Skirting Boards: The Complete Guide for UK Homes and Commercial Spaces
Skirting boards are easy to overlook until they're missing, damaged or badly fitted. They look like a simple finishing detail, but they do a practical job. They protect the base of your walls from knocks, mops and vacuum cleaners. They hide the awkward gap where flooring meets plaster. They also give a room a neat, completed look.
The choice is wider than it used to be. Alongside traditional timber and MDF, many UK homeowners, landlords and installers now use PVC skirting boards, flexible skirting board strips and self-adhesive skirting board products. These are quick to fit, easy to clean and practical in rooms where timber isn't always the best option.
This guide explains what skirting boards are, why they matter, which types are available and how to choose between them. It also covers how to fit a flexible, self-adhesive product. If you're ready to compare options, you can browse the Mafson LTD.
What Is a Skirting Board?
A skirting board (sometimes called a baseboard, or simply "skirting") is a strip of material fixed along the bottom of an interior wall, where the wall meets the floor. Some products fit at the wall-to-floor junction as a trim rather than as a tall board. Both are often described as floor skirting, wall skirting or skirting board trim.
In plain terms, it does four jobs:
- Finishes the junction between wall and floor, so the edge looks deliberate rather than unfinished.
- Covers gaps. Flooring such as laminate is usually fitted with a small expansion gap around the edges so it can move with temperature and humidity. Skirting or trim hides that gap.
- Protects the base of the wall from scuffs, cleaning equipment, furniture and general wear.
- Improves the look of the room by providing a clean line where two surfaces meet.
Different Types of Skirting Boards
Traditional skirting is usually made from solid timber or MDF. Timber has a classic appearance and can be painted or stained, but it needs sawing, nailing or gluing and regular repainting. MDF is smooth and paint-ready, but it can swell if exposed to moisture. Both need more tools and skill to fit than lightweight plastic alternatives. Here are the main types relevant to a modern renovation or refurbishment.
i) PVC Skirting Boards
PVC skirting boards and other plastic skirting boards are made from polyvinyl chloride. The material is durable, easy to wipe clean and needs no repainting. It also doesn't rot in the way untreated timber can. That makes PVC popular in rented properties, kitchens, utility rooms and commercial premises, where a surface that can be wiped down quickly is a real advantage.
ii) Flexible Skirting Boards
A flexible skirting board, such as a PVC flexible skirting board strip, is made from a bendable PVC profile. It's usually supplied in a roll or long length. Because it can flex, it follows the line where the floor meets the wall, which helps when walls aren't perfectly straight. It can also be used around gentle curves, rounded corners and slightly uneven joints where a rigid board would leave gaps.
iii) Self-Adhesive Skirting Boards
A self-adhesive skirting board has an adhesive backing built in. You remove the protective film, position the strip and press it into place. There's no drilling, nailing or separate adhesive to mix, and you don't need specialist tools. That makes these products popular with DIY enthusiasts and with installers who want a quick finishing solution on larger jobs.
Some products carry adhesive on the wall side, floor side or both, so check the product description to see how a particular strip is designed to fit.
iv) UPVC Skirting and Flat Trims
UPVC (unplasticised PVC) is a rigid, hard-wearing form of PVC. A UPVC skirting board with a flat profile gives a simple, contemporary look, and flat-design trims can often double as architrave. Mafson LTD stocks flat-design UPVC skirting and architrave trims in 45mm and 65mm sizes. The narrower size suits smaller rooms and subtle finishes, while the taller size gives a more visible skirting line.
Unlike flexible strips, these rigid profiles are typically fitted with adhesive, which is sold separately for sit-on products. They're a good choice where you want a firmer, board-like appearance.
v) Skirting Boards With Cable Management
Some profiles include a channel or removable cover to hide wiring. A cable-cover skirting board keeps cables tidy along the base of a wall instead of trailing across the floor or being stapled to the surface. This can be useful for TV and broadband leads, office desks and technical rooms.
An example is the PVC skirting, which combines cable-cover functionality with flexible edges. As always, confirm the exact features of the product you're buying before you order.
Self-Adhesive vs Non-Adhesive Skirting Boards
Whether you choose self-adhesive or non-adhesive skirting mostly comes down to convenience versus firmness.
| Features | Self-adhesive skirting | Non-adhesive (sit-on) skirting |
|---|---|---|
| Fixing | Adhesive backing already applied | Needs separately purchased adhesive |
| Installation speed | Generally quicker | Slightly slower, as adhesive must be applied |
| Tools needed | Often just a knife or scissors and a tape measure | Adhesive, applicator and possibly a saw |
| Best suited to | Smooth, clean, dry surfaces; DIY jobs | Rigid boards and profiles needing a secure fix |
| Flexibility | Often a flexible strip | Often a firmer board or trim |
Self-adhesive products are attractive because the adhesive is already there. However, the bond depends on the surface. Dusty, greasy, damp, or very rough walls can reduce adhesion. In those cases, or where the manufacturer recommends it, additional adhesive may be needed.
How to Install Self-Adhesive Flexible Skirting Board
Installation varies between products, so follow the instructions supplied with yours. As a general guide, the process looks like this:
- Measure the area. Work out the length needed for each wall or joint, noting any corners.
- Check the surface is dry. Adhesive won't bond well to damp walls or floors. Allow new paint, plaster or cleaning products to dry fully.
- Consider temperature. Some manufacturers recommend fitting at a moderate room temperature, since adhesive can perform poorly in the cold. Check the guidance for your product.
- Measure and cut. Cut the strip to length with a sharp knife or scissors, if the product allows. Measure twice so the cut is accurate.
- Remove the protective backing. Peel back a short section at first, so you can position the strip before committing to the full length.
- Position carefully. Line the trim up along the joint, working in small sections.
- Press firmly. Apply even pressure along the length so the adhesive makes full contact with both the wall and floor.
Where the manufacturer suggests extra adhesive, for example on plasterboard or in cold, damp conditions, use a suitable adhesive as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are PVC skirting boards used for?
PVC skirting boards finish the joint between walls and floors, protect the base of the wall, and hide gaps left by flooring installation. They're easy to clean and low maintenance, making them popular in homes, rentals, and commercial spaces.
Q: Are self-adhesive skirting boards easy to fit?
Many are. They have a built-in adhesive backing, so you cut the strip to length, remove the protective film, and press it into place without nails or specialist tools. Surfaces must be clean and dry, and instructions vary by product.
Q: Can flexible skirting board be used in kitchens and bathrooms?
Selected flexible PVC products can be used in kitchens and bathrooms, as PVC is easy to wipe clean and doesn't absorb moisture like untreated timber. Always check that the individual product is suitable for damp conditions before buying.
Q: Can skirting boards hide cables?
Some can. Cable-cover skirting profiles include a channel or removable cover that conceals wiring along the base of a wall. Not every skirting board has this feature, so check the product details.
Conclusion
The right skirting board protects your walls, conceals floor-to-wall gaps and creates a neat, finished interior. For many homes and workplaces, PVC, flexible, self-adhesive and UPVC options offer a practical balance of easy fitting, easy cleaning and low maintenance. Choose by room, material, size, length and fixing method, and check each product's details so it suits your walls, flooring and moisture conditions.
Explore the Mafson LTD for the skirting boards collection to find a practical finishing solution for your next home, flooring or commercial project.