12 tips for choosing a skirting board for the floor + photo

The baseboard is, at first glance, a real trifle, the choice of which few pay due attention to. Nevertheless, the perception of the interior depends on this detail, because the impression is made of little things. In order not to act intuitively, we will figure out how to choose a skirting for the floor so that it is as accurate as possible corresponded to the room in width, color, type of material, shape and style. When decorating, professionals pay a lot of attention to skirting boards, perceiving them not only as a functional part that closes the gap between the floor and the wall, but also as an important element of space, like door or window. It is time to discover the secrets of choosing the right floor skirting board that designers use.

No. 1. How to choose the color of the skirting board?

First, we pay attention not to the shape or material of the plinth, but to its color, therefore this parameter is always given the greatest value. there is several approaches to choosing the color of the skirting board:

• under flooring color - The classic and most common method that allows the baseboard to merge with the floor. The likelihood of spoiling the interior is minimized, so the method is recommended to all those who fear bold contrast solutions. The skirting board may be used one or two tones lighter or darker. flooring. This option is great when the room is in use. massive board, parquet, laminate or linoleum;
• the color of the walls. This option is possible only when the walls are painted or plastered in one color. It is advisable to choose the baseboard already when the coating is applied and dried, otherwise you can not guess with a shade;
• under color of interior doorsbut in this case the skirting height should be the same as the width door trim. Often this method is used when it is necessary to organically fit into the interior a door that does not match the color of the walls, the furniture or gender. To get it really good, you can color window frameDoors and skirting boards should be the same;
• contrast shade, which does not repeat the color of the flooring, nor the color of the walls, nor the color of the doors. In order to correctly combine, at first glance, incompatible shades, you must have a subtle sense of taste. Can take white skirting boardswhich have recently been in high demand. Whatever it was, it is better to create a project of the future interior and try different shades in advance in a special program. There are very easy to use programs.

No. 2. What can a floor plinth be made of?

The second in relevance and importance when choosing a floor skirting is the question of the material of its manufacture. In this case, it is best to build on the flooring material:

• wooden baseboard Suitable for floors from piece parquet and solid wood, parquet, laminate;
• MDF skirting and veneered skirting Suitable for parquet and laminate;
• PVC skirting board - The cheapest and most popular option, often used with linoleum, tile and carpet;
• ceramic skirting board not so long ago became available in a wide range, goes well with ceramic tiles.

No. 3. Wooden baseboard: pros and cons

Despite the emergence of many new materials, captivating with its high performance, wood remains at the top of popularity. In addition, it is difficult to imagine that a wooden floor was decorated with a skirting board made of artificial material. Appreciate the tree for its numerous advantages:

• durability;
• environmental friendliness;
• strength;
• excellent appearance;
• ease of installation.

disadvantages:

• high price;
• sensitivity to temperature extremes, to high humidity, which imposes restrictions on the scope of use of the material (for kitchens and baths it does not fit, but there is rarely used an array of wood).

Mounting wooden skirting board is usually carried on screws with flat heads, screws with dowels are sometimes used. The tree is easily cut at any angle, easily attached to the base and removed, repairable. It is important that the wall is perfectly flatotherwise the wood will quickly deform, and you won’t have to talk about any aesthetic appearance. It is also not recommended to use liquid nails for installation: in the event of a change in humidity in the wood, internal stress can be created, which will tear off the wall and the plinth, and part of the wall covering.

Skirting board choose from the same breedfrom which the floor finish is made, and it is desirable to choose a skirting board at the same time as choosing a finishing material. As for wood species, then the pine tree will be the cheapest, the oak and the linden will be the most expensive; ash, alder, teak, cherry, walnut, and birch are less commonly used. Fans of exotic and non-standard solutions can turn their attention to merbau or dusia wood. If the baseboard is suspiciously cheap, pay attention to its quality: some manufacturers offer products glued from three longitudinal layers of wood.

The cross section of a wooden skirting board can be different, as the shape and width. Today even production is possible skirting boards to orderif it is necessary that they accurately repeat the bends and other difficult places of the room, but this is a pleasure from expensive.

If you plan to open the baseboard with varnish or wax, remember that wood can change its color. To approximately understand what the result is, you can sponge a portion of the surface of the untreated baseboard with a sponge.

Number 4. Veneered baseboard

The veneered baseboard is similar to parquet board structure. It only top layer made of valuable wood (walnut, oak, bamboo, pear, etc.), and the base is made of pine or spruce wood. The advantages and disadvantages are the same as for a pure wooden baseboard, but the price is slightly lower. The shade and topography of the surface can be anything. By the way, today veneered and wooden skirting boards are equipped cable channel for laying electric wire.

No. 5. MDF skirting board

The plinth made of MDF is middle ground in terms of price and quality. By properties, the material is almost as good as wood, and in some parameters even ahead of it, and at the same time it is much cheaper. MDF boards made of wood sawdust, which are pressed under the influence of high temperature and pressure together with urea resins. It turns out a durable and non-hazardous material that does not emit harmful substances into the air. On top of the plate can be painted, laminated film or veneered with a thin layer of natural wood, so the appearance is very diverse.

Benefits:

• resistance to moisture and temperature extremes;
• resistance to ultraviolet;
• antistatic;
• ease of installation and maintenance;
• relatively low price.

Disadvantages:

• Strength and mechanical resistance are much lower than wood, but higher than plastic.

Experts say that the MDF skirting board can be mounted on liquid nails, but it is better to use special clamps that are screwed to the wall. Due to such fastening, the skirting board can be removed and reused. The small flexibility of the material allows it to be attached to slightly curved walls.

