Every homeowner experiences problems with skirting boards at some point. Whether they are dented, discolored or scratched, there are simple solutions available for common skirting board issues. Fortunately, you don’t have to replace the entire board in most cases and can instead opt for repairs that will restore their original look. If your skirting boards seem beyond repair, you may want to consider purchasing replacement skirting boards manufactured in the UK. Here we take a closer look at how to fix the most common problems associated with these decorative trims.
Repainting Skirting Boards
One of the simplest solutions to revive an old-looking skirting board is repainting it using either a brush or roller. Before starting this project, make sure you thoroughly clean and remove any existing paint from its surface using sandpaper and dust it off using a damp cloth. Next, apply two coats of primer followed by two coats of paint in your desired shade ā flat matte finish works best for this type of job as glossy finishes tend to reveal imperfections more easily.
Reattaching Loose Skirting Boards
If your skirting boards seem loose due to nails pulling away from the wall over time, start by removing them completely before reattaching them again. To ensure a secure fit use longer screws than originally used and be careful not to drive them too deeply into the wall as this could cause structural damage within your home. Fill any noticeable holes around each screw head with wood filler before proceeding with painting them once again.
Fixing Dents on Skirting Boards
If there are small dents or scratches on your skirting boards caused by furniture pieces hitting against them then fill these gaps using wood filler and sand down until smooth after drying out fully overnight. Once done, simply repaint following steps mentioned above under repainting section. For deeper dents you might need professional assistance depending on severity of damage caused as those require more intricate filling techniques that might not be suitable for DIY projects unless you have necessary experience in this area already.
Filling Gaps Between Skirting Board & Wall
Over time, due to the settling of the house structure or other environmental factors such as moisture, small gaps may appear between the walls and the lower edges of your skirting boards, which can cause warping over time if not addressed quickly enough – fortunately, this problem is relatively easy to solve, even without any previous carpentry experience! Simply use an interior sealant (silicone-based products work best) and fill in the gaps, making sure the product does not come into contact with the paint – otherwise it will discolor over time, causing additional problems when trying to fix the problem later.
Replacing damaged skirts
Replacing damaged baseboards should only be considered if all other methods described above have failed – it’s important to choose the right material first, so make sure it matches what was originally installed (e.g. solid wood rather than laminated MDF etc). When removing old skirting, all nails must be carefully removed to prevent any further damage – once this is done, simply measure the area where the new skirting is to be installed and then use appropriate tools such as a drill/hammer to drive it firmly into place. Finally, apply sealant around the edges as described above if necessary!
Matching new skirtings to existing ones
If you are only replacing part of the damaged skirtings but still want to keep the overall design intact, then matching the new skirtings correctly becomes an essential step here! First things first, always try to match the same type of material (wood vs laminate) as far as possible, paying attention to details such as colouring/staining etc. Also consider seeking advice from specialist shop staff when choosing the correct size/shape of elements so that the end result looks neat, with no obvious differences between the two replaced parts! Additionally, invest in quality tools such as saws / routers etc. if necessary to guarantee perfect cuts every single time – lastly, apply suitable sealant around edges and then seal everything together nicely to complete the installation process successfully!