Skirting boards are small decorative elements that are found in many homes. But their appearance can affect the entire ambiance of the building. Irrespective of how your home may be, if the skirting boards are worn out, you may be unable to create a positive impression on your guests. Also, the value of your property will depreciate in the future.
Therefore, your skirting boards need to be clean and nice looking to match the paint coat on the wall. But apart from enhancing the appearance of your home, these boards add a lot of benefits to your home. There are different types of skirting boards and different installation methods.
What Is a Skirting Board?
A skirting board, also known as baseboard, is a primary decoration element that improves the aesthetics of your building. Its function is not just decorative, but it protects your walls from getting dirty due to furniture or shoes bumping into them or from the items you use when cleaning the floor.
Furthermore, a skirting board can help to hide the portion between the floor and where the wall starts. It is a good place to hide wiring for the internet or phones. Like every decorative element, the baseboard comes in various styles. You can read more about baseboards here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseboard
Types of Skirting Board Materials
Choosing the right profile that will match the style of your home and add to the interior beauty is important. However, you need to know what material it is made of. That will determine how long it will last.
1. Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) Skirting
MDF skirting is very popular and most preferred. It comes in two types: pre-finished or pre-primed. If you need to decorate and paint it to your taste, you have to choose the pre-primed MDF.
One thing to remember about medium-density fiberboard is the fact that it is durable. It does not swell or warp easily which makes it a good option for homeowners who do not want hard work or any fuss. It is also a better option for people who are on a budget.
2. Softwood Skirting
Softwood skirting is susceptible to many movements and this puts people off. However, it has its own advantages. You can do a lot of things with it like varnishing, sanding, completely decorating it again, and so on. This characteristic makes softwood skirting popular as you can save some money because you are less likely to rip off and replace it.
Additionally, softwood skirting has a range of bespoke styles. This means that it is ideal for anyone who needs something fancy.
3. Hardwood Skirting
Since we have mentioned softwood, it will only be fair to mention hardwood, too. As the name implies, this type of skirting is resilient and can accommodate a lot of hard knocks. It is usually pre-ordered because it is made to suit the taste or specific requirements of the buyer.
Hardwood skirting is quite expensive, but the outcome is worth the cost. You also need to be aware that it is more difficult to install hardwood than softwood or MDF, so consider that when choosing this material.
If you are planning on installing skirting boards on your property, you can visit Metres Direct or sites like it for more information on a wide range of styles and materials that you can choose from.
Benefits of Using Skirting Boards in Your Home
Depending on the board material you choose, it can be nailed, screwed, or glued to the wall. Some of the advantages of using it in your home are discussed below.
1. They Hide Your Wirings
When electric cables are left hanging from walls or ceilings, they make the house look disorganized. They can also be dangerous. You can hide the wires in the ceiling, but this will be a costly option, especially when you need to do some repairs. However, these boards can help to hide those wires. They also protect the wires from moisture that would have affected them if they were kept in the ceiling.
2. They Cover Gaps
It can be quite challenging to perfectly align a wall to the floor, even when the builder is very skilled. Spaces or gaps cannot be avoided after installing the flooring. Sometimes, the spaces may be left on purpose to make room for contraction and expansion of wooden floors. And skirting boards work well in covering those gaps.
3. Prevent Damage
Skirting boards work well as barriers to prevent furniture from coming close to the wall. This will prevent the plastering work from getting ruined, marks on the wallpaper or painting, and damage to the entire wall.
Additionally, the boards offer some kind of protection to the base of the walls from vacuuming, mopping, general movements in the house, and toys when the kids are playing. It is more expensive to repair walls than replacing baseboards.
4. Enhance Aesthetics
Baseboards help to give your home a more professional touch. Most boards come with some form of decorative elements and the design you choose determines the effect it will have in your home. You can also decide to paint the boards such that it does not interfere with your home’s interior décor.
5. Cost-effective
Another impressive benefit of installing skirt boards is that they are cost-effective. For instance, if there are uneven spaces between the flooring and the wall, it will be cheaper to hide them with baseboards than to redo the flooring installation.
6. They Are a Healthy Option for Asthma Patients
Medical experts recommend the use of these boards in homes where there are asthma patients. When installed correctly, they can remove dust and spores in the home, through a circulation process. This will enable asthma patients to breathe safely, without complications. Also, the removal of these allergens will make your interior clean.
You may want to read more about how to keep your home clean for asthma patients here.
7. Easy to Maintain
Skirt boards can be maintained easily. You only need to wipe them to remove dirt and dust. If the boards are damaged, avoid repainting them. Get an epoxy powdered coating to take care of the damaged boards.
Conclusion
Baseboards or skirt boards are very important decorative elements in every home. They have a lot of advantages and we have discussed a few in this article. So, what are you waiting for? Get them installed on your property as soon as possible.