches (filler strips, caulk)
- Micro filler strips mask narrow fissures. Caulking along exterior edges further fortifies installations before priming or painting.
Also Read: https://latesttalks.net/
