How to cut and install decorative skirting board?

[EllieBee]

 

I have purchased this skirting board which I plan on installing throughout my apartment. The walls are rendered brick and the old skirts have been removed. Removing the old nails has ripped a bit of render off here and there. 

How difficult is it to cut the decorative board? 
how should I secure it to the wall? 

[EricL]

Hello @EllieBee 

I suggest using a Craftright Mitre Box And Saw Set to make it easy to cut angles for your skirting board. My best advice is to practice on other timber pieces first in order to familiarize yourself with the mitre box guide. If the skirting board will hide the damage, I propose using Selleys 420g Liquid Nails Fast Grab Strong Adhesive to stick the skirting board to your rendered brick wall. You can use heavy weights or heavy books to hold the skirting board in place until the adhesive cures. Using masonry nails might further damage the render so I recommend just pressing the board to the wall.

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag and @Dave-1 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @EllieBee 

First job is to patch the render thats will be exposed above the new 92mm high skirts.

The suggestion to use a mitre box by @EricL is ideal, but I'm not sure a standard mitre box is tall enough for 92mm skirt. This means your starting cuts won't have any guide. So you might need to check that first in-store unless Eric knows?

Hand cutting MDF skirt is going to be tough going and you will have a lot of cuts to do. I would consider a mitre saw with a 60 tooth blade that has a capacity to cut more than 92mm in a straight or mitre cut. We would need to research a suitable model as this is a tall cut and would need possibly a 12'/305mm mitre saw. Alternatively consider hiring one on a stand.

The method of gluing @EricL mentioned is the way to go. But you will require lots of heavy weights like bricks wrapped in rags to stop marking the boards. These need to rest up against the skirting until the glue grabs, hence the importance on using the one Eric is suggesting.

From experience don't attempt to use masonry nails as that gets messy. Just expect to run a flexible gap filler along the top of the boards where they meet the wall. This is a very acceptable method of filling the gaps and can be painted once dried.

Nailbag

[EricL]

Hello @EllieBee 

That was good spotting by @Nailbag on the mitre box height. Since your skirting board is 92mm tall, the tallest mitre box that the store carries is the Builders Edge Mitre Box which can do 90mm tall pieces. If you stay with your current skirting board, I suggest investing in a mitre saw to get perfect cuts. The other option is to get a skirting board that is not so tall.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Morning @EllieBee 

The first step would be to fill/repair those missing patches you have mentioned as @Nailbag has suggested.

Second step I would be using @EricL's way of securing the skirt to the wall with liquid nails.

Third step, consider purchasing a compound saw and also a IRWIN Coping Saw 

I went down the path of manufacturing the cornice I wanted from two pieces of cornice Yeah looking back I shake my head at myself.

Garage lining for stud walls stage 2 (Cornice and skirting boards) 

Note - Corners may not be 90deg as you would expect., copy the angles on a piece of paper/cardboard and then practice with smaller bits and get confident first. (Id also use the "practice bits as  a template for the final ones. That really helped me feel confident)

Dave