Skirting & architrave repair

[glamorous_goldfish]

Hi all, long time lurker but first time poster...

I've had some skirting and architrave fitted fairly recently but I'm not happy with some of the gaps that are left as I'm not sure if a decorator would be able to make it look as seamless as it should. Is this something I can fix or should I get another joiner in to remedy it? (Or maybe it's absolutely fine and a decorator will easily sort it, I don't know)

The architrave has been padded out from the wall, you can see where the new wood has been added. I'm not sure if that's been done because it's not flat underneath, but the old architrave was flush to the wall.

I know I should have got the original joiner back but I had a lot going on at the time and paid before I'd really had a good look at it, and a few months have passed now. A lesson for the future!

Have attached some photos to show what I'm working with.

 

[chirpychippy]

The workmanship is appalling. Joiner isn't the term I would associate with this debacle.

The door lining is to wide which is why the architrave is sitting out. The architrave should of been rebated and or packed off to close the gap to the wall, the mitres should be superglue together and perfect.

The skirting board needs to be removed and refitted it is shocking.

 

[glamorous_goldfish]

Do you reckon my best bet is to get a new joiner in to have a look or is it something I could tackle myself? I'm handy with a nail gun and have built fences before but haven't done any internal work previously bar the odd shelf fitting.

The original door lining is still there, he added the extra wood on top of it (not sure why). It looks as if the arcs would fit fine if it was removed but I didn't want to mess with it without advice in case I was missing some reason for it to be there.

 

[chirpychippy]

Find a Carpenter preferably one that is recommended to you by friends/family, or failing that ask for photos of previous similar works completed.

 

[glamorous_goldfish]

This one was recommended to me unfortunately! That's another reason I didn't question anything at the time, because the person who recommended them is a tradie who has done very good work for me previously. I will trawl Google reviews this time I think

 

[Old Salt]

Have a go yourself you have nothing to lose. I should think any joiner would just remove it and replace with new so you may as well give it a go.

 

[glamorous_goldfish]

Fair point. I could do with not paying twice given the amount I paid the first time!

 

[chirpychippy]

Fair point. I could do with not paying twice given the amount I paid the first time!

Can you get your hands on a compound chopsaw?

I suspect, if the walls are newly plastered, the plasterer has scooped the plaster at the bottom or a curve, if this is the case the curve needs smashing off with a hammer and brick chisel so the skirting sits flat.

The corners aren't perfect 45 degrees. What I do is put masking tape on the floor on the corner, place the skirting board in the desired position against the wall but oversailing the corner then mark the front and back with a pencil onto to the tape, then do likewise for the return, with a straight edge join the two points where the lines cross and that is your angle. Mark the angle front and back on one board then using a sliding bevel take the angle.

I transfer that angle off of the sliding bevel onto an off cut of archi and use the chop to give me the numerical angle. Tilt the blade to that angle cut the skirting x 2 "don't cut your fingers off" Hey Presto the skirting will look tip top.

 

[glamorous_goldfish]

I've got a compound chopsaw already so that's no problem.

The walls aren't freshly plastered, the skirting came off before I had new flooring fitted and I took the opportunity to paint but that's all. There are definitely some odd angles in there but that's what I was paying a joiner for!

Thanks for your advice, I will give it a go and see how I get on. At least I can't make it look any worse...?

 

[endecotp]

the person who recommended them is a tradie who has done very good work for me previously.

There’s a difference between recommendations from customers and recommendations from other tradesmen; in the latter case, they may be returning a favour or even getting commission.