During the repair work after laying the floor and finishing the walls, install various decorative elements indoors. One of these parts is the floor plinth. This building material gives the room a finished look.

Varieties of this type flooring material quite a lot. The main differences are not only in appearance, but also in durability, strength and resistance to external influences. For example, wooden plinths should not be used in dachas or balconies, and plastic ones should not be used in rooms exposed to heating, for example summer verandas and balconies with a metal roof.

Let's figure out which type of plinth is better, and also get acquainted with the types and technology of its installation.

Plastic skirting board for floor

Such products have simple design, differ from analogues in their low price. According to experienced builders, plastic floor plinths can be installed in any room, regardless of the curvature of the walls.

There is a special groove on the outside of this material, which allows for installation electrical wiring. The main difference between a plastic product is its smooth surface and ease of maintenance. To clean surfaces from contamination, a standard set of cleaning products is used.

The main disadvantage of plastic is considered to be unrespectable appearance. Such materials do not look very nice on flooring made of artistic parquet or floor made of solid boards. During use plastic elements At the edges it is necessary to install special parts, corners and plugs that will stand out against the general background. Maximum height this decorative element does not exceed 4.5 centimeters.

Polyurethane floor plinth

Skirting boards made of polyurethane are very popular among consumers and there are several reasons for this:

• Excellent resistance to external aggressive factors.
• Long service life. The surface of the material does not absorb foreign odors and water vapor. In addition, polyurethane does not suffer from high humidity, its operational period is 25 years.
• The material does not react to sudden changes temperature, so such products can be installed in rooms with a working heating system.
• Polyurethane plinth is flexible and plastic, which simplifies its installation on the floor covering.

Trimming a decorative element is done using sharp knife. After installation, the baseboard can be painted in the chosen color.

Caring for the products is quite simple; various stains on the surface are cleaned using various chemicals and detergents.

In the modern construction market there is a huge amount different types polyurethane skirting boards, which allows you to satisfy even the most sophisticated tastes of customers. A variety of sizes, textures and colors allow you to choose the necessary element for a specific interior.

Wooden plinth for floor

Such products are made from solid wood or veneer. Skirting from natural materials has a long service life. It retains its original appearance for a long time. After damage to the surface, restoration is possible.

The disadvantage of products from valuable wood considered to be an increased cost compared to analogues, as well as the impossibility of use on curved walls.

Veneered plinth has a more affordable price. The basis of the material is considered to be inexpensive pine, then it is covered with a thin layer of valuable wood. The disadvantages of the material in question are the need for operation in strict temperature and humidity conditions due to the fact that conifers trees are considered unstable. In addition, such a plinth is not recommended for installation in rooms with heated floors.

MDF plinth

Laminated decorative elements (MDF) are made from wood-fiber boards. By design features such products resemble laminate.

Pressed paper is glued on top of the base, the surface of which is coated with melamine. This layer protects the material from various types of mechanical stress, dents and scratches.

IN construction stores MDF skirting boards are produced to match the shade of the laminate. The products are affordable and resistant to mechanical damage, but are afraid of moisture. The maximum height of such a part does not exceed 5 centimeters.

Aluminum floor skirting

Aluminum plinth is expensive, but the high price of the material is justified by its advantages. Among them:

• High durability. The surface of the material is not afraid of corrosion and exposure to rodents.
• Such products can be installed in damp and heated rooms.
• Easy to install. The element is secured with special clips or an adhesive mixture.
• Attractive appearance.
• High strength.
• Resistance to the influence of aggressive substances.
• The ability to disguise electrical wiring under the baseboard, which will only decorate the interior.

In addition to all these advantages, the aluminum floor plinth can be easily cleaned of dirt with a regular rag and detergent. Abrasive powders can be used to remove stubborn stains.

Features of installing skirting boards

On preparatory stage works, they take measurements of the premises and cut skirting boards for areas of complex configuration.

During marking work, it is necessary to make an overlap on each element within 5 centimeters. This will prevent damage to the material during joining at a certain angle.

Floor skirting boards for the interior are like a photo frame. They can either ruin everything, or harmoniously complete the interior design and even visually correct some of the shortcomings of the room. And, of course, skirting boards are needed to mask wires and the junctions between walls and floors. We tell you and show with an example of 50 photos how to choose a baseboard for the floor based on color, shape and material.

