Not everyone knows which skirting boards are best to use for the floor, but they are the main element in completing the renovation.

A little about skirting boards

Many people do not know that skirting boards are the final stage of renovation and make the room look complete and aesthetic. It helps hide imperfections in the corners between the floor and the wall and makes your room very attractive. They also now produce skirting boards in which wires and wiring can be hidden. Skirting boards come in different qualities and shapes, different colors, as well as length and width, it all depends on your design and the room where you are doing the renovation, whether it is large or small. After all, the choice of plinth and its width depends on this.

Plastic skirting boards

Nowadays, skirting boards made of plastic are the most popular. Since it is moisture resistant, it can withstand any temperature changes and is not susceptible to rotting. Such skirting boards are produced on average two and a half meters long, but they can be embossed or not; they have a flexible shape, with the help of which they can be pressed tightly against the wall and hide all the irregularities. There are plastic skirting boards different designs and colors, they are made to imitate wood or natural stone.

Skirting boards are also sold with special cable channels in which wires can be hidden. Most often, such products are used for floor coverings such as linoleum, carpet or laminate. There are special fittings for them that make it easier to install skirting boards. It is sold in the form of internal and external corners, plugs and connectors. Installation of such a plinth is best done using liquid nails; it is much easier and faster. They are also screwed with self-tapping screws and hidden under the cable channel strip. In this way, you can later remove the plinth and use it again.

Both our manufacturers and foreign manufacturers produce such skirting boards. The price of such a plinth is not high and reaches a maximum of one hundred and fifty rubles for two and a half meters. And if your floor is covered with laminate, then an MDF baseboard will look best on it. It is considered environmentally friendly and not high in price. It will also help you hide all the flaws and unevenness on the walls and floor. Such skirting boards are produced different colors and with imitation of natural wood and stone. It will not be difficult to choose it for the laminate and it is better to do this immediately with the purchase of the coating. They are also installed at a distance of 40 cm on special hooks, onto which the plinth is then attached.

Wooden plinth

These skirting boards are the most natural and are made from natural wood species. Wooden plinth is environmentally friendly, it is strong and durable. However, the disadvantage of such a plinth is that it is intolerant of temperature changes and that it is not moisture resistant. These skirting boards are made from different breeds trees. Most often, its top coating is varnish, but it can be made without it. These skirting boards are best suited for floor coverings such as parquet or laminate of the best quality.

It is best to order it together with floor covering. This way you will accurately guess the color and not miss. Installation of such a plinth is done using liquid nails or nails with a very small head. Its price is high and reaches four hundred rubles for one product. Its shape also varies, as does the width of the baseboard itself. It’s better to choose this way: the higher your walls, the wider the baseboard can be. It is better not to use it in bathrooms, as it will lose its shape and become deformed. But in general it’s a matter of taste; which skirting board you choose depends only on you.

Additional Information:

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The skirting board performs two tasks: it hides uneven seams between flooring and walls and improves the design of the room. If you make the wrong choice, all efforts to create the finishing of the floor, walls and ceiling can be leveled. And vice versa, skillful selection of this element will not only decorate the room, but also hide imperfections or problem areas. Such dependence of the appearance of the room on a small-sized element requires making a balanced final decision.

When choosing a specific model, you need to take into account several factors, each of which has a significant impact.

1. Purpose of the premises. IN residential buildings in bedrooms and bathrooms, corridors and halls you need to install different types of skirting boards. There are specific requirements for office buildings, retail and exhibition halls, etc. For premises with high humidity It is recommended to choose skirting boards made from moisture-resistant materials: ceramics, artificial stone, plastic. In rooms with high traffic, elements of increased strength should be installed: ceramics, MDF.
2. Room decoration style. Designers recommend various skirting boards for high-tech and classic styles, for country and baroque. Classic styles look better with skirting boards made from natural materials and natural colors, retro should be decorated with antique skirting boards, modern styles allow the use of materials made of plastic and aluminum.
3. Height and total area. In some cases, skirting boards can visually enlarge a room, in others, on the contrary, they can make it smaller. In spacious rooms you can lay a dark floor with the same skirting boards; the use of original ones is allowed color solutions. Low ceilings look more spacious with light floors and the same skirting boards.
4. Color solutions. There are no general universal rules for choosing; there are options for contrasting skirting boards or to match the existing flooring and wall decoration. It is not recommended to combine blue with pink, purple with green. The baseboard should be in harmony not only with the flooring, but also with the windows and doors.

