Skirting boards play both an aesthetic and protective role in your home. They cover the joint where the wall and floor meet to ensure a seamless transition between the two, as well as protecting walls from damage caused by scuffs, knocks, scrapes and general wear and tear.
With the right adhesive, it's possible to install skirting boards quickly and easily to transform your home.
Follow the steps below to discover how to fit skirting boards using our best skirting board adhesive.
Why attach skirting boards?
You may be wondering why skirting boards are so important? Well, they bring several benefits to your home:
- Protection against damage. Daily wear and tear, in the absence of skirting, can lead to your walls deteriorating over time. Knocks are inevitable, especially when vacuuming or moving furniture around, so the boards help to limit the number of dents and scratches in your walls, plus they're easier and cheaper to fix or replace than plaster.
- Prevent water damage. Skirting boards cover the joint between the wall and floor, menaing moisture can't travel between the two as easily.
- Hide unsightly cables and wires. Electrical cables and wires can easily be covered using skirting boards, which otherwise can become an eyesore around the edges of your home.
- Enhance your interior. Skirting boards are an integral part of your decor and are often available in a variety of finishes to suit your style. Decide between different materials, colours, thickness, and detail to elevate your space and make it unique.
Before you glue skirting boards
Before fixing your skirting boards with glue, it's important to ensure the area that's being glued is clean and free-from dust and grease. The area must also be fully dry before applying the skirting board adhesive.
Next, take time to measure the sizes of skirting board required so you can order enough boards to meet your needs. Be sure to consider the necessary cuts (for example, for corners), which may cause waste.
Tip: Depending on the skirting boards you're using, they may require sanding. Typically, MDF boards won't require sanding, however, softwood or hardwood boards may need lightly sanding or treating before fitting.
Once you're skirting boards are ready, gather all necessary materials.
What you will need
To affix skirting boards, the following items are required:
- Liquid Nails Interior, Strong Stuff Sealant & Adhesive, Seriously Strong Stuff Ultimate Adhesive or Seriously Strong Stuff Fast-Setting Adhesive
- Cartridge gun
- Skirting boards
- Tape measure
- Mitre block
- Saw
Step-by-step: How to glue skirting boards
To attach skirting boards with glue, simply follow these different steps:
1. Take your measurements
Start by measuring the area using a tape measure to understand the lengths of skirting you'll require.
2. Cut skirting boards to size
Using a mitre box and handsaw, cut your skirting to the required size(s), ensuring to take care whilst working.
3. Glue the skirting boards
Prepare the adhesive for application by cutting the tapered end of the nozzle at 45 degrees using a sharp knife. Then, screw the nozzle back in place.
Insert the adhesive cartridge into a cartridge gun and repeatedly squeeze the trigger until the adhesive appears. Apply this directly to the skirting board in a zigzag motion to ensure even distribution.
4. Press the skirting onto the wall
Press firmly against the bottom of the walls for 10 seconds to affix the skirting boards.
5. Leave to dry and you're done!
Allow time for your adhesive to fully bond - it can take up to 24 hours to achieve maximum strength.
You’ve learnt how to fix your skirting board in just 5 simple steps.