Plastic skirting board to match the color of the laminate in the bedroom interior

Part 1. How to choose floor skirting boards by color

How to choose the color of the baseboard? Here are 5 principles that designers use (the list is sorted in descending order of popularity, click on the rule you are interested in to immediately start reading, or just continue in order):

The following rules are also allowed:

• To match any interior element (curtains, carpet, furniture, etc.)
• To match the rest of the stucco elements in the room
• Skirting as an interior accent

Principle 1. Skirting for the floor to match the doors and/or door frames

This is the first decision that comes to mind when choosing the color of the baseboard for the floor. And it really works almost always, no matter what color the elements are - contrasting or neutral. This rule is especially relevant if:

• Doors and/or door frames contrast against the background of the walls and the interior as a whole and they need to fit harmoniously into the space;
• The flooring, doors and skirting boards have already been selected, but the skirting boards do not match the doors. The problem is solved this way: only the door frames are selected or painted to match the baseboards.

By the way, about door frames. We hasten to make a small clarification:

Floor skirting boards must match the color of the door frames, but not necessarily the doors themselves. So, for example, the door can be bright, and the baseboards and platbands can be neutral color, say, white or to match the walls.

Here are a couple more photos floor skirting boards in the color of the doors in the interior.

Design tip:

• The most traditional solution that never gets boring and fits into almost any interior: doors, trim and baseboards white. Below is a small selection of photos of white baseboards in the interior.

White floor skirting boards, trim and doors are a universal and win-win solution that always adds lightness to the space and, at the same time, ennobles it. Contrary to popular myths, it is also very practical.

Principle 2. Skirting boards in the color of the floor

Another obvious principle for choosing skirting boards is to match the color of the floor. In theory, this solution seems simple, but in practice you may encounter two problems:

Problem 1. It is difficult to match the baseboard color to the floor with a 100% match. Despite the fact that even a small difference in tone turns out to be noticeable, somewhat disturbing the overall harmony of the interior.

Solution: It is best to choose baseboards and flooring from the same manufacturer’s collection. Thus, it will be very easy to choose a plinth for laminate, linoleum, ceramic tiles or cork flooring.

PVC skirting board in the color of the laminate in the kitchen

Problem 2: How to match a baseboard in the color of the floor with doors and trim of a different color, especially if they are already installed?

Solution: If the shades of the doors, floors and baseboards are similar or simply combine well (see photo below), then the situation is quite acceptable. And if not, then you can save the situation by painting/matching only the trim to match the baseboards and floor. If the door completely stands out from the interior, then it needs to be supported by adding furniture or decor of the same tone.

Here is another small selection of photos of baseboards that match the color of the laminate in the interior.

Principle 3. Skirting boards in the color of the walls

A great solution if:

• If the room has low ceilings, then skirting boards painted/matched to match the walls will visually make them taller. This technique is often used in the design of low-rise apartments in Khrushchev-era buildings (pictured) and other panel buildings.

• If you want to create an ultra-modern or minimalist interior, “invisible” skirting boards will not further split up the space.

• If the walls in the room have different colors, then baseboards matched to match them will emphasize the color blocking effect.

• The wallpaper will look even more impressive if the edging of the floor has the color of some element of the pattern.

But what then to do with the door frames and ceiling skirting boards? They can be a universal white color, painted/matched to match the walls, or repeat any color already present in the interior (for example, the color of the floor, curtains, etc.).

Design tip: If you are ready for bold decisions, then you can paint not only the baseboards, but also door frames, doors and... furniture in the color of the walls.

Principle 4. Skirting boards are a shade darker than the walls

This technique is non-trivial, but suitable even for the most classic and traditional interiors. It is good because it can highlight the interesting color of the walls, create the illusion of higher ceilings, and lighten a space that is already overloaded with contrasts and color.

Design tip: If you also paint the ceiling cornice to match the floor skirting boards, the interior will become doubly impressive.

Principle 5. Skirting boards to match the window frames/slopes

If the window frames have any expressive or contrasting color with respect to the interior, then the floor edging can support them.

Design tip: You can logically complete the picture by choosing the tone of the baseboards and window frames also doors with platbands.

