What is skirting board? Materials and the right choice

A skirting board is the trim used where the wall meets the floor. It has both a visual and a protective job: it hides the expansion gap of the floor covering and shields the base of the wall from knocks and cleaning water.

What it does

• Finishes: closes the gap between floor and wall with one clean line.
• Protects: keeps brooms, vacuum cleaners and furniture off the plaster.
• Conceals: modern profiles carry a cable channel for power and data runs.

Types

• MDF: economical and common; paintable in any colour.
• Lacquered: factory finished, perfectly smooth, matt or gloss.
• Solid timber: natural grain and long life; can match the floor species.
• Aluminium: thin, sharp and modern; suits flush, wall-recessed details.
• Polymer / PVC: water resistant, right for wet rooms and basements.

Choosing the height

The standard is 6–8 cm. In rooms with high ceilings a 10–12 cm board sits better in proportion. In very small rooms a slim board painted the wall colour keeps the wall unbroken and the room reads larger.

Choosing the colour

Three approaches: the wall colour (calmest, most spacious), the floor colour (emphasises the floor), or the door and joinery colour (the most classical resolution).

Points to watch

• Do not use MDF in wet areas — it swells once damp.
• Corners should be mitred, filled and painted.
• Flush skirting has to be planned during the drywall stage; it cannot be added later.