Skirting boards – how to cut them?

Cutting of skirting boards – why is it necessary?

When fitting skirting boards, it is necessary to deal with the corners of the room. Skirting boards are usually sold in one piece of 200 or 240 centimetres in length, which is divided into smaller pieces after taking precise measurements of the room. These correspond to the length of the individual walls and are laid along them. Adjusting them carefully to the dimensions of the room makes it possible to cut skirting boards in order to fit in the corners. It is worth carrying out this operation using the appropriate techniques and tools so as not to accidentally damage them.

How to cut skirting boards – key rules

How to cut skirting boards, in order not to damage them and avoid additional work? Below you will find the most important information to make this task easier.

Equipment

Once you have taken accurate measurements of the walls of the room and marked the location of the planned cut on the skirting board, prepare the appropriate equipment. In the case of soft skirtings made of the most popular materials, such as PVC or MDF, a hand saw with a mitre box will work well.

In the case of harder materials, such as metal or polystyrene, it will be easier to cut skirting boards with an electric mitre saw. This device is very efficient and allows you to precisely cut skirting boards in a short time so that their structure is not damaged in any way. However, it is quite expensive.

Cutting angle

Cutting of skirting boards just to shorten them, is carried out at 90° angle. A right angle should not cause you any problems, no matter what tools you use. Cutting the skirting boards to fit in the corners is a bit more complicated, as it is usually carried out at 45° angle. Performing it without accurate measurements may end up with the need to purchase new skirting boards.

In order to correctly determine the cutting angle, a mitre box is used. This device, made of wood or plastic, has 90° and 45° guide slots. There are also boxes on the market with more slots with a less typical layout, which allow making special cuts. Fix the piece you want to cut to the back wall of the box so that it is stable. Then make the cut according to the slot arrangement. Make sure that the cut piece is slightly longer than the wall so that it fits well into the corner.

The cutting process using the mitre saw is quite similar. It can be used in combination with a handheld guide. Attach the saw to the upper bar of the guide and precisely adjust the angle between the skirting to be cut and the saw. In the case of a compound mitre saw, proceed in a similar way.

Refining the details

After cutting, it is not always possible to achieve a perfectly even, smooth surface. This is particularly difficult when using hand tools. In order to get rid of unsightly jagged bits of varnish on the edges as well as burrs, smooth out the surface carefully at the point of cutting. You can use, for example, sandpaper with a high gradation, which will not damage the delicate structure of the skirting board. Special files will also work well for this task, as they will remove imperfections and allow the two pieces of skirting board to be neatly joined in the corner.

What else should you pay attention to when cutting skirting boards?

In order to ensure that the cutting of skirting boards goes smoothly and without mistakes, mark the carefully measured cutting point on the material so that you don’t waste material. Also make sure that, in the case of an electric saw, the blade is correctly matched to the material you are working with. In any case, it is very important to use well–sharpened tools. Otherwise, cutting will take much longer, it will require more effort, and the results may not meet your expectations. If you are cutting skirting boards with a handsaw for the first time, use blades with fine teeth. This way, you will minimise the risk of getting uneven, jagged edges.

Cutting skirting boards – what next?

Now that you know how to cut skirting boards, it is also worth considering what to do with them at the next stage of renovation. You can install the skirting boards with glue or silicone. This method is extremely simple and should not cause any problems. Installation using dowels is slightly more complicated. They are used to fix mounting clips to the wall, to which, in turn, skirting boards are attached. However, this method requires additional holes to be drilled in the skirting boards and further measurements to be taken. It is much easier to install the skirting boards using the ready–made clips.

Cutting of skirting boards is done with the aim of joining them aesthetically in the corners. How do you achieve it? Connect carefully cut and smoothed skirting boards in the corner so that the gap between them is as small as possible. Once you have managed to get them as close together as possible, you can attach them to the walls without worrying about unsightly gaps. Sometimes, however, it proves impossible to fit the cut skirting boards precisely together even though they have been carefully cut. In this case, decide to fill the gap with acrylic, which will cover it up perfectly. After the skirting boards have been fixed with dowels or clips, it is also a good idea to protect their upper part with a layer of acrylic or silicone. This will prevent dirt and moisture from getting under the skirting boards.

A popular way to join skirting boards is to place their ends in ready–made corners. They are available in many different colours that you can match to the shade of the skirting board. They also vary in style, size and type of decoration. Massive corners and caps will look great in glamour and classic interiors. More modest models can be used in minimalist and industrial interiors.

Cutting skirting boards does not have to be difficult!

If you get the right equipment and take care of precision during work, cutting skirting boards should not cause you any problems. Thanks to this, you will finish the floor aesthetically and you will avoid complications while fitting skirting boards in the corners. We encourage you to apply our advice in practice!