Skirting is an essential element in interior decoration. It may not be very eye-catching, but it can add a finishing touch to the floor.
Many homeowners may wonder whether they need to install skirting when renovating or building a new house. There is no fixed answer to this question. It all depends on your inner choice.
Then, this article will introduce you to several commonly used types of skirting, analyze their advantages and disadvantages, and provide some practical selection suggestions.
Skirting, as the name suggests, is a protective profile applied to indoor floors or staircase areas. They provide strong protection for walls to prevent mops or sweeping robots from damaging the bottom edge of the wall during cleaning.
Secondly, they also have unparalleled practicality. Some skirting profiles are hollowed out inside, which is convenient for you to store indoor wires and cables. What's more, some high-end skirtings with novel design concepts will integrate lighting systems to provide soft and comfortable lighting for your floor space.
Finally, let's talk about their aesthetic value. Their decorativeness usually comes from the PVC film coated on their surface. With a variety of customization options, you can choose exquisite colors that match your floor environment, making your interior style naturally harmonious. Although they are just humble profiles, they can enhance the value of your home.
It can be seen that skirting is a kind of floor decoration profile that is both practical and beautiful. Whether you decide to install it or not, we can never deny its value. It can bring you many benefits:
You may think that the wall is hard and not easy to damage. But it is not true.
When you use a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the floor at home, these machines are likely to damage the edge of the wall. Or, if you are a pet lover, you can't guarantee that the claws of these small animals will not scratch your wall and leave unsightly marks.
Therefore, you can believe me without reservation that even if the skirting itself does not take up too much of your budget, you still need to install skirting for your indoor floor space.
Experienced homeowners or designers will strongly recommend that you install skirting. Of course, this is not a gratuitous sales pitch, nor is it for the sake of completing a project. Let me tell you slowly.
First of all, you and I cannot deny the practicality of skirting. Some skirtings are designed with the storage of wires or cables in mind, so space will be reserved at the back to facilitate you to better store wires and make your floor environment look neater.
Secondly, intelligence and high integration of multiple elements are the mainstream direction of skirting development in the future. Some high-end skirting profiles will incorporate modern and fashionable design concepts, which are not only more creative in appearance design, but also integrate lighting systems into skirting, making them popular auxiliary lighting profiles. More importantly, we can also add a set of intelligent voice control or touch control systems to the lighting system to make its lighting method more energy-saving and intelligent.
If many people still have a paper-based understanding of solid wood skirting, unfortunately, this is wrong. I know that solid wood skirting pursues a more realistic wood grain texture, but its coating effect is limited and will be subject to many restrictions in practical applications.
The metal skirting we are familiar with is more modern in style. Although it is an ideal choice for high-end decoration, its texture is relatively cold and lacks warmth.
We all know that aesthetic value should not be defined, but should have more possibilities. Therefore, PVC skirting has given it more possibilities in decorative effects through advanced surface coating technology, making it suitable for almost any style of ground environment.
Common skirting board materials on the market include PVC, solid wood, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, MDF, etc. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages.
Compared with traditional PVC, the new PVC skirting has better performance. It is a profile made of PVC, resin powder, calcium carbonate, and additives, extruded at high temperature, and then treated with surface coating.
This skirting has high waterproof, mildew-proof, insect-proof, and flame-retardant properties. The surface treatment options can be flexibly customized.
Pros | Cons |
They are more cost-effective than solid wood or metal skirtings | The feel and texture will be affected by the type of PVC film and the coating technique. |
Waterproof, moisture-proof, anti-mold, and flame-retardant | In extremely high temperature environments, deformation may occur |
No insect bites | Poor quality PVC skirting may have environmental issues |
It is lightweight and easy to install |
Solid wood skirting is a type of material that requires high maintenance. They usually have very realistic and attractive textures and a woody fragrance. They are usually used in natural style home decoration.
