When doing skirting board replacement jobs, you have a decision to make. Do you replace the old skirting boards for something that does not match, or do you get something that closely represents the old?
When matching or not is your decision, the main factors for consideration will be discussed in this article.
Is Standard Profiles Good Enough?
Is your skirting board replacement work being done for a home build in the 1960’s, or a semi built after the war? Most of the time, plain standard skirting is the best choice. In old house builds, there were plain skirting boards that were commonly used, not matching in style, or in looks.
When skirting board replacement work is being done for only one room, and the skirting boards that are already there are plain skirting, it’s a no brainer and economically stupid to get someone to replicate it.
If it’s a potentially rental or rental property, plain skirting is a good idea. Most potential renters do not care about interesting designs, and buyers do not care about strange designs, unless it is a home that looks to be of an older build.## When Matching Starts to Matter
Old Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian properties have skirting boards that have purpose with detailed moulding. These boards are character adding features of the properties. Replacing these with modern and simple boards removes character and feel of the home, even if some might not realize why that home feels off.
Listed properties have no choice most of the time. Conservation officers will most of the time give an order to do a like with like replacement that involves the skirting. Always check the rules as they differ based on grade and local council.
With houses that have the majority of the original details still remaining, like picture rails, ceiling roses, and proper architraves, the mismatched skirting becomes more of an eye sore. Most of the other details of the house have character, why does the skirting have none?
How We Replicate Mouldings
Matching skirting becomes a matter of either finding old period timber, or starting from scratch. Original mouldings were created by running timber through planers and shapers to achieve the stepped and rounded profiles you find on old Victorian boards.
One of our first steps is taking a sample of your existing skirting, taking photos of the profiles, measuring the dimensions, then running new timber through the same process, or hand-shaping sections if it is a single room. In listed buildings, where every detail matters, we don’t just match the profile – we match the timber type, too. It could be pine, oak, or whatever the original was.
In some situations, we work off of fragments. If most of your skirting has been replaced unsatisfactorily through the years, but there is one adequate section left, that is enough for us to replicate the profile to be used throughout the entire house.
Cost Analysis
Standard skirting from a builders’ merchant costs £5-15 per meter depending on the profile and timber, and because it is mass produced, there is a certain consistency to it, it comes in long lengths, and fits on to the walls quickly.
Original profiles come at a higher price point because it is specialist work and takes more time and effort to match. You’re looking at £25-50 per meter for the timber, sometimes more if it’s an unusual profile or if it is a hardwood. The added time it takes to work on the piece from an original profile is especially evident at corners, where detailed mouldings are sculpted and added.
In an average room where there is 15 meters of skirting, there is a difference at the end where with standard boards there is a £75-225 difference, versus £375-750 with a profile perfectly matched. Added installation costs, which are higher for the more detailed work that is typically sculpted, make for a larger difference as well.
It all comes down to your property and what is important to you. If it is a Grade II listed farmhouse, sure. If it is a bungalow from the 70s, then probably not.
Common Period Profiles
Victorian skirting is generally tall, about 150-200 mm, stepped, and shadow line. There is a rounded top, followed by a flat middle panel, and a moulded bottom. This style is also quite bold and chunky.
Georgian but usually more simple, skirting is still detailed, but more modest. The height is lower, the profile is more clean, and the overall look is more restrained than the victorian.
Edwardian skirting is detailed, but tends to be less heavy than victorian designs. It’s profile is then sitting somewhere between the two.
If you are uncertain of the period your house is built in, the skirting on the bottom of the walls can actually help you. Different periods skirting were consistent to specific styles so you can make quite a reasonable guess.
Listed Building Realities
If your property is listed, be sure to consult your local planning authority before you replace any skirting. If your building is a Grade I or II* then almost always a like-for-like replacement is needed. Grade II is a range, typically you are able to use standard profiles in less important rooms but in main reception rooms it usually has to be matching work.
Conservation officers care about this info, Getting it right at first saves issues down the road, especially if you will need to show proof of compliance for insurances or at time of selling.
Making the Decision
If you are in a period property where original detail works or if the house is on a list or if you are doing a high-end renovation and plan to keep the property for a long time, match your skirting.
If you are in a modern house, on a budget, or the existing skirting is already non-original anyway, go for standard profiles.
There is no wrong answer – simply whatever works for your individual case, and how much the little details matter to you.