Attaching MDF skirting boards/gap for carpets

[macadonald]

Hi guys,

Quick one re skirting boards. As all the rooms have been stripped back and replastered, I have exposed floor boards. I've now bought some new MDF moulded skirting boards, which I need to attach.

1. do I leave a gap between the skirting and the floor boards for the carpet to tuck under OR do the skirtings sit directly on the floor boards. I seem to recall coming accross both situations over the years when lifting carpets. Sometimes they are simply butted up against the skirting boards and sometimes they go under.

2. with mdf, can I assume that grip fill with a few screws and rawl plugs are good for mdf and lastly some flexible polyfilla or decorators caulk?

Thanks

 

[big-all]

purpose off skirting board
protect the wall and seal the gap between the floor and wall to stop draughts

gaps can appear as wood shrinks/settles

 

[lymmranger]

...just to reinforce what big-all is saying

No !

No !

No !

why on earth would anyone tuck carpet under the skirting boards????

 

[macadonald]

Thanks guys... although not certain whether the last of Lymmrangers's 'No's' was to answer whether Grip fill and screws/rawl plugs are good for attaching the boards.

As the plasterer stoped short of the floor (somewhere between 50-100mm), would it be worth getting some sand/cement and and filling level with the wall at say 3 points along the wall? Just to give a firm base to fasten to?