Modern solution - backlit plinth

By these criteria you can find skirting boards from various materials, but each of them has its own performance indicators, which also need to be taken into account when choosing a specific model.

If appearance affects the harmonious design of the room, then the durability and installation technology depend on the material of manufacture. What should you pay attention to?

Durability. In all cases, the service life of skirting boards should be 30 years or more. The outer coating must be resistant to infrared radiation, not change color, and be resistant to mechanical stress.

Easy to care for. The more the surface has relief patterns, the more difficult it is to maintain it in proper form. If the room is often cleaned, it is recommended to choose elements with a flat, smooth surface, preferably matte rather than glossy. Minute scratches are visible on the glossy one.

Resistant to direct contact with water, low coefficients of linear thermal expansion. In bathrooms, kitchens and corridors, wet cleaning is most often done; in addition, these floor coverings have an increased risk of flooding. Skirting boards should not lose their original properties after prolonged contact with water.

Flexibility. If the quality of the walls does not meet the required parameters, then the skirting boards should hide problem areas. After fixing, there should be no gaps between the wall and the element. This is achieved in two ways: by leveling the walls or selecting flexible types of skirting boards. The first method requires a lot of time and special construction measures, and is associated with a large amount of dust and construction debris. Flexible skirting boards make it possible to smooth out uneven surfaces much easier, while visually the walls will appear perfectly smooth.

Additional functions. In many cases engineering Communication located around the perimeter of the premises. The baseboard must have special grooves in which television cables are torn off, electrical wiring for various low voltage household appliances.

Price. There are no cheap and reliable materials at the same time; this should always be remembered. In some cases, the price of skirting boards is almost equal to the cost of cheap flooring. When choosing, you should always adhere to the universal rule: expensive floors require equally expensive skirting boards and vice versa.

For acceptance the right decision You need to familiarize yourself with the types of skirting boards that exist in sale.

What materials are currently used for floor finishing elements?

Material of manufacture	Performance characteristics
	The most popular skirting boards belong to the budget price segment. They consist of two parts, one is attached to the walls with dowels, the second is decorative. Majority plastic skirting boards has grooves for cables for various purposes. Advantages – wide choice of models, relatively low price, plastic does not react to contact with water. Disadvantages: low resistance to mechanical damage. To simplify installation, it has plugs and corners. When purchasing a kit, compare the appearance of all additional elements; quite often they differ. Such products are produced by unscrupulous companies. Skirting boards from the Polish company Arbiton receive positive reviews; to improve the fit, the upper edges have a thin soft strip.
	Wood waste is used for production, which gives them some naturalness. External front surfaces are coated self-adhesive films, giving the skirting boards different color and texture. In terms of price they are on par with plastic ones. They can be fixed to the walls with dowels or special metal brackets. Disadvantages: low physical strength and instability to high humidity. Fixed with liquid nails, clips or glue. Clips make it much easier renovation work, the damaged area is snapped off and replaced with a new one. The end cuts have special plugs.
	Traditional material with all the advantages and disadvantages of wood. Various species are used for production, from cheap pine to expensive oak or other valuable species. External surfaces can be natural or tinted. To protect against moisture, they are covered with durable coatings on polymer based. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the class of products; very cheap products are made not from solid wood, but from glued sections. They have differences in structure and shade along the length. One more nuance. After varnishing, the shade of wooden skirting boards changes, keep this in mind when choosing a color. If desired, natural wood plinths can be made according to individual order, but it will cost much more.
	Most often used in bathrooms and kitchens, less often in corridors. Ceramic tiles are not afraid of moisture, the glaze has high performance mechanical strength. Skirting boards can be purchased together with tile collections or separately to give the room an exclusive interior.
	One of the most expensive types of skirting boards, used in prestigious premises. By operational characteristics occupy leading positions. When choosing sizes and colors, you need to take into account the parameters of the premises. It is recommended to install artificial stone skirting boards in prestigious rooms with large dimensions.
	They have limited use due to insufficient physical strength. Advantages: low cost and unlimited appearance. Depending on your needs, it is possible to paint the surfaces yourself.
	It is made from special types of plastic and sold in rolls. Flexible plinth is used for finishing vertical columns or other architectural elements complex geometric shape.
	Cheap option for skirting boards from natural wood. The supporting base is made of low-value wood, upper layer from valuable veneer. They have a wide range, in terms of performance parameters they are inferior to natural wood ones, but they are much cheaper. The company Burkle (Germany) has positive recommendations. The thickness of the veneered plinth is 15–22 mm, height up to 80 mm.
	It ranks first in strength; the front surface can be of a natural color or various methods toned. It is used in rooms with high traffic, is not afraid of moisture, and the service life is almost unlimited. Maximum strength allows the elements to be installed in public places: train stations, hospitals, etc.
	Completely natural, made from cork tree bark by gluing and pressing. Used in conjunction with cork floors. In terms of performance indicators it belongs to the middle category, and in terms of cost it belongs to the elite category.

