Rawlins Paints Blog Industrial Paint Tips, Guidelines & DIY Articles
Do your skirting boards look a little tired and in need of a refresh? Whether you’re redecorating or just sprucing up a room, painting your skirting boards is a simple way to create a polished, clean look. But if you’ve ever wondered, “how to paint skirting boards” without the mess or hassle, this guide is for you.
In this post, we’ll walk you through painting skirting boards step by step. We include tips on choosing the best way to paint skirting boards and how to gloss skirting boards for a smooth, professional finish. By the end, you’ll know the quickest way to paint skirting boards while ensuring they look fantastic for years to come!
What Are Skirting Boards, and Why Are They Important?
Skirting boards, also known as baseboards or kickboards, are the narrow strips of material—typically wood, MDF (medium-density fibreboard), or plastic—that run along the bottom edge of interior walls. These boards are designed to cover the joint where the wall meets the floor. They provide both a practical and aesthetic function in rooms of all types. Skirting boards have often been an overlooked feature but, in recent decades, play a significant role in interior design.
A Brief History of Skirting Boards
The use of skirting boards can be traced back to the 18th century, where they were initially more elaborate and decorative, particularly in stately homes and grand buildings. In those days, skirting boards were meticulously handcrafted. They would feature intricate mouldings and detailing that served as a sign of craftsmanship and wealth. As time progressed and construction methods evolved, skirting boards became more accessible and simpler in design, adapting to the growing trend for minimalist interiors. Today, skirting boards are found in nearly every type of building, from homes and offices to industrial spaces.
Skirting Boards in Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Buildings
While skirting boards are commonly seen in residential homes, they also serve important functions in commercial and industrial buildings. In homes, they provide a finished look to any room, helping to create a neat, tidy appearance by covering gaps between the wall and floor. However, they also protect walls from daily wear and tear caused by furniture, vacuum cleaners, and other household items.
In commercial businesses and services such as offices, shops, hospitals and schools, skirting boards help to protect walls. These environments can have heavy foot traffic and frequent movement of furniture or equipment, such as trolleys. Industrial buildings, on the other hand, often use durable skirting boards made from materials like PVC or metal. These are more resistant to the harsher conditions found in these environments.
Why Are Skirting Boards Important?
Protection from Damage
One of the primary reasons skirting boards are used is to protect the lower part of the walls. Without them, walls would be more susceptible to scuffs, dents, and damage from moving furniture or regular foot traffic. Damaged walls require repair rather than simply painting over, especially where hygiene is crucial in hospitals, which creates disruption.
Covering Gaps and Imperfections
Skirting boards also serve the practical purpose of covering the often uneven or imperfect joint between the wall and the floor. This creates a seamless transition, hiding unsightly gaps that would otherwise be visible.
Decorative Element
Skirting boards help frame a room, creating clean, sharp lines that enhance the overall design of a space. Whether you’re going for a traditional, ornate look or a sleek, modern finish, skirting boards can be customised in height, thickness, and style to complement your interior.
Preventing Draughts
In older homes, skirting boards can help to prevent draughts from entering the room by sealing the gap between the floor and the wall. While this is less of a concern in modern, well-insulated buildings, it remains a useful feature in older properties, particularly those with timber floors.
By maintaining or refreshing your skirting boards with a fresh coat of paint, you not only protect your walls but also enhance the aesthetic of your entire room.
Preparation: The Foundation of Success
Before we dive into how to paint skirting boards, it’s crucial to understand the importance of preparation. Skipping this step can lead to an uneven, blotchy finish. This wastes not only your time and effort, but also your money invested in materials. Take the time to properly prepare your skirting boards. It not only ensures that your paint adheres well and looks flawless, but that you only paint them once!
Cleaning Your Skirting Boards
Over time, skirting boards collect dust, dirt, and grime, especially in high-traffic areas. Before you begin painting, clean your skirting boards thoroughly with a skirting board cleaner or a solution of warm water and sugar soap. Make sure to get into any grooves or moulding details, as dirt can accumulate in these areas.
Repairing Any Damage
If your skirting boards have any chips, cracks, or dents, use a filler to repair them. Apply the filler with a putty knife, smoothing it over the damaged area. Once it’s dry, sand it down with fine-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth and level with the surrounding skirting board.
Sanding for a Smooth Surface
Sanding is a critical step in the preparation process. Whether your skirting boards are bare wood or have been painted previously, a light sanding will help the new paint adhere better. Use medium-grit sandpaper (around 120-150 grit) and sand in the direction of the wood grain. This will smooth the surface and remove any gloss from old paint, allowing for better paint adhesion.
