Best way of removing skirting boards

JLukins · Post by **JLukins** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:55 am

I'm generally not very good at DIY. I am about to lay laminate flooring for the 10th time but for the 1st time I am going to remove the skirting boards. (I hate beading!).

What's the best way:
a) to take them off without breaking them?
b) limit damage to the plasterboard and what's the best way to repair damaged plasterboard?
c) do the large skirting board which is part of the stairs (at a 45 degree angle and therefore impossible to take the whole thing off)?
d) put them back on?

Thanks.

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:16 pm

a) prise them off, find out which way they are attached first, if they are screwed then can you get access to the screwheads, by digging out the filler for example then remove the screws, if they are nailed or glued then you just have to prise. Start at the end of a piece as you will have greater leverage and then work along prising carefully as you go.

something like this is a good tool to use

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro ... 8&ts=86210

what type of skirtings are they it may be easier, cheaper to replace the whole lot

b) to limit the damage to the plasterboard try levering against a piece of plywood or mdf so you are not pressing directly onto the plasterboard. Any damage can be filled with filler, ready mixed poly filler type or one coat plaster

c) sorry I dont really understand what you are on about here, can you post a picture to make it clearer

d) I would glue them, assuming the walls are straight which you would imagine being plasterboard then. I like pink grip

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/sea/sea ... =pink+grip

JLukins · Post by **JLukins** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:33 pm

Here are some piccies...

As you can see from the picture at the bottom of the stairs I can't simply take the board off. I presume I'll need to cut it somehow.

I've also taken a picture of my radiator too as it is another area I can see myself struggling with that too. Any advice on it?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:54 pm

I can see you having a few problems with this!

Thanks for posting the photos as they really help.

Normally when you remove skirting boards they are thrown and replaced with new ones, unless they are really deep and of historical value or hard to replace.

The skirting that you are removing looks like Taurus profile and is available from most places. It will be very difficult to remove some of it without damage and as you have pointed out the radiator pipes are in the way!

You could try levering it away from the wall and then cutting it into two sections with a tennon saw.

The bit at the bottom of the stairs- it looks like the skirting is mitred to the correct angle to meet the staircase or does it run behind?

I think that you may be better off salvaging what you can and then replacing some with new skirting to be honest.

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:32 pm

i think what you are refering to is the string of the stairs. You can not remove this as it is part of the structure of the stairs. You can remove the skirting butted up to it

That actually only looks like 3" torus architrave used as skirting, I would rip it out and replace. It is ever so cheap and avaliable at any timber merchants

Only-Me · Post by **Only-Me** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:54 pm

Or bung a carpet fitter a few bob for him to trim of bottom of skirtings with his skirting and moulding trimmer thingy

Well I know what I mean

JLukins · Post by **JLukins** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:28 am

Tim, you've spotted the problem with the bottom of the stairs but you don't offer any advice on what to do?

The general feeling I'm getting is that I should remove the skirting board and throw it away. Fair enough. What I am also concerned about however is the likely damage to the walls when I take the existing boards off. I don't want to have to pay a plasterer to come in and re-do it.

As for the radiator I was thinking of taking the radiator off to give myself more room to work in.

Thanks for your advice guys.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:56 pm

The skirting will just be butted up to it and so it should pull away from the stairs.

If you are careful then the walls will only be damaged below skirting height and so the new skirting will cover any damage.

When ever you try to lever off the skirting put a large piece of flat timber between the wall and levering tool and the wall will not be damaged then.

Hope this helps

JLukins · Post by **JLukins** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:09 pm

But how do I manage the laminate flooring at the bottom of the stairs? It will be going under the skirting everywhere else but I won't be able to do that.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:16 pm

There is not a lot you can do with that apart from butt the laminate right up to the string, it will only be a short piece and so expansion will be minimal.

The best option could be to cut a groove in the string to accommodate the laminate, Put down the underlay and then a piece of laminate and draw a line along the length of the string. Cut alond the line with a saw and then remove awkward bits with sharp wood chisel.

you only need to cut 10mm out of each string and then have the laminate go underneath by 5 mm at each side.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:24 pm

I forgot to mention that some pros do not remove the skirting but cut a small amount from the bottom insitu. The tool for doint it is expensive and so are the blades-

http://www.tool-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Fei ... aster.html

This would be ideal for cutting the required groove out of the string

JLukins · Post by **JLukins** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:42 pm

Do you know if I could hire one from somewhere?

Thanks for all your help btw.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:54 pm

I am not sure to be honest, if you just want to trim off the bit from the string, then you could do it with a tennon saw and sharp, wide wood chisel.

The bad thing about the fein is the cost of the blade as if you wanted to trim all the skirting boards you would need a few blades, which are not cheap!

You could enquire at our local hire shop, they might have something similar?

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:47 pm

if the string is an issue what are you going to do at the bottom riser of the stairs.

I would just but these pieces of laminate up to the stairs, they will have an expansion gap at the other end

Only-Me · Post by **Only-Me** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:57 pm

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/Prod ... ctID=23818

This is what a lot of carpet/laminate fitters use..............then you would'nt have to remove skirtings. Not sure if you can hire them, but you maybe be able to ring around a few fitters