Prices for PVC floor skirting boards

pvc floor plinth

When choosing, you should focus on the floor, walls, doors and windows. Products can be selected exactly to match the floor tone, in which case they will not stand out and visually increase the area of ​​the room. Most designers consider the universal option of installing skirting boards to match the color of the floor, but the final decision must be made by the consumer. Main criterion– the design of the room should please you personally.

For wooden flooring you need to choose skirting boards made from the same materials; on laminate floors you can install skirting boards made of plastic or MDF. The tone should be as identical as possible.

Skirting boards are selected according to the color of the walls only if they have a completely uniform color. But in Lately White skirting boards have become widespread; they give the room a special charm.

Contrasting skirting boards – bold decision, does not suit all interior styles. Before buying materials, it is advisable to draw a sketch and first evaluate the result of your choice.

Thick or thin baseboard

When choosing, you need to start from the size of the room and the prevailing colors. Small rooms look better with narrow, thin elements; they should match the walls in color. Due to this, the room becomes more spacious and brighter.

It is strictly not recommended to use thin skirting boards for large rooms; they distort the geometry and spoil the interior.

Practical advice. Choose skirting boards at the stage of thinking over ways to finish the floor and walls.

Step-by-step instructions for installing veneered plinth

The plinth is made of low-grade wood, outer surface covered with valuable wood veneer.

To install products, manufacturers suggest using special fasteners, but professional builders It is not recommended to listen to this advice.

The fastening technology involves fixing a metal bracket to the wall with dowels, the lower part resting on the floor surface. The wooden plinth is held on the hooks installed at the top and bottom of the brackets. The problem is that this fastener can only be used on perfectly flat walls and a perfectly flat floor. The slightest deviations from these parameters cause the appearance of gaps between the baseboard and the wall. And if the floor is uneven, then placing the wooden element on the bracket is very problematic. In addition, even during operation, with minor touches, the plinth comes out of the holders, and this is a very unpleasant phenomenon.

We offer our own method of fastening skirting boards; it eliminates the occurrence of the problems described above. To install the baseboards you will need foam and finishing nails.

Initial data. The floor is made of parquet, the walls are completely covered with wallpaper, the door has trim.

Step 1. Due to the fact that the skirting boards are glued to the mounting foam, it is necessary to remove a strip of wallpaper along the width of the elements. To do this, it is recommended to make a simple device. Cut a piece of wood a few millimeters shorter than the height of the baseboard. At one of the ends, use wood screws with wide heads to secure a piece of the mounting knife. Its tip should protrude slightly beyond the plane of the block. Assembly knife The blade has special notches along which the metal easily breaks off.

Place the block on the floor, place the tip of the knife against the wall, move it along the wall and cut off a strip of wallpaper. After cutting, the required part can be removed without any problems.

Step 2. Make a correct connection of the baseboard to the door casing. To do this, carefully cut the edge at an angle of 45°; it is better to use a special circular saw with adjustable position cutting tool. If it is not there, then you can cut it manually using a hacksaw. You need to cut an equilateral triangle from the edge of the baseboard. Rotate it 90° and place it against the cut end. You will get a beautiful connection with a smooth rim of the end of the plinth; the place where it fits to the platband will become the same in thickness.

