11 tips for choosing the right skirting board

How often do you pay attention to the ceiling plinth? Surely, this is not the first thing that catches the eye in the room, but its absence will immediately catch the eye. The ceiling plinth, or fillet, is the same necessary part of the room as windowsilldoor or switch, and its choice must be given no less importance. It would seem that it can be simpler than the plinth, and its purchase should clearly not cause difficulties, but this is a misleading opinion. Shelves of shops meet the buyer with products from different materials, different thicknesses, shapes, designs and colors. How to choose a ceiling plinth and not get lost in the existing variety?

No. 1. The main tasks of the ceiling plinth

Joint between the ceiling and the wall paid attention even in tsarist times, and then invited the European masters who created real masterpieces. Over time, the decor traditions have been greatly simplified, and today we use ready-made skirting boards everywhere. Several tasks are assigned to them at once:

• room transformation and giving it a finished look. With the help of a fillet, professional designers even manage to change the perception of the room, making it visually higher or larger;
• concealment of flaws, because the corner is the most problematic place for Wallpapering, and when applying plaster. Minor defects, which are almost always present, can easily be hidden with the baseboard;
• cover for laid communications. Behind the ceiling baseboard you can hide the power wiring or internet cable.

No. 2. Material for the production of ceiling skirting

Which ceiling plinth is better, foam or gypsum, and maybe wooden? Everyone must give an answer to this question before going to the store, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of this or that material and taking into account its price. Today, construction hypermarkets offer us such options:

• polystyrene foam (the most popular solution);
• polyurethane;
• polyvinyl chloride;
• tree;
• gypsum.

No. 3. Styrofoam skirting board

FROM polystyrene and polystyrene foam is constantly confusing. The difference between these materials is the same as between a man and a man. Polyfoam is a whole class materialswhich includes foamed polymers, including and expanded polystyrene of various manufacturing methods. Expanded polystyrene can be produced by foaming or by extrusion. In the people the first material is called polystyrene, the second - polystyrene foam, although this is completely untrue.

The production technology of different types of polystyrene foam is as follows:

• expanded polystyrene foam obtained by treating the granules of the material with pentane, exposing them to water vapor in special apparatus (blowing agents), softening them and increasing them in volume. Then another steam treatment takes place, during which the granules expand and sinter together. Along with the growth of volume, micropores also increase. The connection between the granules is not very strong, so gradually they begin to break down;
• extruded polystyrene foam made by heating and melting the granules into a homogeneous mass into which foaming agents are added. Then the mass is pressed through the slit of the extruder and takes the form of sheets. The finished material has a strong structure consisting of closed cells, and the absence of micropores makes it more durable.

Expanded polystyrene foam (it is often referred to simply as polystyrene foam) - one of the most affordable materials for the manufacture of skirting boards. Its big plus is simplicity in processing, and you can cut it with an ordinary sharp knife. In addition, a foam skirting skirting board lightweight and easy to install - it can be just stick to the surface.

Among cons note flammability and low mechanical strength. The latter is not a significant drawback, since few people touch the skirting boards. However, during installation it is worth being careful not to leave dents from fingers or cuts. A foam plinth is preferably putty and paint to increase durability.

Baseboard extruded polystyrene will last much longer, and among its advantages:

• strength, which at times surpasses the foamed analogue;
• the best fire-resistant qualities in comparison with the expanded polystyrene foam;
• low water absorption.

Extruded polystyrene is slightly heavier than foamed polystyrene, but this does not particularly affect the installation. Does not need coloring, but can be painted to give the necessary shade. It costs a little more than its counterpart, but it belongs to the category of budget options.

Today, some manufacturers offer duropolymer baseboard - of the same extruded polystyrene foam, but which has undergone additional processing under high pressure, thereby increasing strength, and the material acquires shockproof qualities. Manufacturers also offer injection polystyrene foam, which is a more advanced variety of conventional extrusion.

Number 4. Polyurethane baseboard

Polyurethanes have found application in various fields of industry and construction. Excellent performance allowed polyurethane to be used in the manufacture of skirting boards. Among main advantages:

• durability. Skirting board can last about 30 years, it is not afraid of moisture and will not become a place of development mold, it can even be used without additional protection for bathroom finishes and premises with by the pool;
• resistance to temperature extremes. Polyurethane skirting boards can be used even in unheated rooms, without fear that the material will dry out;
• ease of installation. Due to its flexibility, such a skirting board can be used to design rooms of complex shapes: with bends, curves, protrusions and other elements. For installation, glue is used;
• ease of processing. Polyurethane baseboard is easily cut with a simple clerical knife, can be painted with almost any kind of paint;
• excellent appearance and variety of design. It is easy to find a polyurethane skirting board that imitates a more noble gypsum.

By cons can be attributed only synthetic origin and a higher price than polystyrene analogues.

No. 5. Polyvinyl chloride baseboard

Of the polyvinyl chloride make not only the most popular floor skirting boardsbut also ceiling fillets. To the main the benefits relate:

• wide range. On sale you can find an option with any relief and any color or imitation of wood, stone, gypsum, etc .;
• moisture resistance, so the PVC skirting board is suitable for bathrooms;
• ease of installation;
• relative cheapness.

Of the significant disadvantages - the inability to repaint the surface, fear of low and high temperatures and synthetic origin.

Also available special skirting boarddesigned for installation plastic and MDF panels. It is distinguished by the presence special groovewhere the panels are inserted, thus being an obligatory mounting element and performing a decorative role.

No. 6. Skirting board

The wooden baseboard will be an excellent addition to the walls made of wooden liningpainted or plastered in the same shade.

Main advantages:

• strength and high durability, but subject to appropriate care;
• environmental friendliness and the absence of harmful fumes;
• chic appearance.