Sometimes found on store shelves LDF skirting board. LDF-plate is manufactured using the same technology as MDF, but has a lower density: 450-650 kg / cm³ for LDF against 650-850 kg / cm³ for MDF.

No. 6. Hard plastic baseboard

More than half of all those who begin to think which skirting board to choose, stop in the end precisely on the plastic version. On the shelves of stores there are much more such products than wooden or veneered ones, because the plastic baseboard looks very good, but cheap. Such skirtings are made of foamed polyvinyl chloride, the product can have any color and relief, so it will not be difficult to choose the necessary option, but these are not the only advantages of a PVC skirting board.

Benefits:

• low price;
• resistance to moisture and decay, so this skirting board can be used in the bathroom and in the kitchen, as well as boldly wash without fear of consequences;
• resistance to ultraviolet rays and temperature extremes;
• the presence of cavities inside the baseboard, allowing you to hide the mass of cables.

disadvantages:

• unnaturalness;
• low durability;
• low mechanical strength.

Plastic baseboard consists of mounting and front parts. The fixing part is mounted on the wall with self-tapping screws, so the front side remains smooth. Between the fastener and the front part there is enough space in which to place electrical wires, and sometimes there is enough space only for a television cable, and sometimes in the baseboard you can lay a whole bunch of wires, and also divided by partitions for convenience. At the ends and at the corners, special plugs are used, pay extreme attention to them when choosing, since often they differ greatly in color from the baseboard itself.

For carpeting there is a special plastic baseboard that looks like an L-shaped bar, into which you need to insert cut off from carpet tape. As a result, it is possible to completely mask the skirting board.

Number 7. Flexible baseboard

If there are a lot of curved and non-standard shapes in the room, then a better option than a flexible plastic baseboard is not to be found. In order for the material to acquire unique properties, the spatial structure of the polymer threads is slightly modified during production, but in order to maintain such properties, the plinth must be stored in special packaging. Often, a flexible skirting board is produced in the form of a long tape, which allows installation to be made practically without seams.

Benefits:

• plasticity and the ability to take the necessary shape;
• moisture resistance and easy care;
• resistance to temperature extremes.

disadvantages:

• relatively high cost;
• complexity of installation.

Installation consists in installing a supporting profile, on top of which a flexible front one is attached. It is preheated in warm water or under the influence of hot air until it becomes ductile. After that, it can be fixed in the fastener segments and wait until it hardens itself, taking the necessary shape.

Number 8. Ceramic skirting board

A couple of dozen years ago when decorating a room decorated ceramic tiles, skirting boards were made manually, cutting the same tile into pieces. It was not always possible to get a smooth edge, therefore the appearance of such a plinth was not particularly aesthetic. Today, ceramic skirting often comes with tiles, has exactly the same color as the main material, and differs only in size, and its width is made so that it is possible to join the seams. Of course, you can choose the baseboard of a completely different color and a different party. Between the wall and bath often use a curved baseboard.

Benefits:

• durability;
• resistance to moisture, sunlight, temperature extremes, so for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways this is ideal;
• shape and size stability;
• mechanical strength.

Installation of ceramic skirting should not cause difficulties - the process reminds laying ceramic tiles. The baseboard is mounted on glue, beaten with a light rubber or wooden hammer. Seams are masked waterproof grouting.

No. 9. Skirting board

For the manufacture of skirting boards can be used aluminum, stainless steel and brass, more often, of course, anodized aluminum is found.

Main advantages:

• high strength and durability;
• beautiful appearance;
• resistance to mechanical damage, humidity and temperature changes;
• wear resistance;
• the presence of a cavity for laying cables.

Of disadvantages It can be noted the high cost and compatibility not with all materials. Aluminum skirting will look fine with tiles, porcelain stoneware, bulk floor and commercial linoleum. Most often, the material is used in public areas, but is also suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, will be an addition high-tech style in the interior.

No. 10. Cork Skirting Board

Cork skirting is not the most common option. Made from cork bark, this is a completely natural material, harmless to health, great for those rooms where it was used cork flooring or cork wallpaper. The color scheme is limited, the price is high.

No. 11. Skirting board size selection

Skirting height may vary from 3 to 15 cm, and the choice of a specific parameter depends on the size of the room and the height of the ceilings:

• for small low rooms (with a height of about 2.5 m) it is better to choose thin skirtings of 3-5 cm, and the color should preferably repeat the shade of the walls so that the skirting seems a natural continuation of them;
• for medium-height rooms (about 2.7 m), skirting boards with a height of 4.5-7 cm are suitable, the choice of which is the broadest;
• in spacious high rooms narrow skirting boards are highly discouraged - it is better to opt for high planks that will be either contrasting or in the color of the flooring.

No. 12. Skirting board and interior style

To choose the baseboard, you must take into account and interior style:

• classic style involves the use of high skirting boards made of wood or MDF, with a noticeable relief. All wooden shades are suitable, especially dark, as well as white;
• minimalism involves the use of the most simple skirting board, with a smooth surface, often white. Material: MDF, metal, less often wood and plastic;
• high tech - These are shiny metal skirting boards, plastic or MDF;
• for style country an abundance of roughly processed massive wood is characteristic, and skirting boards are no exception;
• for style modern With its florid shapes, a flexible plastic skirting board is great.

  

  

  

  
  

The floor plinth is installed already in the final of the finishing work, after the installation of floor and wall coverings. Nevertheless, even before the start of the repair, it is necessary, at least in general terms, to imagine what color, shape and size the skirting board will be - it is better to choose the final version after all the finishing is done and the final shades of the floor and walls are visible.