Step 3. Prepare the junction of two long skirting boards. If this is not done, then there may be a difference in height between the two slats, and this is very ugly. The junction is made by cutting the edge into the end at an angle of 45°. On one element you need to cut off the outer corner, and on the second the inner one.

Step 4. Prepare internal and external corners connections. If the walls are at right angles, then the cutting is done at 45°; if there are deviations, then in each case the actual angle between adjacent walls should be first measured. If the error between the joints is small, then it can be leveled out by cutting the sharp end of the skirting boards being connected, as a result of which they can move closer to each other by a few millimeters. Before gluing, check the correct position of all elements.

Step 5. Apply mounting foam to the wall in a thin strip. Make sure that there is not too much of it and that after expansion it does not appear outside. This requires a little experience, it is recommended to practice for a few minutes on any surface. Instead of foam, you can use liquid nails, but they are much more expensive, but the effect is the same.

Important. Don't let it hit polyurethane foam on flooring, it is then difficult to remove; stains or mechanical damage may appear on the surface. Always place a piece of film or paper under the gun.

Step 6. Glue the baseboard to the wall. It is better to start from the corner, this is the most difficult place. Immediately adjust the second plinth, this way you will be able to control the parameters of the connection of the two elements.

Step 7 If everything is normal, then the skirting boards can be fixed with finishing nails. It is better to use a special electric gun; it makes the work much easier and faster.

Step 8 Carefully rubber mallet Replace the cut triangle, its flat side should be adjacent to the casing.

Step 9 After graduation installation work Seal the finishing nail holes with wood putty. Choose it to match the baseboards.

The described method allows you to bend the wooden plinth slightly, taking into account the actual plane of the walls, cracks do not appear, and the appearance of the room improves.

Installation of plastic plinth

Now we will briefly consider a simpler and widely popular option for installing a collapsible plastic plinth with two soft edges.

The product is supplied with fittings: external and internal corners, left and right ends, plank connector.

The plinth is fixed to the walls with dowels. The plinth is convenient because when replacing wallpaper it does not need to be dismantled; only the upper part is removed. In terms of cost, this is the cheapest option and is used for floors covered with linoleum or laminate.

Important. Make sure that there are no communications inside where the baseboard is attached to the wall.

The distance between them is approximately 25–40 cm; if there are noticeable irregularities on the wall, then the distance must be reduced so that the fasteners allow the element to be bent to the desired radius. While drilling, make sure that the baseboard does not move. Practitioners advise first drilling the two outer holes; they will fix the plinth in the desired position. Then you can drill all the remaining ones.

Step 2. Insert the plastic dowel element into the holes and drive in the dowel-nail. It is advisable not to hammer it in completely, but to tighten it with a screwdriver; this will prevent excessive compression of the plastic and its possible cracking. After drilling the holes, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust, otherwise it will spread throughout all areas of the apartment.

Step 3. Cover the baseboard with the top decorative part. Paste it on seats and press until you hear a click. Make sure that the elements fit only into the special grooves. If large efforts occur, find the cause of their occurrence and eliminate it.

Step 4. Place a joint at the end of one plinth and attach the second one. The length of the skirting boards can be cut with special scissors, a hacksaw or a grinder with a metal disc. Measure the next strip together with the plastic corner attached. No need for great precision; additional elements allow for precise adjustment.

Practical advice. We have already mentioned that the joints of plastic skirting boards differ in texture from stripes. In connection with this problem, it is recommended to think through the arrangement of elements in such a way that they are invisible to the eye: behind the bed or closet, bedside tables, etc.

Continue finishing the entire room using the same algorithm. If you have chosen and installed the elements correctly, the appearance of the room will always please the residents. Don’t rush to get to work, draw up a preliminary action plan, decide on materials, taking into account the above tips. If everything is done correctly, then even the cheapest skirting boards will decorate the room, but incorrect actions can ruin the most expensive flooring.