Part 2. How to choose a skirting board by type and material

Now let's talk about the practical side of the issue. Which skirting board is better to choose? The main thing you need to decide on is the material. Here are the main options:

• Polyurethane;
• Solid wood;
• Cork;

  Price per linear meter: from 35 rub.

  Options: flexible (soft), with cable channel, self-adhesive, with rubberized top edge.

  Designs: wood (about 30 shades) with a matte finish and laminated.

  Installation: using the adhesive method or using self-tapping screws (secret fastening).

  Pros	Cons
  Lowest price	Simple and ordinary looking. Create designer interior It won't work with plastic skirting boards
  They are not afraid of high humidity, so they can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, and verandas	Over time they may move away from the wall. Weak point plastic skirting boards - in the outer corners.
  Wear-resistant	It is not always possible to find a skirting board of the desired shade and with a suitable pattern
  Can be selected together with laminate from the manufacturer’s collection	Dents and scratches may appear, they are especially visible on dark baseboards
  Installation and dismantling, fitting and cutting are very easy	The corners of plastic skirting boards never match the pattern and tone 100% with the skirting boards themselves.
  Due to its low cost, plastic skirting boards can be easily changed as needed
  Due to the fact that the PVC skirting board is hollow inside, it can hide not one, but several wires at once

  

  • If the walls are not perfectly smooth, then you should choose skirting boards with a rubberized edge. With them it is easier to achieve a tight connection to the wall;
  • It is advisable to buy PVC skirting boards together with laminate;
  • If high white skirting boards do not fit into the budget, pay attention to high PVC skirting boards as in the photo below (sold in construction hypermarkets);
  • When purchasing PVC skirting boards, make sure that all products are produced from the same batch. The fact is that due to the peculiarities of production, identical skirting boards from different batches always differ slightly in tone. This may not be noticeable in the store, but the difference will be visible in the floor edging.

If you have started a renovation and are approaching its final phase - finishing the floor, then most likely you are faced with the problem of choosing not only the floor covering, but also the baseboard. And, as you know, it plays an important role in creating a unified and harmonious picture in the room. Thus, a floor plinth hides the joints of wall and floor coverings, visually expands or increases the height of the space. And all this can be achieved by simply choosing the right shade of the panels in relation to the main colors in the room.

We will look into this material to learn how to choose a plinth, what color and size of panels to buy, what combination will be better, and what is the price of the material.

Types of skirting boards

All decorative panels for floor finishing can be divided into three types according to the type of material used in production:

1. Wooden skirting boards;
2. Plastic panels;
3. Aluminum strips.

• Solid wood skirting boards, as well as veneer planks and MDF panels are gradually fading into the background. Since wood, although it has a noble appearance and is an environmentally friendly material, is still combined only with parquet or parquet boards. It won't be difficult to choose here. In addition, the price of wooden finishing strips is quite high (from $2 per linear meter, depending on the type of wood and country of origin).
• In second place in popularity is PVC skirting board. These planks come in a variety of sizes, shades, designs and models (it’s not difficult to choose). The width of the plastic planks varies from 14 to 40 mm, that is, they can be located close to or further from the wall at their lowest point. The height of the plastic strips ranges from 40 to 150 mm. In this case, the length dimensions, as a rule, do not change and amount to 250 mm. The main advantages of PVC panels include their antistatic properties, ease of installation and maintenance, the ability to hide wires and cables in the room, as well as the ability to choose the shade of the planks relative to doors, windows, the shade of walls or flooring. In addition, the price of PVC panels is affordable and starts from $1 per linear meter.
• Aluminum skirting board- enough lightweight design, intended for carpet edging, floor tiles or linoleum. The aluminum profile consists of thin (about 16 mm) slats. In this case, the dimensions of the plinth height reach 60 or 80 mm. Distinctive feature Such panels are easy to install using liquid nails or double-sided mounting tape, as well as the ability to select and bend the baseboards without subsequently arbitrarily changing the geometry of the planks. That is, aluminum plinth behaves perfectly when finishing rounded walls. The price of such a profile starts from $3.5 per linear meter and depends on the manufacturer. Prifilpast is considered the most popular on the Russian market.

How to choose the right skirting boards

If you are wondering “what color to buy a skirting board,” then this material will be of interest to you. The fact is that today the habit is to adhere to the combination color range flooring and baseboards fade into the background. The combination of finishing panels with window frames, door frames or walls is becoming more and more dominant. Let's consider all the options in detail.

