Fitting Skirting board piece after fireplace removal

[JLec]

Hi

I've just bought my first house and I'm having the fireplace removed (going for wall mounted instead).

This will leave a gap in the skirting boards which I need to address and I have a few questions.

1. Ideally I'd like to replace all the skirting on that wall purely to have it all looking neat and new, rather than just replacing a piece. I've looked into doing this myself but understand the main risk is damaging the plaster. If I get in a joiner, will they sort out any plastering needed or is that beyond their remit?
2. Am I going overboard and a decent joiner can fit a piece to the existing without any noticeable aesthetic problems? Or if I'm going down the 'fill the gap' route should I be doing this myself since there's no risk to the plastering.

Sorry for the simplistic questions, but I'm learning so much going through this process of doing up the house.

Jonathan

 

[foxhole]

Always a risk off damage when removing skirting , easy enough to repair.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

How old is it?
Score along the top of the skirting and pull it off. Easy peasy to fill any damage.This is kiddie level DIY.
As a beginner it sounds like you might as well pull the whole lot off and replace rather than try to fit a piece seamlessly (assuming you can even find a match to the existing skirting?).

 

[Tigercubrider]

use levers and wedges to shift the whole skirting away, rather than a massive lever to bend it at one end.
once the screws or nails begin to show it gets easier
doing it from one end may split and end in tears. Save the bits you take off and remember where they are.
Grip fill is handy to stick new stuff back.