You will have to come to terms with the difficulties in installation, maintenance and high cost. Price may vary greatly depending on wood species and type of processing: simple pine skirting boards will be several times cheaper than carved mahogany fillets, but both are natural.

Wooden baseboards needed Protect from rotting and insects, as well as covering with several layers of varnish - this is the only way to save wood in its original state for many years. The tree is afraid of moisture, but for living rooms and bedrooms it’s fearless: if there is a risk that your neighbors will flood you, then it’s better to choose other materials.

You can’t put a wooden baseboard on the glue - you have to use additional fasteners, which are mounted to the surface, and then they are installed skirting board. Joining wooden fillets is not very simple, but it is necessary to take into account that the tree is cut with a hacksaw for metal and then adjusted with a file. Mistakes when cutting are unforgivable - you can’t hide them with putty on wood.

Number 7. Gypsum baseboard

Gypsum due to its plasticity allows you to produce skirting boards with the most intricate surface. This is a great option for interiors made in classic style, an integral part of which was always stucco molding.

Benefits:

• chic appearance;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability;
• gypsum has the ability to absorb moisture when its level in the room rises, and give back when humidity decreases, allowing you to maintain an optimal microclimate.

TO disadvantages high price, installation complexity due to fragility and high weight.

Number 8. Illuminated ceiling plinth

To create original interiors with multi-level lighting can choose skirted skirting board. Such products can be found among wood, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and polystyrene baseboards. A special groove is designed for mounting the LED strip, which can be covered with light-scattering plastic. The groove can be in any part of the baseboard: if it is closer to the top, then the light will be directed to the ceiling, to the bottom - to the wall. The effect is excellent.

No. 9. Width and shape of the skirting board

Skirting boards are usually sold with standard length 2 m, and the width can vary from 1 cm to 40 cm. The width of the ceiling plinth largely depends on the size, height and configuration of the room:

• for small, walk-through or low rooms it’s better not to use a wide fillet. In rooms up to 2.5 m high it is better to use a plinth up to 3.5 cm wide, 2.5-3 m high - 4-6 cm wide;
• large spacious rooms they are decorated with a wide baseboard, emphasizing the size and significance of the room, and a narrow baseboard will obviously not look very harmonious. Ideally in this case, fillets with a width of 6-7 cm or more are suitable;
• in narrow long rooms it is better not to use thin skirting boards - they will stretch the room even more.

A person perceives the dimensions of the room, evaluating the horizontal plane, one of which is the ceiling. It is logical that in small rooms a wide baseboard is inappropriate - a room, even with a minimal amount of furniture, will be visually perceived even less.

The shape of the baseboard depends on the chosen style of interior. If this classic stylethen carved wooden fillets will be appropriate, and modern styles with a minimum of furniture and neutral colors involve the use of as simple skirting boards as possible. A huge plus of simple fillets - ease of docking. However, bona fide manufacturers of skirting boards of almost any shape try to attach outer and inner corners to simplify installation. This will greatly simplify the task and save time, because it takes up to a third of the time needed to trim and dock.

No. 10. Skirting board color

The selection of the optimal color is the last, but important touch. You can buy ready-made skirting boards of a certain shade or texture, you can paint them yourself, but it is better to be guided by the following rules:

• if the color of the walls and ceiling is the same, then the ceiling plinth should be different from them. Choose either a different tone or white color;
• if the ceiling height is small, then you can use the baseboard in the color of the walls - they visually stretch upwards;
• for small premises You can use the baseboard in the color of the ceiling. So its area is visually increased, which affects the perception of the room;
• Do not know which color of the baseboard to choose - choose white;

  

  

  

  
  
• the contrasting shade of the skirting board looks original and stylish, but it is very difficult to choose the right color - you need to have a good taste. Alternatively, the color of the baseboard may repeat the color of another element in the room.

No. 11. Ceiling Skirting Manufacturers

The name of the manufacturer is a guarantee of the quality and durability of the product, so when buying it is better to overpay 10-20% and take the baseboard of a proven company than products of dubious origin, which are highly likely to be replaced soon, having paid again for the purchase. The domestic market today presents the products of dozens of companies. The largest and most reliable can be called:

• Matteo, Germany. The company produces polystyrene baseboards, these are high-quality products with a clear geometry from 3 to 10 cm wide, with a different type of surface;
• Villa Deco, Germany. The company produces polystyrene baseboards in a wide variety of widths, colors and shapes, with strict compliance with stringent quality standards;
• Kindecor - a domestic company, established in 1994, producing a lot of finishing materials, including ceiling skirtings. These are products with a simple design and different widths, the material of manufacture is polystyrene foam;
• LLC "Penopol Company" exists since 2004 and produces ceiling skirting under the brand name Glanzepol. The manufacture of ceiling skirting boards from extruded polystyrene foam is the main activity of the company, therefore its range is wide. You can find products of any design and size, as well as purchase glue for mounting your own production company;
• LLC TPG Solid - one of the largest domestic companies producing ceiling skirting. It produces extruded and injection skirting;
• GC "Format" - A large domestic production, which produces Konigdeko ceiling plinth on German equipment. Sufficient choice, reasonable prices;
• Decomaster, China. This is one of the largest and most reliable Chinese companies working in this area. It produces a wide range of polyurethane skirting boards;
• NMC - A joint Russian-Belgian company specializing in the production of wall panels, various decorative elements and baseboards. The material of manufacture is duropolymer.

In conclusion

If you have a task to choose a ceiling plinth immediately for all rooms of the apartment, it is better to take the same fillets that would be suitable for each room in color and shape, and the width for different rooms can be selected different - as a rule, manufacturers have one model presented in several sizes.