As we all know, the skirting board is a kind of floor decoration profile with a long history. It is a kind of accessory that is both decorative and functional. It is usually used at the junction of indoor walls and floors to protect walls, hide gaps, and provide aesthetic value.
Skirting boards are made of various materials, such as solid wood, MDF, PVC, tiles, marble, and metal (aluminum alloy and stainless steel). Each material has its unique characteristics.
Solid wood skirting boards have a natural wood grain texture and feel, and are hard and unbreakable, making them ideal for natural home decoration environments. However, the disadvantages of this material are also obvious, especially its poor waterproofness, which is usually not suitable for use in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. In addition, skirting boards require regular maintenance and care to ensure the durability of the finish.
MDF skirting boards are a type of floor profile that is extruded under high temperature and pressure from fiber materials, resins, and some additives. MDF skirting boards are inexpensive and are usually the material of choice for low-end decoration projects. Similarly, they have poor waterproofness and are prone to swelling or deformation due to water absorption.
PVC skirting boards are lightweight and inexpensive, but have excellent waterproof, mildew-proof, insect-proof, and flame-retardant properties. They are widely used in many home and commercial spaces. There are also many types of finishes. Generally, PVC lamination technology or thermal transfer technology is used to paste different styles of finishes on the base surface to match different interior styles. Many homeowners think they are an ideal alternative to traditional solid wood skirting boards.
Tile and marble skirting boards are the most traditional floor decoration materials. They are heavy, have relatively simple finishes, and are difficult to cut and install. Cement slurry is usually required as an adhesive, which costs a lot of money to transport, cut, and install, and it is also troublesome to replace it later.
Metal skirting boards are often referred to as high-end indoor applications, including aluminum alloy and stainless steel skirting boards. These metal profiles have a hard surface and are not easily damaged by accidental collisions. There are usually two effects of its finish: brushed or mirrored. The brushed surface tends to be more textured, while the mirror can reflect light, but the disadvantage is that it is not resistant to dirt.
Traditional skirting boards tend to focus more on practicality, and their materials, finishes, and customizability are relatively poor. Its disadvantages include:
Tile and marble skirting boards are the most prominent representative products, which usually have simple appearance designs and a lack of decorativeness.
Due to the particularity of the traditional skirting board substrate, the texture and color of its surface are usually limited, so it can only be used with tile or marble floors.
Restricted by cultural concepts, traditional skirting boards pay more attention to the protection of the wall surface, and lack advantages in appearance design, finish selection, and multi-functional integration. Large volume, single finish, and high installation difficulty are synonymous with this type of product.
It is well known that the bonding of tile or marble skirting boards usually requires the use of cement slurry. Once local damage occurs, the cost of replacement is high and often requires professional technology to complete.
Unlike modern skirting boards, traditional skirting boards are almost impossible to customize in various ways.
With the diversification of materials and the continuous improvement of production technology, modern skirting boards have gradually become the mainstream choice for floor decoration. They are often highly versatile and unmatched in durability and aesthetics. Its development trend has the following characteristics:
Modern skirting designs tend to create simple and clean lines. Wide and straight designs are common, and the color is usually consistent with the wall, floor, or door lintel to achieve visual unity.
In addition to tile and marble skirtings, other new skirtings have appeared on the market, such as SPC, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc. These materials provide more choices and better performance.
To meet different needs, modern skirting boards usually have flexible customization functions. This means that designers or homeowners can customize special colors, materials, or appearances according to the style of the house to better integrate them into the interior design.
Modern skirting boards are more environmentally friendly and focus on material reuse and environmental protection. Traditional MDF skirting boards lack environmental protection due to the large amount of glue used in the production process. Tile and marble skirting boards are inconvenient to install and replace later, so they will gradually lose some market share.
On the contrary, metal skirting boards (aluminum alloy, stainless steel) are mainly used in high-end fields, and PVC skirting boards have gradually become the mainstream choice for mid- and low-end home and commercial projects. It is indisputable that they have become the darlings of this era.
PVC skirting boards are widely used in many residential and commercial spaces because of their lightweight, rich finishes, excellent performance, and high cost performance.
Metal skirting boards usually cater to modern styles, provide exquisite metal textures, and create stylish and modern interior decoration.
Environmentally friendly materials are not the most eye-catching highlight of modern skirting boards. They are often integrated with other fashionable elements to achieve multifunctional integration. For example, modern skirting boards can be connected to intelligent lighting systems to provide auxiliary lighting in low-light environments and realize intelligent opening and closing, creating more possibilities for energy conservation.
The color of skirtings has changed from a single color to a rich variety and can be flexibly customized. For example, painting the skirtings the same color as the walls, floors, or door lintels can create a more unified sense of space and even make people feel that the space is more spacious visually.
You might be wondering, since modern skirting boards have far surpassed traditional skirting boards in terms of aesthetic value and functionality, have traditional skirting boards disappeared?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Traditional skirting boards still play a role in specific occasions, while modern skirting boards dominate modern and minimalist home decoration.
When you plan to choose the right skirting board for your home, you may need to consider a variety of factors. Here are some practical suggestions to help you make an informed choice:
Choose the right material based on the project requirements.
PVC skirting boards are affordable, moisture-proof, insect-proof, and fire-resistant, making them ideal for commercial projects. Solid wood skirting boards are high-end and suitable for traditional or high-end home decoration, but require regular maintenance. MDF skirting boards are very cost-effective, but their environmental protection needs to be checked, and they should not be installed in humid spaces. Metal skirting boards are generally suitable for modern high-end decorations, and their prices are often higher.
Interior decoration needs to be coordinated and unified. Therefore, we usually follow the principle that the skirting board has the same color as the interior wall, floor, or door lintel to achieve a harmonious sense of space.
High skirting boards are suitable for open spaces or floors with high ceilings, while shorter skirting boards are suitable for narrow spaces.
Wall-mounted installation is convenient and easy to clean and maintain.
Embedded wall installation creates a clean and tidy surface, but this method requires a groove to be reserved at the bottom of the wall in advance, demands professional construction expertise, and is more challenging to maintain later.
Modern skirting boards often have multifunctional integration. For example, integrated LED lights or cable management on the back.
PVC and MDF are both economical options, but due to their material limitations, they are usually suitable for projects with limited budgets.
Solid wood and metal skirting boards are more suitable for high-end decoration fields, and their costs are relatively high.
Simple style, diverse materials, flexible customization, green environmental protection, and highly intelligent integration are the mainstream trends of modern skirtings.
Take full account of factors such as home environment, personal preferences, ease of installation and maintenance, and project budget. I believe you can easily make the right decision.
CREATEKING is a professional supplier of floor decoration materials. We provide high-quality skirting profiles and rich finishing options. If you are planning a house renovation but are at a loss, you might as well contact us for professional design advice and high-quality quotes!