It would seem that the floor plinth is an exclusively functional detail. It masks gaps in the junctions of floor coverings, and also allows you to wash the floor without damaging the walls. But in fact, this element in interior design means much more than it might seem at first glance. It is he who, when correctly selected, gives the decoration and furnishings solidity or, on the contrary, lightness, adds depth, and even intrigue. He is able to tie together disparate details, making the situation more holistic and logically complete.

Professional designers pay maximum attention to floor skirting boards. And they give advice on decorating a living space, which can be applied in practice by anyone who needs to choose and buy this finishing material. Let's try to listen to their recommendations and outline the rules for selecting and selecting floor plinths, taking into account all the decisive factors and important nuances.

Table of contents:

Basic selection factors

The floor plinth runs virtually along the entire perimeter of the room being finished. And its practical as well as aesthetic significance for the interior cannot be overestimated. Therefore, even if cutting out the construction/repair budget requires cutting costs, you can refuse anything, just not the baseboard. But if you have to choose a cheaper option, you should remember what you shouldn’t save on:

1. On durability. The baseboard must last at least 30 years.
2. On surface quality. Caring for the baseboard should be reduced to wiping with a damp cloth or cleaning using the most common detergents.
3. On resistance to aggressive influences. The plinth must withstand temperature changes, high humidity, mechanical shocks of varying intensity (not with a hammer, of course, but kicks, children’s toys, etc. “must”).
4. On flexibility. After all, there are curves in the interior that will have to be circumvented with plinths.
5. At a depth. The material must have a fairly deep cable channel, because often it is in the baseboard that you have to hide television or computer wires.

Of course, you can save on design - buy a plinth that is not the same shape or color as provided for in the project. But is it worth it? The plinth has an important decorative role, and artificially diminishing it means disrupting the balance and integrity of the interior. But if financial conditions require it, there is always the opportunity to purchase material that can at least be painted in the desired color.

What color should the baseboard be?

IN modern design There are no standards that accurately determine the shade of the baseboard for a particular interior solution. This element can be combined with any interior detail. It is either visually hidden or, conversely, highlighted.

The easiest option is to match the baseboard to the color of the interior door. And if the door is a contrasting color with the walls, this technique will help it integrate as harmoniously as possible into the overall space. For example, white doors in a dark interior setting are perfectly supported by a baseboard of the same shade, as well as a white ceiling with a plain (also white) cornice. In this case, the plinth adds lightness to the atmosphere, which would not happen if this detail was dark in color.

Another obvious solution is a baseboard that matches the color of the flooring. And choosing it is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. That is, the baseboard itself is easy to match to the laminate or carpet. The option will be recommended by both the store salesperson and the manufacturer. Everything is installed well until it comes to the door area, which, including color, is approved by the project. The shades may begin to “fight” with each other, and then something will have to be done. For example, change door frames those that match the color of the baseboard.

You can choose the baseboard to match the shade of the walls. This perfect solution when you need to “dissolve” the boundaries of the living space. But the choice of material for such an option is a prerogative professional designers. An amateur who is faced with finishing for the first time is unlikely to cope with such a task. In this case, you will have to additionally determine the shade of the trim, ceiling cornices, as well as window and door openings.

Another option is to paint the walls, doors and trims the same color. And also buy/paint the baseboard to match them. Then whichever geometric shape No matter how this detail was chosen, it will not disrupt the overall style of the space.

There is another method, loved by modern decorators and designers: color matching the baseboard with window frames. This looks especially impressive when the frames contrast in color with the walls in the room. And in order for the perception of the living space to be holistic, the doors should be designed to match the windows and baseboards.

If the room has stucco elements, it is better to choose the baseboard on the floor in the same color as the stucco decor. Stucco molding generally defines the room good graphics, saturates him, relieves him of the dullness of emptiness. And if its color begins to overlap with the shade of the baseboard, this will give the effect of identity of the space.

To “outline” a home by revealing its geometry, it helps to lay panels on the walls (from the floor to a third) and paint the plinth in their color. In this case, a composition that is uniform in scale and style will help create wall molding and ceiling plinth the same shade.

