Hi, I'm in the middle of a self build at the moment and hate skirting boards with a passion. I've seen pictures of rooms in magazines which don't appear to have any skirtings but my husband thinks we'll need them as we are putting down wooden floors and there has to be a gap to allow for expansion and this gap would be visible. Anyone any ideas?.
can I build without skirting boards?.
- Thread starter priscilla
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serotoninsid
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You can use Cork Expansion Strips - but they don't look great. Would your hatred for skirting boards be sufficient for you to reconsider and go with carpet as opposed to the wooden flooring?
I too hate skirting boards aka (dust magnets) and when building our home in 1998 refused to put them in. It's timber frame house and floor finishes include timber, terracotta tile and carpet. the only concession i made was putting a v. narrow beading around the edge of the maple floor in the living room. The guys cutting the plaster board just had to be accurate (not leaving massive gaps) and then they were skimmed afterwards.
I'm quite happy to have done it and would do it again. FYI in other countries they don't have skirting boards, they simply paint a darker colour on that four to six inches near the floor to lessen the effect of washing splashes or hoover knocks.
I'm quite happy to have done it and would do it again. FYI in other countries they don't have skirting boards, they simply paint a darker colour on that four to six inches near the floor to lessen the effect of washing splashes or hoover knocks.
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Huh!?
Having skirting boards is going to have no impact one way or another on the amount of dust in the house...Club man - of course it doesnt lessen the amount of dust in a home but its a tad easier to get rid of the dust from a floor with a hoover or mop than when its sitting on top of skirting boards or in the grooves of mitred types. Personally, I was fed up going round every couple of months with a damp cloth to clean the skirtings in the previous homes I lived in.
Maybe the dust/dirt doesn't bother you but it bugged me.
Maybe the dust/dirt doesn't bother you but it bugged me.
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My husband dosen't see what the problem with skirting boards is either, must be a woman thing. Maybe we do all the cleaning of them and that's why we notice all the dust. When I was a kid, one of my jobs on a saturday morning was to go around all the skirting with an old toothbrush to wash them, and ever since I can't bear to clean them but the build up of dust drives me daft, that's the reason I hate them, Clubman.
I'm not having a go but I have yet to see my husband or any other guy I know get down on his knees to wash skirting bords . . . whether its a 'nature or nurture' issue is up for discussion. In my case it was taught to me by my mother as part of the household maintenance routine and though I'm a feminist through and through; being a feminist and liking a clean home are not mutually exclusive.
Back to the subject however: Priscilla, go with what you want and get rid of the damn skirtings, you'll save yourself some money too (which you can then spend on shoes . . .)
Back to the subject however: Priscilla, go with what you want and get rid of the damn skirtings, you'll save yourself some money too (which you can then spend on shoes . . .
)You're not related to Howard Hughes by any chance!?
I'm a bloke and I've cleaned the skirting boards in our gaff! There are more contemporary solutions to your problem, where as already suggested, the "skirting" is recessed. This is done using special plastering/ drylining trims made from pvc (and sometimes aluminium)- check out British Gypsum's website (don't have the link- google it). However this is not a cheaper solution than a skirting board; the board has two functions- it masks a joint and it stands up to wear and tear better than a painted plaster finish. If using drylining trims you may need to double slab stud walls to achieve the recessed "skirting"; on plaster blockwork you need a good plasterer who will pay attention to the detailing. This detail does look great in a contemporary setting, but only if it is executed well.
The floor still finishes under the skirting, it's just that the skirting is recessed to be flush with the wall.