Not happy with a friends skirting job

[kroc_kroc]

As the title suggests I got a friend who is a multi purpose builder to help me with my AV installation.

He also added new skirting boards around the whole living room. The main one which sits on the TV wall has 4 cut-out holes for double plug sockets to sit into. The actual skirting has split right down the centre parallell to the foor. When I asked him about this he said it was the poor quality wood. Obviously I said to him why did he use it if it's poor quality? He said he had no choice as all the wood in England is prepared really badly.

Basically, I'm wandering if all the other skirting is going to warp/crack/shrink/etc now? Should I be concerned about this.

I'm annoyed because the carpet was supposed to be fitted tomorrow but I have to cancell it and I don't know what to do – new skirting or do you think this one will be ok ie fill the indent in the main TV skirting. Someone has recommended using mdf? Basically I want something of quality that isn't going to warp etc

Cheers in advance!

 

[JohnD]

I wonder if the cutouts have contributed to the cracking? Modern practice is to have sockets well up from the skirting so they are not prone to damage from hoovers and furniture.

It might also be the way they have been nailed in. Big nails with no pilot hole drilled encourage splitting. My practice is to fasten a pair of timber battens to the brickwork, and screw the skirting lightly onto that, but this is slow and labour intensive so not usually done by someone in business.

Possibly "gluing" the skirtings on with No More Nails or similar would have made them less likely to split.

 

[gcol]

What's wrong with screwing the blighters on? A quick fill and you're away.

 

[JohnD]

What's wrong with screwing the blighters on? A quick fill and you're away.

Do you mean me and my battens? It just means smaller screws, and if you like to take the skirtings off later for painting or carpet fitting, or to change them for varnished hardwood to match your new flooring, it's simpler. You can also run speaker cables between the battens, but that's another story.

 

[gcol]

What's wrong with screwing the blighters on? A quick fill and you're away.

Do you mean me and my battens? It just means smaller screws, and if you like to take the skirtings off later for painting or carpet fitting, or to change them for varnished hardwood to match your new flooring, it's simpler. You can also run speaker cables between the battens, but that's another story.

No, no battens. Just drill through the skirting into the wall and bang some plugs through and screw it down. You might be lucky with grab adhesive, but in my experience, the skirting is never properly flat and true so it usually kicks out at one end.
Do you leave the screws on show John?

 

[JohnD]

Do you leave the screws on show John?

if stained/varnished then I think a small, countersunk brass head looks fine.

If painted, depends if it's a room where I'm frequently moving telly/hifi/speakers as the idea is to tuck the cables out of sight, then I might paint the heads white and most people won't notice them.

I also use the battens as an edge for repairing the plaster, and it's usually knocked about a bit when old skirting is ripped out.

rah! rah! Battens! (not for everyone!)

 

[Sandy Beech]

Avoid the type that has different profiles on each side (usually sold by the sheds). I bought some good quality skirting from my local timber merchant and no way would it have split this way unless seriously abused.

However the practice of mounting sockets in the skirting is something that I thought had gone out in the 1970's. Sockets should be mounted well clear of potential damage from hoovers (as said) and are more easily reached if set up higher.

 

[kroc_kroc]

Cheers for all the advice. I'm getting the plugs moved above the skirting.

Sorry to link to another forum but you can view pics here if you want:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353374

I thought it would be more appropriate to clear things up here as this forum is more specialised. Can anyone give me some advice after viewing the pics. I was going to get him to change alll the skirting but I'm thinking about just moving the plugs above the skirting and replacing the front panel.

My main worry is that any of the other skirting is going to warp in time? Seems ok so far – any advice welcomed.

PS

I was going to replace the whole lot with oak and just stain it rather than paint it white. Has anyone got any recommendations of where to get oak 6x1 around the london area – preferably NW.

 

[Scrit]

You need to be a member over there to log in and see the piccys I'm afraid, although some of the info about wood was......... interesting????? (at least from a joiner's perspective).

I'm not from your neck of the woods, but if you are going for hardwood maybe someone like South London Hardwoods would be able to help, but make sure whoever puts them in knows how to scribe the inside corner joints or you'll be throwing your money away. JasonB's maybe the man to help here about sources (that's if he's not still posting rude comments about my age elsewhere! ).

Scrit

 

[WabbitPoo]

I use MDF skirtings when they are gonna be painted. Easily filled, nice and smooth surface and cut to a fine edge with a good saw. Oh, and warp free.

That double-sided stuff B&Q sell (and others) is really cr@p. Its usually warped in all three planes. Mind you, so are my walls, but that's another story.

 

[ceilingwall]

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see my post below

 

[moderator]

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