In rooms with difficult operating conditions (high humidity, increased vaporization, etc.), it is better to make the baseboard from the same tiles as the floor covering. This is done in kitchens, bathrooms and bathrooms. From a practical point of view, the decision is correct, but it is important that such a plinth really looks like a plinth. That is, it was small in size and preferably with a top in the form of a border, albeit a very tiny one. If collectible ceramic tiles were used to finish the floor in complex rooms, the collection nomenclature should include a set such as a border. You shouldn’t neglect it if you want to get a truly high-quality, aesthetic interior. It is difficult to achieve the desired result with simply cut tiles visual effect. Especially if you have neither the skills nor experience in handling this difficult finishing material.

Materials for skirting boards

Floor plinths today are made from a variety of materials:

• durable plastic;
• MDF (fibreboard);
• solid wood;
• ceramic tiles;
• polyurethane.

And each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic plinth. This is the most economical, and therefore the most popular option, which has a number of advantages in addition to being cheap. This plinth:

• looks visually attractive;
• has a wide range of shapes, shades and depths of cable channels;
• extremely easy to install (even amateurs who are faced with repairs for the first time can install it).

However, there is a minus - one, but quite significant. We are talking about the fragility of plastic products, even if they are made from material created using latest technologies, “guaranteeing” strength. Plastic remains plastic, so it is unstable to mechanical as well as chemical aggression.

MDF plinth. This look is ideal for parquet floors. This type of plinth has a lot of advantages:

• it is made of environmentally friendly material;
• looks very respectable;
• has a wide range of shapes, sizes and shades (you can choose exactly what you need);
• it is deep enough to even lay electrical wiring inside;
• quite easy to install.

As for the last point, you can install MDF skirting boards in 2 ways:

• or with special brackets (like plastic);
• or with self-tapping screws without heads (this option is considered more reliable, since it guarantees a tight fit of the product to the wall).

You should choose an MDF plinth at the same time as floor covering. If we are talking about parquet boards, then in the collection of its manufacturer there will definitely be a product made of fiberboard of the required shape and shade.

MDF plinth could be called the best solution for interior design today, if not for one, but very significant drawback: this material is also unstable to mechanical stress. It is not as fragile as plastic, but is easily scratched and chipped. In addition, MDF plinths are not at all suitable for finishing rooms with many radius partitions. After all, it is bent using notches on inner surface. And with a rounded installation, all these notches are clearly visible from outside, which doesn't look too nice. But for straight surfaces in good quality budget project MDF plinth is the best option.

Solid wood plinth. This is, of course, the most environmentally friendly and durable type of skirting board. But at the same time it is also the most expensive (approximately 750 rubles per linear meter for straight sections, and 2 times higher for radius sections).

High cost is the only drawback of skirting boards made from solid wood. Otherwise, it has only advantages:

• a wide range of wood species used in production (pine, cherry, oak, maple, ash, etc.);
• excellent indoor styling complex configuration with an abundance of radius partitions;
• ideal compatibility with expensive floor coverings such as block parquet;
• ease of installation (such a plinth is attached to liquid nails).

And to more accurately match the tone of the floor covering, the wooden baseboard can be tinted.

Ceramic tile plinth (for some kitchens, most bathrooms and toilets). Such elements are used in rooms with difficult operating conditions. And they, as a rule, are included in the collections of manufacturers producing tiles. Of course, with a skirting board, the interiors look much more advantageous, but this material also has a disadvantage. Same as for natural wood - price. It is even higher, since such decor is sold individually, and each such tile costs at least 100 rubles. As a result, collectible ceramic plinths placed around the entire perimeter of the room are very expensive.

A way out of this situation can be to abandon the baseboard in principle. In such rooms, this is permissible, provided that the tiles are carefully laid right up to the tiled floor.

Polyurethane baseboard. An excellent, although unusual material for solving a “floor” problem. Everyone is used to the fact that polyurethane baseboards are for the ceiling. However, there is an option for the floor. And he:

• extremely easy to install (easily cut with a sharp knife and attached without problems);
• visually attractive;
• can be painted in any color, which means it has no restrictions on use (suitable for virtually any project);
• diverse (mass of shapes and sizes available);
• durable in operation (up to 30 years or more);
• resistant to temperature changes (even fireplaces can be decorated with it);
• flexible, which means it can easily cope with the task of decorating rooms with many radius partitions;
• has a lot of options with a deep cable channel;
• neutral in its composition, which means it can be installed even in the nursery of an infant.

