If you’re looking for the best way to paint skirting boards, you’ve come to the right place.
Painting skirting boards is not a tricky job, and one which does not need doing on a regular basis.
It is a very good way though to freshen up the look of your home.
If you’ve started to notice marks and damage on your skirting boards now may be the time to undertake this minor DIY job.
Painting skirting boards is a job you can usually tackle yourself rather than something you have to get a professional painter in to do.
As with all DIY jobs, the key is in the preparation, and painting skirting boards is no exception.
Follow these steps on how to paint your skirting boards and you won’t go far wrong.
Preparation and Protection When Painting Skirting Boards
Whatever the type of flooring in your home, you will want to protect your carpet or hard flooring from paint or dust.
In most cases, this can be done by using fabric dust sheets or plastic sheeting to completely cover the carpet.
If you can, tuck the sheets over the edge of the flooring to try to eliminate gaps.
If you cannot seal off the flooring properly and you are concerned about damaging expensive carpets or flooring, it might be best to take the skirting boards off the wall to paint them.
Alternatively, you could spend a little extra money to get professional carpenters or joiners in to remove and replace skirting boards.
Painting Skirting Boards - Sanding and Filling
Once you have protected your carpet or flooring, the next job is to sand down the skirting boards ready for a fresh coat of paint.
You will also need to fill and treat any areas which have become damaged.
Use fine sandpaper to gently rub at the skirting boards.
Remember that you are just trying to create a “key” for the paint by making the surface less shiny.
You are not trying to remove the paint completely with the sanding.
Fill any holes or dents using a commercial filler product according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Leave the filler to dry.
Sand down the filler to the same level as the rest of the board.
Painting The Skirting Boards
Whether you will need to prime the skirting boards before you paint them will depend on the type of paint you are using for the top coat.
With many modern paints, you can skip the priming stage, and go straight to applying top coat.
However, you should always check on this.
Always check what the manufacturer recommends on the tin.
Bear in mind that if you are trying to cover a very dark colour on the skirting boards with a lighter shade of white or cream, you may need to use at least two coats to cover the darker paint.
In this case, it might be wise to use a primer beforehand.
The key to a good painting job is taking your time and not rushing.
A smaller brush will be easier to manipulate than a larger brush.
Don’t overload your brush with too much paint as this can cause paint to splatter or drip.
Allow the first coat of paint to completely dry.
Apply a second coat if necessary.
Gloss paint is the traditional choice for painting skirting boards but is sticky to apply and takes a long time to dry.
A good alternative is satinwood or eggshell, which has a slight sheen but which is easier to apply.
Also, consider the higher amount of fumes which can come with painting with gloss paint.
If fumes are a major problem for you consider looking for low fume emission paint.
Allow to totally dry.
Step back and admire your handiwork.