Common materials for solid wood skirting include teak, bean wood, fir, etc. These materials are more stable and durable.
| Pros | Cons |
Has a natural wood texture and warm tones | Generally, the price of solid wood skirting is higher, which is not friendly to projects with limited budget. |
Environmentally friendly and contains no harmful chemicals. | Periodic painting or maintenance is required to maintain its water resistance and appearance. |
It has good processability and can be processed by various processes such as planing, sawing, nailing, drilling, bending, etc. | It is not waterproof and is prone to swelling or rotting when used in a humid environment. |
6063 T5 aluminum alloy is generally considered the most suitable material for making metal skirting, with a hardness of up to 13~15 degrees. Compared with ordinary aluminum, it is more durable.
Aluminum alloy skirting is light and requires the use of professional metal cutting machines when cutting. Usually, this type of skirting is equipped with a full set of accessories, including left end cap, right end cap, connector, inner corner accessories, and outer corner accessories.
| Pros | Cons |
High strength, not easy to break, strong flexibility, light weight. | There will still be dents if hit by heavy objects. |
There are a variety of finishes, such as brushed and mirrored, suitable for simple, light luxury, and modern decoration styles. | The prices are usually high, which is not friendly to projects with limited budgets. |
Environmentally friendly and easy to install. They come with a complete set of accessories, ultimately providing a continuous and refined finish. | Professional metal-cutting machines are required for cutting. |
Unmatched durability. |
The main components of stainless steel skirting include iron, chromium, nickel, and other elements. It is a stronger and more durable profile than aluminum alloy. Of course, its price will also be higher.
Pros | Cons |
Easy to install and durable. | Not suitable for classical or warm decoration styles. |
Elegant and stylish appearance, suitable for modern interior decoration. | The mirror-textured surface of stainless steel skirting boards easily attracts fingerprints, which can leave unsightly marks. |
It is an environmentally friendly material and does not produce harmful substances. | Do not come into contact with highly acidic or alkaline cleaning agents. |
Excellent processing performance. It can be used for complex processes such as cutting and bending. |
MDF skirting board is a floor profile made of fiber material and resin. It is a relatively environmentally unfriendly material. Since glue is used in the processing, it may not be environmentally friendly.
MDF skirting boards usually use veneer technology to shape various finishes. The decorative effect is more beautiful.
However, although this type of skirting board is inexpensive, they are usually not waterproof and is easily deformed in a humid environment.
Pros | Cons |
MDF skirting is relatively inexpensive and suitable for homeowners with a limited budget. | Less durable, not suitable for wet environments, such as bathrooms or kitchens. |
Easy to cut, film, or paint. | The texture is poor and is only suitable for ordinary engineering projects, such as apartments or low-rent housing. |
Easy to install. | Poor environmental protection. |
Experienced homeowners know that there are many factors to consider when choosing skirting. Of course, these factors include your preferences, budget, style, and ease of installation and maintenance. Here are some of the factors we need to consider:
Consider the material and durability of the skirting. These factors will affect the cost of later maintenance and replacement.
The choice of skirting color usually follows three principles: the same color as the wall, the same color as the floor, or the same color as the door lintel. This makes it easier to create a harmonious interior style.
Modern or simple styles are suitable for white, black, or gray skirtings. Pastoral style is suitable for wood color or warm colors.
Low floors usually choose shorter skirtings, while high floors are more suitable for taller skirtings.
Thicker skirtings tend to provide stronger protection, of course, this also means an increase in budget and difficulty in cutting.
The common installation method of skirting boards is gluing or fixing with nails.
The gluing method is more convenient and quicker to install. The installation method of fixing with nails is easier to obtain a firm installation effect.
The price of skirtings is affected by many factors, including material, model, height, thickness, color, quantity, etc.
Please consider your project budget to ensure that these skirtings do not take up too much of the decoration cost.
By now, I believe you have a certain understanding of skirting. Whether it is the material, the advantages and disadvantages, or how to choose, you can easily figure it out.
So, let's get started. If you are planning a house renovation or happen to have some projects that require skirting, you can trust us with complete peace of mind. CREATEKING is a professional skirting manufacturer. We provide a full range of interior wall and floor decoration materials. Let's start our cooperation journey now! Always believe that your choice is well thought out.