• So, if you have already chosen interior doors and you really liked their color, but the color scheme in the room is somewhat out of the overall picture, then you can save yourself with the help of a baseboard. It will be even better this way. By purchasing decorative strips of the same color as the doors, you can quite easily integrate the doors you like into the overall interior. A striking example That's why there are blue wallpaper on the walls and red interior doors. Here the color of the baseboard will smoothly meet the door trim and create a harmonious contrast. Another example of such implementation of a plinth and a white door against the background dark wallpaper or paint on the wall in combination with dark parquet or laminate. It couldn't be better.

Photo:

• If you choose PVC panels, then, as a rule, manufacturers suggest combining it in color and texture with the laminate flooring. This solution looks good in a large spacious room. If the room is small, then at least give preference to light shades of coating and planks. This way you will be able to visually expand the room and make it taller.
• If desired, you can paint both the walls and the baseboard the same color. Solid wood planks for painting are suitable here. This solution is original and fits perfectly into interiors such as modern, classic or high-tech. In addition, here you can play with contrast. In this case, the color of the baseboard should be a tone darker than the shade of the walls. At the same time, it’s excellent and even better if ceiling cornices will be the same color as the baseboard. Specialized stores will help you choose paint.

Important: it is better to select paint from one series, but in accordance with the palette provided by the manufacturer. You need to choose once, but accurately.

Photos of baseboards and walls of the same shade:

• If your soul wants something unusual, then use contrast. Here you can very well combine the shade of window frames and baseboards. In this case, the color of the doors or casing should be neutral, and the curtains should not hide the shade of the window frames. Ideally, it is better to match the color and shade of the doors. That is, both windows and panels should be striking with a line of the same shade.
• If the room has carved stucco, it will be better if the color of the plinth and stucco are identical. This way, sharp boundaries are erased, and all protruding decorative elements are not noticeable.

Carved panels and baseboards Photo:

• When as wall material panels were used for half the wall, then you can use skirting boards of the same shade as an addition. In this way, a single panel structure can be created, which gives the room a monolithic appearance. To make the color more convincing, you can also install cornices. Interesting and original. And most importantly, the geometry of the room is clearly defined.

Photo of the original panel solution:

• If there is a lot of metal in the design of the room, you can use an aluminum baseboard. The cold shade of the panels will give the room a kind of prostration. Fortunately, the types of aluminum skirting boards allow you to choose to create a bright design.

Photo with aluminum skirting boards:

If there is a lot of metal in the design of the room, you can use aluminum baseboards

The final chords of the renovation can already be heard: the walls have been finished, the flooring has been laid. It's time to draw a conclusion. Everything is fine at first glance, but there is definitely a feeling of incompleteness. Perhaps it's the annoying gaps left near the walls. Well, of course, these beautiful floors need an appropriate frame that will not just hide minor defects, but will also bring completeness and comfort to the atmosphere.

You already guessed that you need to install a floor plinth. But which variety should you choose for a specific gender, since there are several of them? We will help you make the right choice.

It is difficult to underestimate the importance of skirting boards for the floor, so skillfully does it separate the floor and walls. This, one might say, is a simple but expressive interior detail. But the practical side of the floor plinth should also be noted - thanks to it, you can, in particular, conveniently hide various cables running around the room.

Wide floor plinths: photo of a wooden plinth for the floor in the interior

On the market today finishing materials Various models of floor fillets are presented. The dull-shaped floor plinths, which in cross-section represent an ordinary right triangle. Today everything has changed - materials, sizes, and shapes. Let's look at the most common types of floor skirting boards, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic floor plinth

PVC skirting boards are the most popular today. Plastic floor plinth has exceptionally high consumer qualities and, first of all, amazing ease of installation and versatility.

Wide plastic floor skirting boards: a combination of aesthetics and functionality

The plastic used in the production of these products, thanks to the latest technologies durable enough. It is resistant to mechanical stress, but at the same time elastic. A plastic floor plinth is in no way inferior to its wooden counterpart, and in some characteristics even surpasses it. Plastic panels are moisture resistant, extremely easy to maintain, and do not require significant financial investments or time. One cannot fail to mention its biological stability - it does not rot, does not corrode, and does not create an environment favorable for the life of bacteria.