All of the above points indicate the “ideality” of polyurethane baseboards. But there is a minus in this case too. And not alone:

1. Tendency to quickly become dirty. Despite the fact that frequent cleaning leads to a deterioration in the visual characteristics of any product. A “stripped” baseboard will require periodic painting to maintain visual characteristics.
2. With all the variety of options, there is no baseboard with a wooden texture, which means that for floor coverings made of natural wood, the polyurethane option is possible only in an extremely limited number of cases.
3. High price. Polyurethane skirting is also very expensive - approximately 1000 rubles for 2 linear meters.

Skirting height

The height of the plinth in the room is important. It depends on design solution and can be functional. So, for example, sockets are often placed on high baseboards or original additional lighting is laid on them, and then the height should be enough to achieve the assigned tasks.

When choosing a plinth for placing sockets, you should consider that:

• sockets must be at a height of at least 15 cm from the finished floor;
• the main part of the plinth can only be flat and required width(so that the frames of the rosettes do not catch the top edge of the finishing element - this looks very sloppy).

In general, according to the rules, the baseboard is selected first required height, width, relief. And only then - the electrics, no matter what is provided for in the project.

Manufacturers

As with any other material, when choosing a skirting board you need to pay attention to the manufacturer. Famous brands and I traditionally support brands high quality of their products in order to maintain an impeccable reputation and a high position in the market (including price). And when buying their skirting boards, the buyer can be sure that he is purchasing a truly excellent product that will fit perfectly in the place intended for it.

However, quite often you need to save money. Then you should look at a specific product, read the manufacturer’s annotations for it and customer reviews. And also rely on the opinion of experts. And choose a really high-quality plinth that will last quite a long time, maintaining its qualities.

Most often, skirting boards are produced by factories specializing in the production of floor coverings. And they do this as a collection, that is, one option of flooring material corresponds to 1 option (or more) of plinth. Purchasing a collectible plinth for the selected floor covering is the optimal solution, unless otherwise provided for by a specific design project.

For dear ones exclusive interiors Skirting boards are made to order, taking into account all the features of the design solution. There are elements that look like a real work of art. They support the style, visually unify the space, tying together seemingly disparate objects.

But what if there is still no baseboard?

If you can’t find a plinth, in some cases you can do without it altogether. Then you will have to decorate the interior in such a way that a possible baseboard seems superfluous and unnecessary. Experts advise in this case to use the method of grooves, into which boards (parquet, laminate) or tiles go. But the edges of the flooring will then need to be trimmed with a chrome corner that reflects light. This, of course, is a non-standard and expensive solution. It must be included by the designer in the project from the very beginning and carried out at a high professional level.

However, today it is almost impossible not to “pick up” a plinth. With the existing variety of options, this part can be found for any coating and for any interior. Especially if a real specialist gets down to business. In principle, any unprepared person can choose a plinth if he relies on the rules outlined above and listens to the practical advice of designers and experienced finishers.

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 strips 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. A distinctive feature of such panels is the ease of installation 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 is increasingly dominant finishing panels with window frames, door frames or walls. 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 plinth. 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 general interior. A striking example of this is the blue wallpaper on the walls and the 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 large spacious room. If the room is small, then at least give preference light shades coverings 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 great and even better if the ceiling cornices are the same color as the plinth. 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. You can combine the shade very well here 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. In this way, sharp boundaries are erased, and all protruding decorative elements are not conspicuous.

Carved panels and plinths 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. Cool shade 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 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 spectrum.

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 natural wood flooring - laminate, solid boards, parquet boards– a wooden plinth made of the same species is combined with veneered models of a similar shade and texture;
• PVC floor skirting boards look great together with rolled, tiled or liquid linoleum, carpet, laminate; 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) Veneered plinth is not inferior in environmental friendliness and appearance to wooden panels, 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 from above thin layer 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) From fibreboards Medium-density MDF and laminated skirting boards are made, which have 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 tree used both for the manufacture of floors and accompanying skirting boards. 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 severity in the room, add a ceiling plinth in the same color as the floor.

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 is better if you purchase the plinth and all the necessary elements 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.