Skirting Board / Baseboard

A skirting board (called a baseboard in the US) is the strip of material — usually timber or MDF — that runs along the bottom of your walls where they meet the floor. It serves both a practical and a decorative purpose: it protects the vulnerable base of the wall from scuffs, furniture knocks, and vacuum cleaner bumps, while also covering the expansion gap left between the flooring and the wall.

Why skirting boards matter in a renovation

During a renovation, skirting boards are almost always affected. If you are replastering, laying new flooring, or reconfiguring rooms, the skirting will need to come off. Old skirting boards often crack or split when removed, so it is worth budgeting for replacements. New skirting boards are one of the most cost-effective ways to modernise a room — they are relatively cheap and make a noticeable difference.

Common skirting board profiles

• Ogee — the most common traditional profile with a curved, S-shaped top edge
• Torus — a rounded profile, often found in Edwardian and inter-war properties
• Chamfered — a simple angled top edge, popular in modern builds
• Square-edge — completely flat, the most contemporary option
• Bullnose — a rounded top edge, simple and timeless
• Period / Victorian — tall, ornate profiles suited to older properties

Height and proportions

Standard skirting board height ranges from 95mm to 170mm, though period properties can have skirting as tall as 300mm or more. A good rule of thumb: taller rooms suit taller skirting boards. Match the style of your skirting to your architrave for a cohesive finish.

Installation tips

Skirting boards are fitted as a second-fix item — after plastering and before or after decorating. Your contractor should fit them tight to the floor surface. If you are having new flooring laid, discuss the order of work: some flooring types like LVT are laid before skirting goes on, while carpet goes down after.