Metal skirting boards are a type of floor decoration material made mainly of metal materials such as aluminum alloy and stainless steel. They are primarily used for interior decoration to balance the visual effect, beautify the wall and wall foundation, protect the wall, store wires and cables, provide auxiliary lighting, etc.
The metal skirting boards on the market are mainly made of three materials: aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and brass. They each have their characteristics and are suitable for different project requirements.
There are many types of aluminum alloy profiles for decoration, among which 6063 and 6061 are the most widely used. However, when customizing high-end aluminum alloy skirting, we usually tend to choose 6063 T5, mainly because it has better plasticity and higher hardness than 6061.
For this reason, 6063 T5 aluminum alloy skirting is highly respected in modern high-end home decoration. They have excellent mechanical properties, processing properties, corrosion resistance, and high cost performance.
Material properties
Aluminum alloy is well known for its lightness and durability. Its features include:
Excellent durability and strength: Aluminum alloy skirting boards have excellent durability and strength, making them less prone to bending and wear in high-frequency use, and can maintain a delicate decorative surface for a long time.
Environmental protection: Aluminum alloy is an environmentally friendly and recyclable material, with no radiation and pollution. It will not produce any harmful substances during the installation and maintenance process, and is suitable for modern style home decoration.
Waterproof and moisture-proof: Metal materials themselves do not have waterproof functions because their structure and composition are not conducive to waterproofing. There are many tiny concave and convex surfaces and gaps on their surface, which can easily allow moisture to enter the metal surface and cause rust. However, we usually use anodizing, electrophoretic coating, and other methods to treat its surface to achieve a waterproof effect.
Diverse designs and color options: The surface of aluminum alloy skirting boards can be treated in various ways, such as spraying and anodizing. They have rich colors and textures to meet different decorative needs.
Easy to maintain: It is very convenient to install and maintain, just wipe it with a damp cloth to keep its appearance smooth.
Easy installation: Aluminum alloy skirting boards are easy to install, usually using a snap-on installation. Its accessories usually include bottom buckles, left and right end caps, connectors, inside and outside accessories, etc.
Cost-effectiveness: Aluminium skirting boards are more expensive than MDF or SPC, but their durability and low maintenance make them more cost-effective in the long run.
Stainless steel is an alloy material whose main components include iron, chromium, nickel, manganese, silicon, carbon, and other elements. The proportion and content of these elements will eventually affect the performance of stainless steel skirting boards.
The surface of stainless steel skirting boards is usually made of 304 or 316 materials because they are the best in corrosion resistance, processing performance, and cost performance.
Material properties
The material properties of stainless steel skirting boards mainly include the following aspects:
Corrosion resistance: Stainless steel skirting boards have excellent corrosion resistance and can resist the erosion of most chemicals, detergents, and kitchen fumes, ensuring that they are not easily damaged during high-frequency use.
Strength and hardness: It has high strength and hardness, can withstand a certain amount of pressure and the impact of heavy objects, and is not easily deformed or damaged.
Easy to clean: Like aluminum alloy, its surface is usually smooth and flat, not easily contaminated by dust or dirt, and daily cleaning is very convenient.
Aesthetic value: Stainless steel skirting boards have simple lines and bright colors, with a stylish appearance, suitable for modern and simple decoration styles. In addition, their surface can be treated in a variety of ways, such as brushed and mirror effects.
Environmental protection: Similarly, stainless steel is a recyclable metal material that does not release harmful substances.
Brass skirting boards are mainly alloy materials composed of copper and zinc, with the copper content ranging from 60% to 90% and the zinc content usually ranging from 10% to 40%.
The copper element provides good electrical and thermal conductivity and improves its performance against corrosion. The zinc material provides higher strength and hardness.
Brass skirting boards are an expensive and luxurious floor decoration profile, usually suitable for classical or retro style interior decoration.
Material properties
Brass skirting boards are stable and not prone to rust or corrosion. They have high strength and good plasticity, can withstand cold and hot pressing, and are easy to weld and forge. Features include:
Corrosion resistance: Brass skirting boards naturally have excellent corrosion resistance, and they can maintain stable performance in various environments.
Antioxidant properties: Brass has good anti-oxidation properties due to its unique chemical composition and surface treatment process. It is not easily corroded by oxygen. The zinc element in the material reacts with oxygen in the air to form a dense zinc oxide film, thereby protecting the substrate from corrosion. In addition, we can further improve its anti-corrosion properties by strengthening its surface treatment, such as spraying and electroplating processes.
Mechanical properties: Brass skirting boards have good mechanical properties, including high strength, good plasticity, can withstand cold and hot pressure processing, are easy to weld and forge, and are suitable for various processing needs.
Different from the installation method of solid wood or SPC skirting boards, metal skirting boards usually require the use of nails or screws as fasteners. In addition, they are usually equipped with complete accessories, including left end caps, right end caps, connectors, inner corners, and outer corner accessories. The installation method is as follows:
Please clean the installation area before construction, including sweeping debris on the floor, on the wall, etc.
Use a measuring tool to measure the installation area and accurately cut the skirting board according to the measurement data (usually using a metal cutter).
After the skirting board is cut in sections, use sandpaper to polish the cutting position to ensure that there are no burrs and the cutting surface is flat.
Pre-drill holes at the bottom of the wall and install the base accessories. Then, clamp the skirting board on the base to ensure that it is stable and fits the wall and floor flatly.
Usually, 2 to 3 bases are used per meter of length to ensure the stability of the skirting board.
Use connectors at the joints to achieve a seamless connection. And use left and right plugs to seal on the left and right sides.
At the corners, the inner and outer corner accessories play an important role in making the transition between the two different skirting boards smooth and keeping the surface exquisite.
After completing all the processes, carefully check the fit between the skirting board and the wall and floor to ensure that there are no obvious gaps.
Finally, clean the construction area as necessary.
Metal skirting boards are a common profile used in high-end interior decoration and are popular for their excellent durability and low maintenance costs.
They are often used in modern or minimalist home styles. Whether it is a living room, bedroom, corridor, or staircase, they can provide strong protection and bring unparalleled beauty.
When choosing a skirting board, to ensure that it lasts for a long time, you may want to consider the following factors:
Between aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and copper, aluminum alloy is lightweight, stainless steel is strong and impact-resistant, and copper has a more vintage aesthetic.
Therefore, before making a final decision, understand the differences in the properties of various materials and find the one that suits you best.
Different metal materials have different appearances. When choosing, you need to consider how to match the color of the wall and floor to ensure a better visual effect.
Although most metal skirtings are installed against the wall, this is not always the case.
Some embedded metal skirtings are often suitable for minimalist interior decoration. Their installation usually requires professional construction techniques, such as grooving the wall in advance and filling the gaps with grout and putty after installation.
The wall-mounted installation method is simple, fast, flexible, and easy to clean, maintain, and replace later. The built-in skirting board is not easy to replace and will increase the difficulty of cleaning.
The height selection of the skirting board will affect the visual effect of the space.
Typically, larger rooms or spaces with higher ceilings use high skirting boards, while smaller rooms use short skirting boards.
It is well known that the quality of skirting boards is usually closely related to their price. When choosing, give priority to suppliers with well-known brands and who can provide short samples for testing.
Obviously, metal skirtings play an important role in today's high-end home decoration field with their excellent product performance and low maintenance cost.
Knowing the differences in their materials and being familiar with the installation process can help you be more comfortable when doing a DIY installation.
CREATEKING is a professional supplier of floor decoration materials. As you can see, we provide a high-quality and complete range of skirting profiles. If you are still confused about how to choose, you may wish to contact us for help immediately.