Original version of the heating system: heated baseboard

Plastic floor skirting boards are easy to cut and shape, so they are simply irreplaceable when framing round or multi-profile walls.

Advice: if you want to give a PVC product some shape, just heat it with a hairdryer or hot water up to approximately 70°C.

Moldings for floor plinths made of plastic

All kinds of plastic elements for edging corners, external and internal, help to avoid inaccuracies when filing corners when joining. On their reverse side there are special clip-on grips: the corners are placed on the edge of the bar and snapped into place.

The use of corners when connecting plastic fillets significantly improves the aesthetics of the finish

Plastic floor plinth: dimensions, shape and color scheme

The height of the plastic floor profile varies between 5 cm and 8–10 cm. The most popular products are 60 mm high; they cover approximately 22 mm along the floor, providing a large gap. The standard profile length is 2.5 m, although there are samples up to 5.05 m.

Soft PVC roll profile

Plastic floor skirting boards are also supplied in the form of rolls 25–50 m long. They are a flexible tape that is laid using almost seamless technology along the entire perimeter. True, it is almost devoid of decorative properties, so its main purpose is to finish the joints of floors and walls in offices and administrative premises.

How is flexible floor plinth used?

PVC profiles have a wide range of colors, both plain and textured - “wood”, “metal” and more. For example, you can choose the color and texture of the panel to suit any natural wood: oak, mahogany, wenge, etc. This provides enormous design opportunities for decorating a room.

Spectacular white high plinth for the floor adds special elegance to the interior

The shape of the edging has also become more elegant: it can be flat or convex, with a “leg” or protrusion.

Increasingly, in the design of modern large rooms you can find wide floor plinths made of plastic. In combination with high ceilings it gives majesty to the structure.

Plastic panels are used with almost any coating: laminate, porcelain stoneware, ceramic tiles, carpet, linoleum, self-leveling and wooden floors.

Advice: however, when finishing artistic parquet floors or solid board, you should first think about whether the simpler look of PVC skirting boards will be dissonant with their luxurious look.

Plastic panels, despite their flexibility, are still inferior to wooden ones. The reason is the hollow structure of polyvinyl chloride, so it is better to handle the installed plastic floor profile more carefully.

Floor plinth with cable channel

Today, wide skirting boards for floors with cable ducts are in great demand. What are their advantages?

Floor plinth with cable channel

• Inside the product you can hide up to ten cables laid along the walls;
• they allow electrical wiring to be carried out without undesirable difficulties, while maintaining the appearance of the room unchanged;
• availability removable panel on the outside of the profile allows you to complete the existing cable system

Note: A similar design, although much less common, is still found in wooden versions.

The undoubted advantage of these products is the soft rubber edge, which allows you to effectively hide uneven walls and floors.

When choosing the dimensions of products with a cable channel, proceed from the number of wires that are supposed to be routed through it. On the one hand, I would like to have a compact model, but on the other hand, wouldn’t it be better to install a floor plinth of greater thickness in order to be able to lay another cable if necessary.

Skirting board with cable duct made of plastic: sizes are selected depending on the number of wires

Polyurethane floor plinth

Wide profiles made of foamed plastic - polyurethane are no less in demand. This material has many positive characteristics. For example, we can note its strength and environmental friendliness, lightness and moisture resistance.

A high polyurethane plinth divides the wall horizontally, visually expanding the space

Polyurethane floor plinths are available in two versions:

• already painted and ready for installation;
• white, ready for painting.

Veneered floor plinth

This type of floor plinth is made from inexpensive glued raw materials - pine or spruce. A thin layer of veneer from valuable wood species, including the most exotic, is attached on top of the base.

Veneered floor profile consists of several layers glued together

During the production process, a special UV-curing and bioprotection varnish is applied to the panels in several layers to protect the product from fungus and microorganisms. The veneered profile is tinted in the required color. This type of plinth is actually made from natural raw materials, is environmentally friendly and is much more affordable than a wooden one.

Important: but it must be taken into account that coniferous species are quite sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity conditions, and this cannot be ignored. For example, veneered profiles cannot be installed on a “warm floor”.