Masking and Protecting Surrounding Areas
To avoid getting paint on your walls, floors, or carpets, it’s essential to mask off the area around the skirting boards. Use high-quality masking tape to protect the edges where the skirting meets the wall. If you have carpets, tuck a plastic sheet or drop cloth under the boards to protect them from drips or spills.
Choosing the Right Paint for Skirting Boards
Take the time to choose a specialist paint for your skirting boards. Subject to a lot of wear and tear, you need a durable, hardwearing paint that can withstand the daily knocks and scuffs skirting boards encounter.
Using a cheaper paint for your skirting boards is a false economy. The savings you make at the checkout, you’ll spend again when it chips off or wipes away a few months later.
Gloss Paint for a High-Shine Finish
Gloss paint is the traditional choice for skirting boards. It offers a shiny, reflective finish that’s easy to clean and highly durable. If you’re wondering how to gloss skirting boards, the process is straightforward, and the results are striking. Gloss paint can really make your skirting boards pop, especially in rooms with natural light.
Satinwood for a Softer Look
If you prefer a less shiny finish, satinwood is a great alternative to gloss. Satinwood provides a subtle sheen and is still very durable, making it perfect for modern, minimalist interiors where a glossy finish might feel too harsh.
Water-Based vs Oil-Based Paints
You’ll also need to decide between water-based and oil-based paints. Water-based gloss or eggshell and satin are becoming increasingly popular. These modern paints dry quickly, are easier to clean up, and adhere just as well as solvent-based equivalents. Oil-based paints are extremely durable but may also smell – not ideal for interior projects.
When choosing the best paint for skirting boards, opting for a high-quality water-based gloss or satinwood/eggshell ensures a balance of durability, ease of application, and eco-friendliness.
Rawlins Recommends: The Best Paint for Skirting Boards
Rust-Oleum Skirting Board Paints
Available in over 110 colours, which includes anthracite grey, Rust-Oleum’s Make It Yours range of durable and water-resistant paints offers a complete refresh for skirting boards. It is perfect for use in homes, care facilities, shops, offices, and more. The coating allows colour matching across various surfaces and can be applied directly to wood (bare or painted), brick, stone, plaster, or any suitably primed rigid surface. It functions as a paint, primer, and sealer all in one.
AllCoat Skirting Board Paint
Available in over 2,900 solvent-based colours (including Anthracite Grey), this 4-in-1 solution acts as a primer, sealer, stain blocker, and finish paint for skirting boards. Perfect for homes, care facilities, shops, offices, and commercial interiors, it adheres to all surfaces without the need for sanding. It also allows for seamless colour matching across various surfaces, including wood, tile, PVC, glass, gloss laminates, concrete, metals, and more, all from the same tin.
Bradite Eggshell Skirting Board Paint
With over 2,500 eggshell colours to choose from (including Anthracite Grey), this is the perfect versatile paint for skirting boards, joinery, window sills, interior doors, and trim in homes, offices, workplaces, schools, and hospitals. It goes beyond traditional applications by offering seamless colour matching for both interior and exterior surfaces, including wood, metal, uPVC, and ceramic tiles. Ideal for use on handrails, furniture, shelving, sculptures, light fittings, lift doors, escalators, street furniture, and much more.
This low-odour, quick-drying skirting board coating is scuff and moisture resistant, adhesion-promoting, and stain-locking, with anticorrosive properties. It dries within 30 minutes and can be recoated in just an hour, making it a practical choice for a range of environments.
Flag White Gloss Skirting Board Paint
For a seamless white finish on skirting boards, one coat of white gloss solvent-based paint offers both ease and durability. It’s not just limited to skirting boards; this versatile paint is also ideal for interior doors, trims, joinery, window sills and furniture. Its compatibility with a wide range of conventional single-pack solvent-based primers and undercoats makes it a flexible choice for various projects.
Boasting extra opacity and premium quality, this paint provides a strong, durable finish with excellent colour retention, ensuring your surfaces stay vibrant and protected for the long term.
Flag Black Gloss Skirting Board Paint
Black gloss paint is a great choice for skirting boards, interior doors, trims, and window sills, adding a sleek finish to any space. It’s also perfect for matching existing décor in kitchens, bathrooms, and on furniture.
