Skirting board queries General decorating topics, questions and answers. find help, tips and advice on completing your decorating projects

[Mrs S]

We have just put up new skirting in one of our bedrooms. The walls are not all flat (don't get me started on that one!!) and therefore the skirting doesn't always sit flush against the wall. There are a few areas where the top of the skirting sits away for the wall a little.

What is the best way to fill this gap and with what? My husband says use wood filler & then stain it the same as the skirting but I thought it would look better if we painted it the same colour as the walls. Otherwise, it will look like there are areas of chunky skirting (husband doesn't wanted painted skirting)?!

Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly received!

Thanks :?:

[t1nkabel83]

Try UniBond Flexible Decorating Filler - its easy to use, dries white, and can be painted once dry (whatever colour you wish).

It also doesn't require sanding after application!

Because its flexible it wont crack over time from standard 'house movement'. - great for around skirting, door frames, dado rails and coving!

Plus for a top branded product it's well priced (around £2.99 from Homebase).

(you will need a cartridge/mastic gun in order to use this product).

[kevinfoot]

t1nkabel83 is quite right if you want white caulk but additionally you can buy "laminate floor mastic" which is a wood colour caulk for filling in gaps and works the same way as a caulk

PRO TIP: Do not buy your caulk from Homebase - they are a rip off. Go to a good decorators merchant and you get a good professional caulk for less than a quid

PRO TIP: run a damp cloth along the area you are about to caulk then apply the caulk (via the gun) and smooth off with a wet finger finishing with a damp cloth again to remove any access. If you want to be artistic (and get a perfect straight / square finish, you can pull the wet cloth tight over the blade of a scraper. Place your pointing fingers under the blade of the scraper against the top of the skirting board and with your thumbs on the top of the scraper blade, pull the blade along the top of the skirting keeping it straight.

This works for getting a "perfect" edge on wet emulsion against kitchen cupboards etc

kevin Foot