MDF floor plinth

One of the best combinations of baseboards with floorboards, laminate and linoleum are products made from MDF - natural cellulose, which is pressed into a specific profile shape and covered with a fixing film with water-repellent properties. MDF skirting boards very successfully imitate wooden products, technical specifications theirs is significantly lower.

MDF planks are afraid of constant excess humidity, and, having absorbed moisture, they can become deformed. Under the influence of brute mechanical force, say a sharp blow, the product may crack or break. However, the material is UV resistant and does not fade and is easy to clean.

MDF skirting boards are more often used for laminate floors

These skirting boards are also supported by their beautiful appearance, reminiscent of wood, and their very low price. But they are not particularly durable. So, having saved on repairs once, after some time the baseboards will have to be replaced.

MDF cable channel looks more attractive, but is more difficult to install

But the sizes of MDF floor skirting boards are very different, and this makes the choice much easier.

Metal baseboard for floor

These skirting boards are usually made of stainless steel, brass or aluminum. These materials have increased strength, are highly resistant to moisture, so they are often installed in rooms such as a bathroom, kitchen or hallway.

Wide aluminum floor plinth

Metal floor skirting boards are also in demand in commercial buildings with heavy traffic. They are mounted on a base of commercial linoleum, tiles, porcelain stoneware and self-leveling floors.

Metal profiles differ:

• great strength;
• long service life;
• high resistance to mechanical loads, including impacts;
• are not afraid of moisture and extremely high and low temperatures;
• easy to install;
• There are models with a cable channel with the ability to build in sockets.

Metal floor frame

The main disadvantage of this type of skirting boards is the high price and limited choice of textures and colors.

Traditional wooden baseboard for flooring

The classic version, a wooden floor plinth, has not lost its relevance today, with the only difference being that it has turned from a household floor frame into an elite one. To characterize modern quality product made of wood, you will have to use epithets such as luxurious or sophisticated.

Oak plinth: dovetail profile

The following models of wooden skirting boards are especially popular:

• profile with “sole” – has a height of up to 60 mm, distinctive feature– relatively narrow lower part, up to 25 mm. The smoothed topography of the front side of the product makes it easier to remove dust;
• europlinth - its dimensions are 10-16 mm, allowing you to install furniture quite tightly to the wall. There are other, non-standard models of products, for example, up to 80 mm high with a figured recess on the front part or up to 30 cm, made of beech or oak.

The perfection of a wooden plinth: wide fillets in a dark color

The modern range of skirting boards is quite large and very often the buyer chooses this important detail interior at random. Installing an unsuccessful plinth can ruin all efforts to create original interior to zero, which is why it is so important to study the problem thoroughly in advance.

When deciding how to choose a floor plinth so that it is aesthetically pleasing, practical and not trivial, first you need to evaluate and take into account several significant factors that will help you decide what exactly suits you best.

Characteristics of the plinth itself:

• what material is it made of?
• what width does it have?
• shape – standard straight or curved, enveloping interior elements, to order;
• color scheme.

Features of the room in which the floor plinth is supposed to be laid:

• wall color;
• floor color;
• door trim color;
• floor material;
• presence of wires that need to be hidden.

Based on this data, you can easily select the baseboard option that will most satisfy you and decorate the room.

What material to choose a plinth from?

All the variety of skirting boards on store shelves are made from artificial or natural materials:

• natural solid wood;
• veneer;
• laminate;
• plastic (PVC);
• ceramics;
• metal;
• cork.

In order to decide what material to choose a plinth from, remember what the floors in the room are made of:

• With floor covering from natural wood– laminate, solid wood boards, parquet boards– a wooden plinth made of the same species is combined with veneered models of a similar shade and texture;
• together with roll, tile or liquid linoleum, carpet, laminate, PVC floor skirting boards look great, in addition, plastic strips are used for edging complex structures, because special technology production allows them to be made flexible and bendable;
• For walls made of MDF, skirting boards made of the same material are also perfect;
• metal skirting boards are original and unusual, choose them boldly if the room has linoleum, self-leveling, polyurethane, porcelain tile floors or carpeting;
• for cork floors - cork skirting boards;
• when laying ceramic tiles today, ceramic skirting boards that match the color and design are used;
• For laminated floors, you can choose not only wooden or PVC skirting boards, but also planks covered with laminate.

Today, you can choose a model with a cable channel made of any material, even for baseboards made of natural wood.

