{"id":3468,"date":"2026-10-09T00:12:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T16:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/?p=3468"},"modified":"2026-10-09T00:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T16:12:39","slug":"can-i-install-skirting-boards-myself-49ba-7e7a1d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/can-i-install-skirting-boards-myself-49ba-7e7a1d\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I install skirting boards myself?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alright, let\u2019s cut to the chase \u2013 I get asked this question literally every single week by homeowners, DIYers, and even some random builders who stumble onto our site. \u201cCan I install skirting boards myself?\u201d The short answer is yeah, most of the time. But the not-so-short answer? It depends on a bunch of stuff, and I\u2019m here to spill all the tea as a skirting board supplier who\u2019s seen every botched install under the sun. Skirting Board<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s get real about what installing skirting boards actually involves. It\u2019s not rocket science, but it\u2019s not like hanging a picture frame either. Last month, a guy messaged me panicking because he\u2019d just ripped out his old skirting (way too aggressively, left a bunch of torn plaster) and realized he had no clue how to cut the 45-degree angles for the corners. Another lady tried using regular wood glue instead of a proper adhesive and her first board fell off 48 hours later. So, it\u2019s doable \u2013 but only if you\u2019re down for the prep, the right tools, and not rushing through the small stuff.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s break it down like I\u2019m explaining it to my mate over a coffee, shall we? First, assess your current space. If your walls are smooth, level, and you don\u2019t have any weird dips or lumps that look like a potato got run over by a lawnmower, you\u2019re already ahead of the game. If your walls are wonky, have old plaster that\u2019s cracking, or the floor isn\u2019t perfectly flat? Hold up \u2013 that\u2019ll make installing skirting way trickier, because you\u2019ve got to fill those gaps with caulk or a shim (that\u2019s a thin piece of wood or plastic to level things out) instead of just slapping the boards on. We supply a lot of customers who skip this step and end up with skirting that looks like it\u2019s \u201cdancing\u201d along the wall \u2013 not a good look, trust me.<\/p>\n

Next, tools. You don\u2019t need a professional-grade kit, but you can\u2019t show up with a hacksaw and a roll of duct tape either. Here\u2019s the basics I tell everyone: a miter saw (or a cheap miter box if you\u2019re on a total budget \u2013 don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ve got loads of customers who nail it with a $20 miter box), a tape measure, a pencil, adhesive specifically designed for skirting (we sell this too, fyi, because generic construction adhesive doesn\u2019t grip as well on wood or MDF), a caulking gun, a spirit level, and some finishing nails (or a nail gun, if you have one \u2013 way faster). Skip the idea of using just nails, by the way \u2013 those skirting boards will pop off if you only rely on nails. Adhesive is non-negotiable for a solid, long-lasting install.<\/p>\n

Now, the big part: cutting the corners. This is where most DIYers mess up. Internal corners (where two walls meet, like in a room\u2019s nook) and external corners (the pointy ones where walls turn outwards) both need 45-degree cuts to line up perfectly. Wait, but did you know you have to reverse the angle for internal vs external? I\u2019ve had so many guys cut two 45s facing the same direction for an external corner and wonder why it looks like a V instead of a right angle. Pro tip: practice on a scrap piece of skirting first. You don\u2019t want to ruin a $10 length of oak skirting on your first go. Also, measure twice, cut once \u2013 I can\u2019t stress that enough. I\u2019ve had customers order custom lengths because they cut a board too short, and that\u2019s just wasted time and money.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about materials too, because that\u2019s where we come in as a supplier. Most DIYers go for MDF skirting because it\u2019s cheap and easy to cut \u2013 perfect for beginners. But if you live in a bathroom or kitchen (high humidity), MDF will warp if it gets wet, so you\u2019ll want primed wood or PVC skirting instead. We stock all three, and I always explain to customers that MDF is great for living rooms and bedrooms, but never for spaces with lots of steam. Another mistake people make: buying skirting that\u2019s too thin. If your walls have any minor imperfections, thin skirting will show every gap. Go for 12mm or 15mm thick if you want something sturdy and easy to work with.<\/p>\n

Now, the step-by-step (dumbed down, no fancy jargon): first, clean the wall and the back of your skirting \u2013 no dust means the adhesive sticks better. Then, apply a bead of adhesive along the back of the board, not too thick, not too thin. Press it firmly against the wall, and hold it there for 10-15 seconds to make sure it\u2019s set. Then, use a nail gun or hammer to put two finishing nails in each stud (or solid part of the wall \u2013 if you hit a hollow spot, the nail will just bend). For the corners, cut each board to the right angle, dry fit them first before adding adhesive, so you can adjust if needed. Once all boards are up, fill any nail holes with wood filler, sand them down smooth, then caulk all the gaps between the skirting and the wall, and the corners. That\u2019s the final step, and it\u2019s what makes the install look professional, not DIY.<\/p>\n

