If you have your marks all set and ready to be cut into, you can now move on to cutting the skirting! To accompany your interior doors, here is a deeper insight into how you can cut your skirting with some simple steps.
Table of contents:
How to cut skirting board
There are things to consider when cutting skirting board before cutting it, including:
- Whether it is a single or double piece of skirting
- The length of the skirting
- Whether the skirting is for an internal or external corner
Once you have the above points thought out, you can move on to the next stage.
Cutting the skirting board – internal board corners
Cutting an internal board corner is slightly different to cutting an external board. Here are the steps for cutting an internal skirting board corner:
Step one: Cut the skirting board to the desired lengths needed. If cutting a longer piece of skirting board, make sure the opposite end is supported temporarily to avoid cutting a wonky line.
Step two: On the back face of the skirting, mark the positioning of the corner and note the angle at which the cut needs to be.
Step three: Position the skirting with the front face towards you. If cutting a longer piece of skirting board, again make sure the opposite end is supported temporarily to avoid cutting a wonky line.
Step four: Cut a profile cut on one end and a square cut on the outer end; making sure the profile cut is done first.
Note: Use a mitre box to cut the profile accordingly.
Step five: Make sure the profiled end fits neatly against the profiled skirting board face for a smooth and consistent appearance.
Step six: Smooth out the cut surface by sanding it down with fine sandpaper.
Step seven: Test the joint again to ensure there is a tight fit. Joint gaps can prevent a clean fit. So make sure to note where the joint is being prevented to fit in to make any tweaks.
Step eight: If you do have any gaps, use a block pane or sharp chisel to shave small amounts of skirting off. This will ensure the gap is close-fitting.
Note: These cuts ensure a profile piece can be pushed in place, facing the square cut skirting board piece.
Step nine: Set out the scribed joints to ensure you don’t need to cut the profile on one piece of skirting board.
Cutting the skirting board – external board corners
Cutting an external board corner is a similar process to cutting an internal board corner with a few minor differences. Here are the steps for cutting for an external skirting board corner:
Step one: Cut the skirting board to the desired lengths needed. Support a longer piece of skirting board by making sure the opposite end is supported temporarily to avoid cutting a wonky line.
Step two: Position the skirting against the corner. On the back face of the skirting, mark the positioning of the corner and note the angle at which the cut needs to be.
Step three: Position the skirting with the front face towards you. If cutting a longer piece of skirting board, again make sure the opposite end is supported temporarily to avoid cutting a wonky line.
Step four: Using a mitre saw, cut a 45° angle so that the skirting fits around the wall as closely as possible.
Step five: Test the joints to ensure a tight fit. Also, make sure it is tightly fit against the wall without any large gaps between the skirting board and the wall.
Step six: Smooth out the cut surface by sanding it down with fine sandpaper.
Step seven: Test the joint again to ensure there is a tight fit. Joint gaps can prevent a clean fit. So make sure to note where the joint is being prevented to fit in to make any tweaks.
Step eight: If you do have any gaps, use a block pane or sharp chisel to shave small amounts of skirting off. This will ensure the gap is close-fitting.
Step nine: If the piece of skirting leads to a profile or wall, make sure to make the appropriate cuts accordingly.
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