Pros and cons of the most common skirting boards

1) Wooden plinth made from solid conifers, deciduous trees or more exotic species. Its positive properties:

• long service time;
• the ability to restore the original appearance if necessary;
• naturalness;
• easy adjustment to the desired size.

The disadvantages include:

• rapid spoilage in high humidity conditions;
• installation only on perfectly flat surfaces;
• attachment using self-tapping screws, which can be problematic for non-specialists.

Despite the apparent difficulties and disadvantages of wooden floor skirting boards, the purchase of these environmentally friendly panels fully justifies their high cost.

2) Not inferior in environmental friendliness and appearance wood panels veneered plinth, but the price is much lower and it is easier to attach. In the production of such skirting boards, inexpensive wood is used for the base, most often it is pine, which is opened on top with a thin layer of more valuable timber. The main disadvantage, as with solid baseboards, is their susceptibility to moisture and sudden changes in temperature, which limits the use of veneer panels when there are heated floors in the room.

3) Made from fibreboards medium density manufacture MDF and laminated skirting boards with the following advantages:

• cheapness;
• the ability to preserve color and pattern even when exposed to sunlight;
• ease of attachment with liquid nails, glue or using specially installed staples;
• ease of care;
• resistance to damage to the surface layer (scratches, light impacts, etc.) thanks to special impregnations;
• a large number of different shades suitable for any interior style.

Disadvantages include fear of moisture and low strength compared to previous models.

4) Plastic floor panels have a lot of advantages, the main one of which is their cost-effectiveness. Others include:

• ease of installation;
  • ability to hide wires;
  • installation on imperfect walls;
  • a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes;
  • resistance to dirt, high humidity, rot, rust.

The appearance of such a plinth will be quite simple, which must be taken into account if there are elite coatings on the floor in the room.

5) Floor ceramic skirting boards usually come complete with tiles and are characterized by properties inherent in any ceramics:

• strength;
• vapor permeability – provides ventilation in rooms;
• water absorption;
• moisture resistance;
• ease of cleaning;
• non-toxic;
• durability;
• fire safety;
• color fastness.

The color can match the main background and tile pattern, or contrast with it, which is typical for rooms with bold, modern styles.

6) Metals used for the production of skirting boards are usually aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. Products made from these materials:

• very durable;
• durable;
• wear-resistant;
• fireproof;
• moisture resistant;
• impregnated with antimicrobial compounds.

Metal panels look quite unique and are often used in high-tech rooms.

7) Natural cork wood is used both for the manufacture of floors and accompanying baseboards. The color is usually natural, more or less dark. View of such floor panels as cork flooring, are very rich and luxurious. The price is quite consistent with the appearance.

How to successfully choose the color and size of the plinth

Options for choosing the color of the baseboard:

• same tone with the floor - standard rule, trust him if the style of the room is close to classic;
• matching the color of uniformly painted walls - will not only give the room sophistication, but also visually increase the height of the ceilings;
• same color and size with door trim;
• bright, unusual shades, combined with color spots in the interior - an idea for the most daring;
• snow-white – chic and elegance of the room.

The standard width of the plinth is 4–7 cm. The height of the plinth should not be too high in small rooms, and vice versa. To visually extend the wall and raise the ceiling by eye, thin skirting boards of the same color as the wall coverings can be used.

In spacious rooms, this option will look ridiculous; it is better to choose a wide or medium-sized baseboard that stands out in color. If you want a little formality in the room, add a ceiling plinth in the same color as the floor plinth.

Some practical tips

1. The required length of the plinth is determined by measuring the perimeter of the entire room minus the width of the doorway. This value is divided by 2.5 (the size of a standard plank) to obtain the number of planks that need to be purchased.
2. The number of corners, connecting elements and plugs depends on the number of corners, strips and doors in the room. One left and one right end cap are required per door.

• the smell of the baseboard should not be sharp and unpleasant;
• the color of the plinth strip must match the color of all additional parts;
• it is desirable that the batch numbers on the packages with the skirting boards match;
• plugs, connecting elements, corners must fit tightly to the planks, without cracks or gaps.

It's better if the baseboard is all necessary elements You will purchase in a large store, so the colors and sizes of the products are more likely to match.

When choosing a plinth, it’s better to measure seven times and spare no expense, but then you can enjoy the result every day.