Painting skirting boards is not a particularly popular DIY task. Skirting boards run across the base of the wall, and this means that you need to kneel down to paint them. They’re also close to the wallpaper and the carpets, so you have to work slowly and carefully otherwise you could ruin the rest of the room’s decor. This makes repainting skirting boards a tedious and time consuming job with a lot of things that could go wrong. Here are a few tips to make the painting process go a little more smoothly.

 

Tools Needed

You will need:

• Sandpaper
• A vacuum cleaner with a thin nozzle attachment
• Dirt sheets or dust covers
• Masking tape
• A cloth
• A bucket of sugar soap solution
• Paint brush
• Paints

 

 Time Required

The time required will depend on the size of the room and the condition of the skirting board. To save time, this job is best tackled while painting the rest of the room.

 

 

Step by Step Instructions – how to paint skirting boards

Ideally, you should paint your skirting boards at the same time as doing other DIY jobs in that room. When you paint the skirting boards you will probably need to move a lot of furniture, so it makes sense to do it when you are replacing carpets or painting/wallpapering the walls.

Before you can get started with painting your skirting boards, you must prepare them. First, make sure that you have enough space to access all of the skirting boards easily. Once you have sufficient space, cover the floor with a dust sheet, and start sanding the skirting board to roughen any existing paint or wood stain. This can be slow work, especially if your skirting boards are ornately decorated, but it is important that you do it properly to ensure a smooth and even finish.

After sanding all of the skirting board, use your vacuum cleaner to remove all of the dust, paying close attention to any indentations in the skirting, and the area where the board matches the wall. Wipe down the skirting board using a sugar soap solution, and wait for it to dry.

If you need to protect the paint or wallpaper in the room, cover the area where the skirting board meets the wall with easy-peel masking tape, and work carefully when you are painting the upper part of the skirting board.

Start painting at the top of the skirting board. Collect a small amount of paint on your brush (wipe off any excess by dragging the brush across the edge of the tin). Move the brush from right to left, and once you have covered a small section of the skirting from the top,  start working from the bottom. Next, fill in the middle.

As you are working your way along the wall, keep checking for drips. Use your brush to wipe them away as soon as you see them. After you have completed your first coat, allow it to dry, and then inspect the quality of the finish.

In almost all cases, you will need to apply more than one coat to get a professional looking finish and adequate protection for your skirting boards. After the first coat of paint has dried, use fine sandpaper to slightly roughen that coat in preparation for applying a second coat. Pay particular attention to any areas where there are bumps or signs that the paint has run. Sand those areas down until they are completely smooth.

Once you have finished sanding the paint, use a damp cloth to wipe away all of the fine dust that has gathered on the skirting board. Let the wood dry, and then apply a second coat, following the same process mentioned above.

Finally, let that coat dry, carefully remove any masking tape from the walls and enjoy your handiwork.

How to paint skirting boards when you have carpet

If you have carpets, then you should take measures to protect them from paint, and to make sure that any lint on the carpet doesn’t mar the finish of the paint. Laying a dust sheet down, as described in the step by step instructions, is enough to protect hard floor tiles, linoleum and similar finishes. However, carpets need an extra barrier. In addition to the dust sheet, use a piece of thin, but stiff, cardboard to protect the carpet from paint. Expect to go through a lot of cardboard while painting the skirting boards in the room, because the paint will make the cardboard soggy.

 

Some Additional Tips

Choosing the right paint for your skirting boards is important. The colour and finish of the paint should complement the wall and the carpets, but stand out too. Glossy skirting boards look good with matte paints, and dark skirting boards look good with lighter walls and flooring, as long as the colours do not clash. If you’re not sure what paint to choose, ask for some sample cards and try them out at home until you find something that looks right. Remember that paints may look different at home under your lighting than they do in a bright show room, so it’s not a good idea to make snap decisions about colours while in the DIY shop.

Depending on the type of paint or wood stain you choose, you may want to apply a layer of polyurethane varnish over the final coat. This will offer additional protection from scratches and bumps. If you have young children in the house, or there are other reasons that the skirting board may need to be able to withstand extra abuse (such as wheelchair traffic), then this extra coating will help your paint job last that little bit longer.

Conclusion

Painting skirting boards is a time consuming activity, and it requires careful preparation. Do not be tempted to simply paint over your existing paint, or to rush the paint job. Even though you don’t really spend a lot of time looking at the skirting boards in your room, it is important to paint them properly. Little details such as the quality of the finish of your skirting boards make a big difference to the overall look of the room.

 

Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alicejt/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/corylus/