Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Oct 12, 2008 7:53 pm I'm thinking of replacing our skirtings after handover.. just before the tiler start laying the tiles.
We never bothered to upgrade the cornice & skirting... Now I can't help but think about higher skirtings (no issue with standard cornice for me). Just wonder if it would be too much hardwork to DIY. Or should we hire a carpenter to do it for us? If we do it ourselves, can you give us some tips? do's? don'ts? Would greatly appreciate your inputs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 2Oct 12, 2008 8:02 pm I have no experience with replacing skirting boards VJ, but I reckon it would be a huge job. You would have to make sure you had the right tools and equipment, a mitre saw and nail gun etc, then fill up the nail holes and paint them all a couple of times.
I'm just thinking that it might look out of place if you had taller skirting boards but still had the narrow architraves around the door and window frames if you didn't replace them too??? Geoff - Decophile. Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 3Oct 12, 2008 8:46 pm Obviously it would be a lot easier to use a wider skirting, so that you don't have to worry about patching/painting walls. You wouldn't have to change aves if you plan to use the same or similar profile.
Fitting skirting properly is not the easiest task for beginners. Getting the scribes and the mitres right can be difficult, especially if your walls are slightly out of square, which seems to happen 99% of the time for me... Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 4Oct 12, 2008 9:36 pm Quote: You would have to make sure you had the right tools and equipment, a mitre saw and nail gun etc, then fill up the nail holes and paint them all a couple of times. Thanks eager. I saw from this website: http://australianmoulding.com/gallery-s ... traves.htm that they have pre-primed skirtings (2 coats of primer and oven dried) so no need to paint a couple of times. Quote: I'm just thinking that it might look out of place if you had taller skirting boards but still had the narrow architraves around the door and window frames if you didn't replace them too??? I also saw some samples (gallery) from said website of taller skirting boards and narrower ones arond the door. Quote: Fitting skirting properly is not the easiest task for beginners. Getting the scribes and the mitres right can be difficult, especially if your walls are slightly out of square, which seems to happen 99% of the time for me... I agree though with both you and KWOOD2... might be hard for us to DIY. Though I'm still hoping to DIY... wonder if others had done it before. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 5Oct 12, 2008 9:56 pm I did this in my house took a while but got there, first couple of cuts stuffed it up, but after a couple of cuts got it right. Reletively easy to do.
Some tips measure not twice but four times, 1. Try to make the skirt boards as long as possible one board per length covered ideally (looks better) 2. When joining two pieces of skirts together do 45% angels 3. Big nail down the bottom, small up the top makes it stronger, try to get as little gap as possible. 4. Don't forget to mark the concrete to where the studs are it will save a lot of heart ache 5. Seal between the skirts and wall with a sealant 6. Don't forget to holepunch the nails through (good idea to pre-drill the holes as well) Use Gap filler for filling the holes in (wont recesse after painting) 7. When doing the gap filling and sealant have a small container of water near by to use to remove the excess it makes life a lot easier. 8. Get some cheap equipment from bunnings ect, like a mitre saw I got one for $45 worth it's weight in gold (had 6 month warranty which I need because I blew up 2 in two weeks). Most difficult part is the corners what you need to do for the internal cornering, you can either mitre them at 45% which I honestly think if done properly and then patched properly looks no worse or better than scribing it, I did both both and I seriously can't tell the difference and scribing took a lot longer to do. External cornering you just mitre both joins at 45% but be very carefull with your measuring. Off the top of my head you need a mitre saw, square, hammer and nails, hole puncher, drill and drill bits sealant/gap filler, gun for sealer ect and maybe a plain to make it level if need be. look at this: http://www.thediyworld.co.uk/fittiing_s ... ards1.html and this for scribing. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=uFi ... &ct=result and expect to do some practise runs with this It's definantly doable but do some practise first Hope this helps. Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 6Oct 12, 2008 10:06 pm ausfatcat,
thank you so much for the detailed info! much appreciated!!!!!!!!!! i feel better now.. been thinking about it for quite some time now and i keep on wondering whether it's doable. glad to hear from someone who did it before! again, thanks so much! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 7Oct 12, 2008 10:19 pm Use MDF if you are going to mitre the internal corners as well as it wont shrink/expand you can get a large range of MDF skirts from any hardware place.
like on page 48 but with a lot more range and variety. http://www.bunnings.com.au/emag/bunning ... c_regional Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 8Oct 13, 2008 3:16 am First of all I have a few questions to be able to help you in further detail.
# What is the profile and size of the skirting you are wanting to use? # What areas are you needing to do and how big are those areas? # Do you have any experience using power tools and a nail gun? # Is it going to be painted or stained? # Do you own any of the required tools or are you willing to purchase them? (mitre saw, coping saw, nail gun, measuring tape, hammer, nail punch etc) Now before people start posting and saying 'you don't need a nail gun' I will say that its not essential and a hammer and nail can be used. Although when using a hammer it requires using bigger nails which means they wont putty up as well so can show through more easily and a hammer can also leave dents in the skirting's which stand out when painted. Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 9Oct 13, 2008 10:30 am Hi VJ, have you considered using tiles for skirting instead? Then you can just remove the existing skirting and get the tiler to do the tiled one for you. Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 10Oct 13, 2008 12:26 pm Quote: First of all I have a few questions to be able to help you in further detail. # What is the profile and size of the skirting you are wanting to use? # What areas are you needing to do and how big are those areas? # Do you have any experience using power tools and a nail gun? # Is it going to be painted or stained? # Do you own any of the required tools or are you willing to purchase them? (mitre saw, coping saw, nail gun, measuring tape, hammer, nail punch etc) Hi I_BUILD, Will get back to you tonight (for question #1), as I'm in the office at the moment and need the details from DH. Q2 - we're thinking of replacing the skirtings for all areas downstairs (entry, HT, dining, family & study - not necessary for laundry and powder, as they have tile skirtings) Q3 - will have to ask DH about this Q4 - painted Q5 - willing to purchase them (DH is so keen to buy power tools once we have the keys to the house and start DIY stuff) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 11Oct 13, 2008 12:28 pm Quote: Hi VJ, have you considered using tiles for skirting instead? Then you can just remove the existing skirting and get the tiler to do the tiled one for you. Hi Sammy, Thanks for the suggestion, but I haven't seen any house where a tile is used as skirting for Entry hallway, dining, family, etc. And because I'm not used to that idea/look, I won't venture into that. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 12Oct 13, 2008 12:30 pm Another question.....
How hard is it to rip off the skirtings? We're worried that it might damage the walls.. though a friend of ours did it after handover (not to change the skirting but to lay the timber flooring first before putting in the skirting) and was very pleased with the results. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Want to replace skirtings after handover... 13Oct 13, 2008 3:12 pm VJ Another question..... How hard is it to rip off the skirtings? We're worried that it might damage the walls... If you are going with bigger skirting's then taking off the original skirting is the easiest part of the job. Just cut along the top of the skirting against the wall with a stanly knife before trying to remove the skirting board. That will stop the skirting from ripping the plaster when you pull it off. I already have the doors and architraves installed as pictured. My question is which size n type of skirting would go with the architraves? I originally wanted a winder,… 0 3267 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7757 |