CRF Services Ltd
Skirting board and architrave fitting
Skirting and architrave are the finishing carpentry that frames every room. When the joints are tight and the lines are straight, nobody notices them. When they are gappy or chipped, the whole room looks unfinished. Getting them right is a job of patience, sharp tools and careful measuring rather than speed.
Where skirting and architrave usually need attention
The most common reasons people ask for new skirting are new flooring, damage from years of hoovers and furniture, or a renovation that has left walls replastered and bare. Architrave around doors often gets replaced when new doors go in, or when the old trim has been painted so many times the detail has been lost.
In older properties, lengths of original skirting sometimes need matching or repairing rather than replacing throughout. Danny will look at what is there and talk through whether to repair, match or replace.
What makes a neat finish
Walls are rarely straight and corners are rarely a true right angle. Good skirting follows the wall closely without big gaps along the top, and the internal corners are shaped so they close tightly rather than opening up as the timber moves. External corners are mitred so the profile runs round cleanly.
Architrave has to sit evenly around the door lining with a consistent margin, and the joints at the top corners need to stay closed. Small differences here are easy to see because they sit at eye level on every doorway.
The work involved
A skirting and architrave job usually includes the following.
- Carefully removing old skirting and architrave
- Checking and making good the wall behind
- Measuring and cutting new lengths to suit each wall
- Fitting with tight internal and external corners
- Filling fixings and small gaps ready for painting
- Clearing away offcuts and old timber
Fitting alongside other work
Skirting is ideally fitted after flooring and plastering, and before the final decorating. That order gives the cleanest finish and avoids new timber being damaged. If you are planning a floor, new doors or a room refresh, it makes sense to fit skirting as part of the same job.
Because Danny covers carpentry, floors and interior work, the pieces can be done in the right order by one person, rather than waiting for separate trades to fit around each other. The house interiors page covers wider room refreshes in more detail.
Choosing a profile
Skirting comes in a range of heights and profiles, from simple rounded boards to taller, more decorative shapes that suit period rooms. It is worth choosing one profile for skirting and a matching one for architrave so the house feels consistent. Taller skirting can suit rooms with high ceilings, while simpler shapes are easier to keep clean.
When enquiring, tell Danny which rooms you want done, send photographs of the existing trim and mention whether flooring or doors are changing at the same time.
Keeping disruption low
Replacing trim is quieter and cleaner than many jobs, but removing old skirting can bring away some plaster, particularly in older walls. That is made good as part of the work so the new boards sit against a solid surface. Furniture needs pulling away from the walls in the rooms being done, and fitted wardrobes or kitchen units may limit where new lengths can go. Danny will point out anything like that during the visit. Cutting is done with care for dust, and each room can usually be finished before the next is started, so the rest of the house stays usable throughout.
This work is part of our Carpentry service.
Common questions
Skirting board and architrave fitting questions answered
Have a job in mind?
Tell Danny what needs doing and get a clear, no-obligation quotation.