Wait, but what if you\u2019re a total beginner? Like, you\u2019ve never held a miter saw in your life? Let\u2019s be real \u2013 it\u2019s possible, but it might take you twice as long, and you might have to go back and fix a few mistakes. Last month, a girl from Birmingham emailed me saying she spent 8 hours on a single corner and still didn\u2019t get the angle right. She ended up hiring a local handyman to finish it, and told me later she regretted not asking for help sooner. If that\u2019s you, don\u2019t beat yourself up. But if you\u2019re willing to watch a few YouTube tutorials (there are so many good ones, trust me), take your time, and not rush? You can definitely do this.<\/p>\n

Another thing to consider: damage. If you\u2019re renting, or if you\u2019re installing skirting in a space you\u2019re going to sell soon, you might not want to risk messing up. I\u2019ve had customers who tried installing their own skirting and left so many nail holes they had to pay to have the walls repainted. That\u2019s a hassle. But if you own your place, want to save a few hundred quid on labour, and are happy to put in the time? Go for it.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing as a skirting board supplier: we don\u2019t want to lie to you. We\u2019ve seen both sides \u2013 customers who install their own skirting perfectly, proud as punch, sending us photos of their finished rooms. And we\u2019ve seen the ones who call us panicking because their board just fell off an hour after they put it up. So, our advice is always be honest with yourself about your skills. If you can follow instructions, take measurements carefully, and don\u2019t mind a little trial and error? You\u2019ve got this.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re not sure? That\u2019s cool too. You don\u2019t have to be a hero. We work with lots of local fitters who we recommend, and we can hook you up with them if you need. Or, if you want to try it yourself, we\u2019ll send you all the tips and tricks you need \u2013 just shoot us a message. We\u2019re not just a supplier, we\u2019re here to help.<\/p>\n

Now, if you are ready to take on the install, let\u2019s recap the key takeaways so you don\u2019t forget:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Check your walls and floor first \u2013 level = easier install.<\/li>\n
  2. Get the right tools, including skirting-specific adhesive.<\/li>\n
  3. Practice your cuts on scrap wood before touching the real thing.<\/li>\n
  4. Measure twice, cut once.<\/li>\n
  5. Don\u2019t skip the caulking and filling nail holes \u2013 that\u2019s what makes it look good.<\/li>\n
  6. If you mess up, it\u2019s not the end of the world \u2013 no one\u2019s perfect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I know installing skirting seems daunting, but it\u2019s one of those projects that makes a huge difference to a room. A fresh set of skirting can make a space look brand new, without spending thousands on a renovation. And if you do it yourself? You\u2019ll have that extra satisfaction of knowing you did it.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re looking to order skirting boards for your project, we\u2019ve got a huge range of styles, sizes, and materials to suit any home \u2013 from minimalist modern MDF to solid oak that\u2019ll last for decades. Whether you\u2019re doing a single room or your whole house, we can help you pick the right stuff, answer any questions, and get it to you fast. Don\u2019t hesitate to reach out if you want to chat through your project, get a quote, or just ask more questions about installation. We\u2019re here for you every step of the way.<\/p>\n

    Stainless Steel Niche<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. DIY Doctor. (n.d.). How to fit skirting boards. Retrieved from DIY Doctor.<\/li>\n
    2. The Spruce. (2023). How to Install Skirting Boards. Retrieved from The Spruce.<\/li>\n
    3. British Standards Institution. (2019). Code of Practice for Installing Timber Joinery. Retrieved from BSI.<\/li>\n
    4. Homebuilding & Renovating. (2022). A beginner\u2019s guide to fitting skirting boards. Retrieved from Homebuilding & Renovating.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n

      Foshan Chengshuang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd.<\/a>
      Foshan Chengshuang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional skirting board manufacturers and suppliers in China. We are committed to providing high quality customized service and 1 year warranty to global clients. If you’re going to wholesale durable skirting board made in China, welcome to get pricelist and free sample from our factory.
      Address: No.2, No.5 West, Pingsheng Avenue, Pingzhou, Guicheng Subdistrict, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, CN.
      E-mail: csniches@gmail.com
      WebSite:       https:\/\/www.cs-metals.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Alright, let\u2019s cut to the chase \u2013 I get asked this question literally every single week … Can I install skirting boards myself?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":951,"featured_media":3468,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3431],"class_list":["post-3468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-skirting-board-41ab-8044fe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/951"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}