How to Join a Skirting Board
Skirting boards are designed to hide the joint between the wall and floor. This junction can often be less than attractive, with scratches or peeling paint from installation procedures. Skirting boards can decorate a single room or can run throughout an entire floor of a house; because they can cover such a large space, installers often must join skirting boards together. The goal of joining is to make the joint as invisible as possible to give the skirting board a comprehensive look without appearing sloppy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Measure the area in which you will attach the skirting boards, using a measuring tape. Add 20 percent to the measurement to allow for cuts; for instance, if you measure a distance of 10 feet, add another 2 feet to compensate, making your final measurement 12 feet.
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Cut the boards to length, using a miter saw. If you are joining two boards along a single wall, you may need to cut only one of the boards.
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Join skirting boards in the middle of the wall, or at external corners (corners that jut into the room). Cut the joining ends of the boards at opposite 45-degree angles, so that the two ends slide together like puzzle pieces; this cut makes the joint less visible than simply lining the two straight edges together.
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Apply two thin lines of instant-grab adhesive to back of both boards, one near the top of the board and the other near the bottom. Add a thin line of glue to the edges that will join to hold them in place more securely.
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Attach the boards to the wall and press firmly so that the adhesive sticks to the wall.
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Join skirting boards at internal corners (the normal corners of your room). Trace the contours of the end of one board onto the end of another, using a pencil. Attach the first board to the wall so that it runs directly into the corner. Cut the shape out of the second board, so that when aligned with the board already in place, it fits smoothly. Apply adhesive to the back and end of the second board and attach it to the wall and first board.
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Tips & Warnings
Fill gaps between the wall and boards with decorator's chalk.
Wear safety goggles when cutting wood to protect your eyes from sawdust and splinters.