This premium quality paint offers extra opacity and a durable, flexible enamel finish, ensuring strong coverage and long-lasting results. Ideal for achieving a bold, polished look that complements various styles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Skirting Boards
Equipment Checklist:
Paint Materials:
- Cleaner
- Filler
- Sandpaper
- Masking tape
- Rags and coverings for floors
- Paint
Application Tools:
Safety Equipment and PPE:
With your skirting boards prepped and your paint chosen, it’s time to get started. Here’s how to paint your skirting boards for a professional, long-lasting finish.
1. Priming the Surface
If your skirting boards are bare wood – or if you’re painting over a dark colour – you’ll need to apply a primer first. A good primer will create a smooth surface on your skirting board and help the topcoat adhere better. If you’re painting over old gloss paint, use an undercoat to provide a good base for the new paint.
Ensure the surface is clean of dirt and grime, and dry before you begin painting. For previously painted skirting boards, especially with gloss, abrade the surface with a wire brush or sandpaper. This not only removes flaking paint but also provides a key for the undercoat.
2. Painting the Skirting Boards
Once your primer or undercoat is dry, it’s time to apply the topcoat. Use a high-quality angled brush for painting skirting boards, as this will help you get into the edges and corners without making a mess.
Start by cutting in along the top edge of the skirting board, where it meets the wall. Then, paint the face of the skirting board using long, smooth strokes. Be careful not to overload your brush with paint—this can cause drips and an uneven finish.
For the quickest way to paint skirting boards, work methodically around the room, finishing each section before moving on to the next.
3. Applying Multiple Coats
Depending on the colour and type of paint you’re using, you may need to apply two or even three coats for a perfect finish. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times.
Finishing Touches and Clean-Up
Your skirting boards may look freshly painted, but the job isn’t finished until you’ve properly cleaned up. You may also add the final touches to ensure a flawless, professional result. Rushing through the last stages of the project can ruin all your hard work, so it’s important to take care of the finishing details and clean up methodically.
1. Allow Ample Drying Time
Before you remove any masking tape or touch up your skirting boards, it’s essential to let the paint dry thoroughly. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s drying recommendations on the paint tin. Avoid touching or leaning against the skirting boards during this time.
If you remove the masking tape too early, you risk smudging the paint or peeling it away along with the tape. To avoid this, wait until the paint has fully dried, and then remove the tape slowly at a 45-degree angle to create crisp, clean lines.
2. Check for Touch-Ups
After the paint has dried, inspect the skirting boards for any areas that may need touch-ups. It’s not uncommon to find small spots where the paint coverage is thin, or where tiny bits of dust or debris may have settled onto the wet paint. Use a fine brush to touch up these areas with a light hand to avoid leaving brush marks or streaks.
If you notice any drips or uneven sections, lightly sand them down with fine-grit sandpaper (around 240 grit) once the paint has dried, and then apply a fresh coat of paint over the area.
3. Cleaning the Workspace
Once the skirting boards are dry and the touch-ups are complete, it’s time to clean up your workspace. Carefully fold and remove any plastic sheeting or drop cloths that were used to protect your floors. Be mindful of any wet paint that may still be present on the tape or plastic.
Clean your brushes and rollers thoroughly if you plan to use them again. For water-based paints, simply wash them in warm, soapy water. If you’ve used oil-based paints, you’ll need to clean your brushes with a paint thinner or white spirit to remove the paint residue.
4. Final Inspection
Before you declare the job finished, take a step back and admire your work. Pay attention to the skirting boards’ overall finish and how they complement the room. If you’ve applied gloss paint, notice how the light reflects off the surface, giving the room a fresh, clean look. Check that the edges are crisp, the paint is even, and the skirting boards look smooth and well-maintained.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Painting skirting boards can seem like a straightforward task, but there are several common mistakes that can lead to a less-than-perfect finish. Whether you’re a seasoned applicator or a first-time DIY painter, it’s easy to fall into these traps. Here are the most frequent errors and how to avoid them.
1. Skipping Preparation
The most significant mistake people make is skipping or rushing through the preparation process. Without proper preparation, paint won’t adhere properly. You’ll likely end up with a finish that’s prone to peeling, chipping, or looking uneven. Always clean, sand, and tape off your skirting boards before applying any paint. Even if the skirting boards appear clean, dirt, dust, or old paint residue can cause adhesion problems.
How to Avoid It: Spend extra time cleaning your skirting boards with a sugar soap solution or a skirting board cleaner, and don’t forget to sand down the surface to ensure the paint sticks well. It may seem tedious, but proper prep will save you time and effort in the long run.
