Although skirting boards and architrave are very different design features, they do share many similarities. They each serve a decorative purpose and can be matched together as the same period style, and they both neatly cover up gaps and joints between the wall and either the floor or a door or window frame. And while the techniques used to install skirting board and architrave also differ greatly, there are several common mistakes made which can impact on the success of this installation.
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Not climatising the materials
Good quality skirting boards and architrave are made from natural wood materials. These are often stored in warehouses or showrooms before being purchased, and hence can absorb moisture from damp air or cold floors. This means they can shrink very slightly in size as they dry out, get warmer and acclimatise to your home. So you shouldn’t install skirting board or architrave immediately upon unpacking them, as this could result in unsightly gaps or breakages. Ideally you should layer each piece out separately for a couple of days before installing, to ensure they are fully acclimatised.
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Cutting poor angles
To create a joint for your skirting board or architrave you will need to cut a 45° angle. Firstly you should ensure you use a good quality saw to make this accurate and clean, but also you should ensure you cut in the right direction, according to whether this is an internal or external joint, otherwise, the two pieces won’t fit together.
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Fully securing nails and screw
If you are using nails or screws to install your skirting board or architrave, don’t fully secure them in the wood until you are happy with the position. Leave them slightly exposed so that you can properly position the skirting board or architrave to get the best fit. Then you can fully bang in the nails or screw in the screws.
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Using protruding head nails or screw
Ideally you should always use flat head nails or countersunk screws. This ensures they sit flush to the surface of the skirting board or architrave, and hence you can fill in the surface for a neat, invisible finish.
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Assuming your flat surfaces are flat
It is very easy to presume that floors and walls are perfectly even, or don’t have a slight gradient to them. Older houses are definitely more likely to have imperfect floors and walls, and even modern homes can be built in a rush and have some slight errors present. Match your skirting board or architrave to the flat surface and cut the profile accordingly, otherwise you may end up with ugly gaps.
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Choosing a different size to what you are replacing
If you are replacing existing skirting board or architrave, make sure you order the same size in terms of both height and thickness when choosing skirting boards and architrave. If you don’t there will be gaps between the plaster and the skirting board or architrave, and with skirting board thickness, this can reveal a gap between any carpet or other flooring that has been cut away.
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Not locating studs in a stud wall
This is mainly an issue for skirting boards being installed using nails or screws. If you are fitting these to a stud wall then you need to locate the vertical timber studs, otherwise you are nailing or screwing into plasterboard, which may not be sufficient to hold the skirting board, and could also crack as you attach them. Make sure you are attaching the skirting board to a wooden stud behind the plasterboard. With architrave, there will usually be a wooden stud around a door frame or window frame, so this is less of an issue.
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Wrong adhesive
Some people choose to use adhesive or silicone to attach their skirting board or architrave. This is okay, and results in a neater finish in some cases, however you need to make sure the adhesive or silicone is the right type, i.e. will it adhere to the plaster okay and will it provide a strong enough hold? Sometimes, adhesive or silicone can pull paint off the wall because it is the wrong type, so choosing the wrong type can cause several problems.
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Not ordering sufficient material
Although we all like to be cost-efficient and not waste materials by ordering more than we need, you should ideally legislate for errors, miscalculations and breakages. Order slightly more length than you need to compensate for these possibilities and make sure you have enough materials for the complete job.
Contact Period Mouldings for installation advice for skirting boards and architrave
At Period Mouldings we have experts in the installation of skirting boards and architrave, so contact our team. We can advise on the best skirting boards and architrave for your refurbishment job and advise on installation techniques also. Check out our range online and get in touch today.