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  1. Home
  2. Building Advice for Trade Experts | Jewson
  3. Expert Construction Project Management Advice | Jewson
  4. How to Fit Skirting Boards and Architraves | Jewson
Close-up of white painted skirting board molding along a wall, highlighting the decorative profile above a wooden floor.

How to fit skirting boards and architraves

Skirting boards and architraves protect the perimeter of the room and cover joints between wall surfaces, floors, and door or window frames. When fitted well, they provide a tidy finish that conceals uneven plaster work and guards against scuffs and damage to floors and walls.

With the proper preparation, tools, and installation methods, fitting skirting boards and architraves correctly is a simple task.

Tools and materials required to fit skirting boards and architraves

Before you get started, you need to decide on the type of skirting boards and architraves you want to install, ensuring they suit your preferred style and budget. You’ll find MDF, oak, pine, fibreboard, redwood, and other options that cater to all tastes within our varied collection.

Start by measuring the room to determine how much you need. We recommend ordering 10% more of the skirting boards than you think you need to account for cutting errors and offcuts.

To fit your skirting boards and architraves properly, you also need:

  • Tape measure, pencil, tape, and spirit level
  • Utility knife and chisel
  • Mitre saw or mitre box
  • Coping saw and sandpaper or sanding sponge
  • Adhesive and sealant gun
  • Lost head nails and brads (if nailing)
  • Hammer and nail punch (if nailing)
  • Caulk or decorator’s filler
  • Safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask.

Preparation for fitting skirting boards and architraves

Proper preparation is essential for replacing old skirting boards and architraves, or fitting new ones. Before you begin, take the time to clear the area and get everything ready. This will make the task easier and help you achieve the best possible finish.

  • Clear the working area of any furniture, rugs, carpet, or other floor coverings.
  • Carefully remove any old skirting boards or architraves. Use a utility knife to score across the top edge where it meets the wall to break the paint seal. Then use a flathead screwdriver or a chisel to pry away the board from the wall.
  • Remove any old nails and adhesive before filling cracks or holes, then leave them to dry.
  • Check the walls and floors are level with a spirit level. If they’re uneven, you might need to use screws or nails rather than an adhesive.
  • Acclimatise the MDF or timber skirting boards to the new environment by leaving them to sit in the room for 24-48 hours before fitting. This enables moisture content to equalise, reducing the risk of warping and gaps after fitting.
  • Vacuum the wall, floor, and frame edges to remove dust and debris. Then wipe down the surfaces and skirting boards with warm, soapy water.

How to fit skirting boards

To fit your skirting boards, follow these steps:

Person fitting wooden skirting boards at an inside corner, aligning mitred pieces on a light wood floor beside a tool belt.

  1. Measure the walls

    Measure each wall from the internal to the external corner. Mark the required lengths on your skirting board with a pencil, using tape if helpful to guarantee accurate measurements.

  2. Label your cut types

    Label the cut type you need. You’ll want a straight cut if the edge borders a door frame, or a mitre or coping joint if it stops at an internal or external corner.

Person kneeling on a light wood floor measuring skirting board pieces with a tape measure, surrounded by tools including gloves, drill and saw.

  1. Cut the skirting boards

    Cut the skirting boards to size using a handsaw or mitre saw . You might want to lightly sand soft or hardwood skirting boards, but you don’t need to sand MDF. The type of cut you need depends on where the board goes:

    • End sections need a straight cut at a 90° angle to the wood’s surface.
    • Internal corners are best cut with scribed joints. Cut one board square, and scribe the other to match the profile of the first piece.
    • External corners require mitre cuts. For both boards, measure and mark the point where the two pieces of skirting board will meet, and cut each one at 45° angles with a mitre saw to create a 90° corner.

Person aligning and fitting a wooden skirting board along a wall, pressing it into place on a polished wood floor with a hammer nearby.

  1. Fix the skirting boards

    Fix the skirting boards to the wall with one of these three methods:

    • Drill pilot holes in the skirting board and apply adhesive to the back. Press the board firmly in place, then use a nail gun or hammer with lost-head nails, and a nail punch to sink the heads for secure installation.
    • When adding skirting to plasterboard or dry, flat walls, apply adhesive to the back of the skirting board. Push it against the wall, making sure it’s level, and use temporary supports to hold it in place.
    • For older homes with brick or stone walls, drill pilot holes in the skirting board and the wall with a masonry bit, then use wall plugs to secure the boards.

  1. Fill any gaps

    After fitting, check for any gaps caused by uneven surfaces. Fill gaps less than 5mm between the boards and the wall by applying a thin bead of caulk along the top and bottom edges of the skirting boards.

    For larger gaps, use a compass to bridge the widest gap and scribe along it to achieve a tight joint. You can also use flexible filler or expanding foam.

  1. Finish the skirting boards

    If you notice any rough edges after fitting the skirting boards, you can sand and paint them to match the surrounding decor for the perfect finish.

    • Use a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth any rough surfaces.
    • Finish your skirting with a wood primer (if bought unprimed) and paint it the desired shade.

How to fit architraves

Follow these steps for easy architrave installation:

  1. Measure the door

    Start by measuring the door frame to determine the quantity and size of architraves you need. They should form two upright legs and one head piece.

  2. Mark the area

    Mark where the architrave will sit around the frame using a tape measure or combination square and pencil, between 5 and 10mm from the door lining. This ‘reveal’ or margin ensures enough space for hinges to operate.

  3. Cut your architraves

    Cut the first upright with a mitre saw at a 45° angle and reverse the mitre direction to cut the other upright. Cut an opposing 45° mitre on the head piece.

  4. Check and adjust

    Temporarily position the uprights and head piece in place to check if they fit and make any mitre adjustments before you start fitting.

  5. Fit your architraves

    When you’re happy they align, fit the architraves. Apply adhesive in lines, keeping it at least 30mm away from the edge to avoid excess spread. Use around six lost head nails to secure each upright, and four for the head piece.

  6. Final checks

    Check everything is aligned and leave the adhesive to dry before you prime or paint the architraves.

Common skirting board and architrave installation mistakes to avoid

Fitting skirting boards and architraves can be tricky. So there are some common errors you’ll want to avoid, including:

  • Rushing measurements and leaving gaps
  • Not scribing internal corners, resulting in ill-fitting joints
  • Overusing adhesive so it spreads and doesn’t dry properly
  • Forgetting expansion gaps
  • Fixing architraves before dry fitting.

Find top tips for all your other projects in our expert advice guides.