Covering expansion gap skirting (1)

[robbie77]

Hi
I had a quick search and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.
Fitted engineering wood floor (4mm) veneer. I have an expansion gap normally around 10mm but at most 20 in places before I got my eye in! I was hoping to avoid scotia and my skirting is a few mm shy. So do I just buy thicker skirting stuff I have is about 13mm and maybe a bit Naff? or can I angle the skirting a little to cover the gap. Does that sound like a proper bodge? It certainly sounds it!

 

[robbie77]

Hi
I had a quick search and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.
Fitted engineering wood floor (4mm) veneer. I have an expansion gap normally around 10mm but at most 20 in places before I got my eye in!

I was hoping to avoid scotia and my skirting is a few mm shy. So do I just buy thicker skirting stuff I have is about 13mm and maybe a bit Naff? or can I angle the skirting a little to cover the gap. Does that sound like a proper bodge? It certainly sounds it!


View attachment 248473

 

[RandomGrinch]

Hi,

So do I just buy thicker skirting stuff I have is about 13mm and maybe a bit Naff?

Yes!

Plenty of options available here, to have a look at:

https://metresdirect.co.uk/collections/full-range

Hopefully, that will give you some ideas.

...and

or can I angle the skirting a little to cover the gap. Does that sound like a proper bodge? It certainly sounds it!

Definitely a bodge!

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Compraband

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Compraband.I've used dark brown, black and grey on jobs where we needed to form a neat edge against a raw brick wall. Not sure if they can match your colour

 

[Swwils]

You need to put your skirting over the floor or effectively you have filled up your expansion gap.

If I am brutally honest you should refit those boards where it won't cover it, doing it now whilst you are motivated is the best bet. Anything else will look naff as you say and you'll be stuck with it.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

That or find a thicker skirting board

 

[big-all]

whats the gap like on the opposit side if its less then "jumping" the floor across to average the floor over with your grippiest trainers may be an option
10mm wandering to perhaps 14mm is all you would expect knowing skirting is perhaps 15 or 16mm
greater thickness would be my choice but architrave thickness may scupper that idea or involve plinth blocks or other solutions

 

[Tigercubrider]

How thick is the gap and skirting?
ie How much extra thickness is required at worst case scenario?

You could buy finished strip wood and fix it to the top back of the skirting. then add the same to the bottom, or smaller blocks of the same depth.
You could even make use of the gap by making the whole thing removable and usable as a cable route (although possibly not for mains)

If the skirting you have is too blocky looking with the above, various options could create a more tapered top to the skirting.

 

[robbie77]

I managed source some nice oak trim for around the stairs that would cover the gaps but I could also use it against the wall? It won't offer the protection of a skirting though so would most people still put a chunky skirting here or use this?

Thanks

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I managed source some nice oak trim for around the stairs that would cover the gaps but I could also use it against the wall? It won't offer the protection of a skirting though so would most people still put a chunky skirting here or use this?

If that quadrant is made from plastic faced fibre, it is horrible stuff. The first time it sees any moisture, it will bulge, distort and the face will peel off. For the important rooms, the laminate needs to be under the skirting lip. For less important rooms, I found an entirely plastic quadrant strip intended for double gazing use works best, though colour choice is limited. Eurocell sell it and it is really cheap, much cheaper that the horrible fibre quadrant strip.

 

[robbie77]

If that quadrant is made from plastic faced fibre, it is horrible stuff. The first time it sees any moisture, it will bulge, distort and the face will peel off. For the important rooms, the laminate needs to be under the skirting lip. For less important rooms, I found an entirely plastic quadrant strip intended for double gazing use works best, though colour choice is limited. Eurocell sell it and it is really cheap, much cheaper that the horrible fibre quadrant strip.

It's actually solid Oak!

 

[robbie77]

I'll get decent skirting though I think.

 

[tell80]

Maybe your aware that possible signs of rising damp are shadow wall patches and bubbled paint/skim? You seem tohave both. Plus some plaster cracks.

 

[foxhole]

Maybe your aware that possible signs of rising damp are shadow wall patches and bubbled paint/skim? You seem tohave both. Plus some plaster cracks.

Rubbish.