How to paint skirting boards

Painting skirting boards may not be your first choice of using your time, but it’s a job that can really enhance the look of your home!

Whether you’ve got brand new skirting boards to paint, or you want to give your previously painted boards some TLC and you’re looking for a guide to show you how to do it, then you’ve come to the right place!

Before you pick up your paintbrush, there’s one very important thing to do, which is to pull all your furniture away from the walls, so you’ve got plenty of room to work, and cover all furniture with old bedding or dust sheets so they are kept free from possible paint spills.

How to clean skirting boards before painting

When it comes to painting skirting boards, preparation is key. Take a sponge and a little bit of soapy water and give your skirting boards a wipe to get rid of any dust, dirt or grime that could be lingering on your skirting boards.

Sanding the skirting boards

Once your boards are dry, the next step is to sand down the wood surface to make it clean and smooth, using sandpaper or an electric sander. Always sand with the grain as opposed to against it, as this will create a smoother finish. Sanding will make sure the paint has a strong surface to adhere to. Once you’ve sanded, grab a damp cloth, and wipe away any dust. We recommend wearing a mask just in case, as things will get dusty!

If you have MDF skirting boards, you can skip over this next step. But if you don’t, you will need to apply a knotting solution.
Knots are a different colour and texture from the background wood and absorb wood finishes differently. Painting over knots without preparing them first will mean that the knots are visible through the paint, no matter how many coats you apply. Usually, you will need two or three coats to completely cover a knot.

Keep in mind that some woods will have more knots than others. For example, pine skirting boards can be especially grainy and has lots of knots.

an image of a paint scraper on the floor with tool

@bungalow_renovation_cheshire

How to paint skirting boards and protect your carpet and walls

One thing you might be concerned about when painting your skirting boards is how to do it without getting paint all over your carpet or wood floor. We recommend applying a roll of self-adhesive plastic floor protector as close to the board as possible to protect your flooring.
It’s also important to make sure you protect your walls when it comes to painting your skirting boards. To do this, you should place a length of painter’s tape just above the top of your skirting boards to stop any paint from getting on your wall or wallpaper.

an image of a woman painting skirting board in home

@thebonniehoose

Do I need to prime my skirting boards?

If you’ve got new or ready-primed skirting boards, or they’ve already been painted before, you can skip this step. But if you have wooden skirting boards, or they haven’t been painted previously, you’ll need to apply one to two coats of primer to them before painting. Make sure to wait until the primer is completely dry before painting!

an image of a man priming his skirting boards

@inside.number.65

Step-by-step on how to paint skirting boards

So far, you’ve moved all your furniture, sanded the skirting boards, and protected walls and floors, you’ve completed the preparation process, so now it’s time to start painting!

an image of a bright white skirting board with paint besides it

@thisisliving_selfbuild

Step 1 – Paint the top of the skirting board

Start by painting the top of your skirting board, using a 2” brush. Dip your brush halfway into the paint and brush it against the inside of the tin to remove any excess paint. Ideally, you want your brush to be fairly loaded with paint, but only on one side. This will ensure that the paint doesn’t drip. If it does drip, brush over it quickly so that it doesn’t dry that way. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle on top of your skirting board and paint from right to left if you’re right handed or left to right if you’re left-handed.
You can do this painting process for other types of skirting boards besides MDF, such as torus skirting boards, ogee skirting boards and white skirting boards.

an image of a woman's hand painting skirting boards white

@newhomenewbeginningsnewmemories

Step 2 – Move on to the bottom<

Repeat the process and paint the bottom. Remember to be very vigilant as you don’t want paint-spots on your floor. Because even if you’ve laid a floor cover, chances are that there’s still a tiny gap calling for some paint!

an image of dulux paint and paint brush next to painted skirting boards

@20tennyson

Step 3 – Paint the middle section

Next, paint the middle of the board using the same process again. If you need to, add more coats of paint – most skirting boards require two coats of paint. Ensure they have dried completely before moving on to the next coat. Make sure you’re covered the whole profile evenly!

an image of a white paint brush and paint roller

@hivesweethome

Step 4 – Finishing touches

When you’ve finished, gently peel the painter’s tape from your wall whilst the paint is still wet. However, when it comes to the floor’s protection, you must wait for the paint to dry before removing the protector. We recommend waiting for 12 hours or overnight before moving your furniture back to its original position.

an image of a white painted room with white door and white window

@liams.home

If you have any questions about how to paint your skirting boards or need further information about the products we sell at Howarth, please visit your local friendly Howarth branch, or contact our customer services on the number 01472 907051.

26th Jul 2022 Emily Green