2. Applying Too Much Paint at Once
Overloading your brush with too much paint is a common mistake, especially when working with gloss or satinwood paints. This can lead to unsightly drips, uneven coverage, and a thick, gloopy texture that’s difficult to fix once dried.
How to Avoid It: Dip your brush lightly into the paint and tap off any excess before applying it to the skirting board. Use long, even strokes to ensure a smooth, even coat. It’s better to apply multiple thin coats than to try and achieve full coverage in one heavy coat.
3. Not Sanding Between Coats
Even though it’s tempting to skip sanding between coats, this step helps smooth out the paint surface and allows for better adhesion of subsequent layers. Skipping this step can result in a rough, uneven finish.
How to Avoid It: After each coat of paint has dried, use fine-grit sandpaper (around 240 grit) to lightly sand the surface before applying the next coat. This will help to remove any imperfections or dust particles, ensuring a smooth, professional finish.
4. Using Low-Quality Brushes or Rollers
Cheap, low-quality brushes and rollers can result in streaks, brush marks, or lint being left on the surface of the paint. These imperfections can be frustrating and difficult to fix, and they’ll detract from the overall finish of the skirting boards.
How to Avoid It: Invest in high-quality brushes, particularly an angled brush designed for cutting in and painting edges. The right tools will help you achieve a cleaner, smoother finish with fewer brush marks.
5. Removing Tape Too Early
Another common mistake is removing the masking tape before the paint has fully dried. This can cause the paint to smudge or peel, leaving you with an uneven finish along the edges.
How to Avoid It: Wait until the paint is completely dry before removing the painter’s tape. Gently peel it away at a 45-degree angle to avoid pulling off any of the fresh paint.
FAQs
Should I paint my skirting boards the same colour as the walls?
Painting your skirting boards the same colour as your walls can create a seamless, modern look that makes the room feel more open. However, most people prefer to paint skirting boards in a contrasting colour. Typically white or off-white, this helps to highlight architectural features and provide a clean, defined edge. If you have darker walls, keeping the skirting boards white or light will help balance the room and prevent it from feeling too enclosed. Recently, our customer support teams have more requests for darker colours for skirting boards, from black to an anthracite grey.
How to paint skirting boards without getting paint on the wall?
To avoid getting paint on the wall, use painter’s tape to mask the edge where the skirting board meets the wall. Make sure the tape is firmly pressed down to prevent paint from seeping underneath. Use an angled brush to carefully cut in along the top edge of the skirting board, applying paint in long, smooth strokes. If possible, paint the walls before the skirting boards, so any paint that spills onto the walls can be easily covered later.
How to paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet?
Protecting your carpet while painting skirting boards is crucial. Place a drop cloth or plastic sheet under the skirting board, and tuck it tightly under the board to shield the carpet. You can also use painter’s tape to secure the edges of the cloth and keep it in place. Work slowly with an angled brush to avoid accidental drips onto the carpet.
How to paint walls without getting paint on skirting boards?
To protect your skirting boards while painting walls, apply painter’s tape along the top edge of the skirting board where it meets the wall. This will act as a barrier, preventing paint from dripping onto the boards. Once the wall paint has dried, carefully remove the tape to reveal a clean, sharp edge.
What colour to paint skirting boards and door frames?
The traditional choice for skirting boards and door frames is white or off-white. This provides a clean, classic look that complements almost any wall colour. However, some people choose to be more adventurous by using darker or more vibrant colours for skirting boards and door frames. Using black or an anthracite grey shade can create a bold, modern contrast. Ultimately, the colour you choose should reflect the overall aesthetic of your space.
Do you need to sand skirting boards before painting?
Yes, sanding is an essential step in the preparation process. Sanding helps to create a smooth surface for the paint to adhere to and removes any imperfections or old, flaking paint. Even if the skirting boards are already painted, lightly sanding the surface will help ensure that the new coat of paint sticks properly.
How to get rid of mould on skirting boards?
To remove mould from skirting boards, clean the affected area with a solution of water and bleach or a specialist mould remover product. Be sure to wear protective gloves and ensure the room is well-ventilated. Scrub the mould off with a sponge or brush, and dry the area thoroughly. Once the mould is removed, you can repaint the skirting boards with mould-resistant paint if needed, though you must sort the underlying issue if you want the mould to stay away.
Can you use emulsion on doors and skirting boards?
No, emulsion paint is not suitable for doors and skirting boards. It doesn’t have the durability required for areas that experience frequent wear and tear. Emulsion is primarily designed for walls and ceilings. For skirting boards, opt for gloss, satinwood, or eggshell paints, which are more hardwearing and easier to clean.