Skirting boards that suit for victorian house

[Bruce Burton]

Hi all, we've just moved to an old victorian house with very high ceilings. We're going for really basic wallpaper and nothing too elaborate, but when it comes to the skirting board I need something big that doesn't look lost. Is it as simple as choosing 'victorian skirting' like this one? :http://www.skirtingboard.uk/2059-mdf-skirting-board/

 

[gregers]

possible,or just use a matching mould similar to your architraves and cut up some mdf sheet for the reuired height you would like and place the moulding on top of it.

 

[mattylad]

Take a bit of what you currently have (or photos and measurements) to your local wood yard.
Being local they will be familiar with whats bee used in the area.

 

[joeinlondon]

Why do you need new skirting. If the existing is victorian you should keep that. It will be seasoned wood rather than mdf. If not ask your neighbours to see what they have as this is often the best guide if houses were built at same time. The link doesn't look very victorian whith the bit sticking out at the bottom. Early grand victorian houses would often use a plank of wood and then a piece of skirting to increase the height in main rooms but you don't want to do this is a room which is too small or late victorian as will look odd.

 

[Bruce Burton]

Thanks for all your replies. Some of the rooms are ... "OK" .. but some of them have been trashed and simply need an overhaull. some of them have had to be plastered and the builders have ripped the boards off and skipped them!

Another idea I had is to combine two different profiles, perhaps something like this - and sit something else on top of it, becuase it has a flat top? perhaps a decorative original victorian top in an architrave size perhaps?

 

[jabuzzard]

Generally speaking you can buy skirting boards in suitable sizes and styles, just not at B&Q. Here is a link to a web site to give you an idea of what you can buy.

https://skirtingboardsdirect.com/

Another option is to recover a small length of the existing board, and find a decent joinery shop that will make new skirting to match.

Personally a reason for just replacing it lock stock and barrel is that any original skirting and architrave in a Victorian building will be thick with lead based paint, and the worst job going is stripping paint.

 

[Bruce Burton]

Here is a link to a web site to give you an idea of what you can buy.

Ouch, check out the reviews:
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/skirtingboardsdirect.com
Wouldn't go near that bunch with a barge pole!

I might go with these guys instead, they've been much more helpful:
http://www.skirting-boards.co.uk/


Very good call with the lead paint tho, hadn't thought of that and a very solid argument against stripping!!

 

[joeinlondon]

There's no need to remove woodwork with lead paint it is only an issue if stripping. Pine would never have been exposed in victorian times. It is much better to keep original fabric where you can rather than creating a pastiche.