When enhancing your home’s interior, skirting boards, architraves, and window boards play a crucial role in adding both aesthetic and functional value. Here’s a comprehensive skirting and architrave guide to help you choose and measure these essential mouldings effectively.
Understanding Skirting Boards, Architraves, and Window Boards
- Skirting Boards: These are installed at the junction of the floor and the wall to cover the uneven edges and protect walls from knocks and scuffs.
- Architraves: These are decorative mouldings used around doors and windows to hide the gap between the wall and the door or window frame.
- Window Boards: These provide a finished edge to the interior side of the window and offer a practical shelf for placing items.
Key Considerations for Skirting Boards, Architraves, and Window Boards
- Material: MDF is a popular choice for its durability, smooth finish, and cost-effectiveness. SAM Mouldings offers high-quality MDF mouldings that are sustainable and robust.
- Style: Consider the architectural style of your home. Contemporary homes might benefit from sleek, simple designs, while period properties often suit more ornate mouldings.
- Size: The height of skirting boards, the width of architraves, and the depth of window boards should be proportional to the room’s dimensions. Taller skirting boards add grandeur, wider architraves make a bold statement. Moreover, depending on the width of the wall cavity, deeper window boards provide wider and more practical space.
Measuring for Skirting Boards, Architraves, and Window Boards
Accurate measurement is crucial to ensure a perfect fit. Here’s how to do it:
Skirting Boards:
- Measure the Perimeter: Use a tape measure to find the total length of the walls where skirting will be installed.
- Account for Corners: Include external and internal corners in your measurements and consider purchasing plinth for a neat finish.
- Allow for Waste: It’s a general rule of thumb to order an extra 10% to account for cutting and wastage.
Architraves:
- Measure the Door/Window Frame: Measure the height and width of the frame. For doors, measure from the floor to the top of the frame.
- Add Overlap: Ensure the architrave will extend beyond the frame to adequately cover any gaps.
- Consider Mitre Cuts: For corners, factor in the mitre cut angle (usually 45 degrees) and the width of your architrave when making your calculations.
Window Boards:
- Depth Measurement: Measure the depth from the window to the edge of the wall.
- Length Measurement: Measure the width of the window opening and add a little extra on each side for overhang.
Get the Most Out of Samples
Samples are an excellent way to make informed decisions about profiles and sizes. While online images are helpful, handling samples in person and seeing them in your home’s context can make a big difference. At SAM, we can send you up to five free samples before postage costs apply. This approach ensures you select the perfect mouldings for your home without unnecessary expenses.
Installation Tips
- Preparation: Ensure surfaces are clean and smooth. Sand down any rough edges.
- Cutting: Use a mitre saw for precise angles, especially for corners.
- Fixing: Secure with nails or adhesive. Fill any gaps with caulk for a seamless look.
- Finishing: Sand and paint or stain to match your interior décor.
Why Choose SAM Mouldings?
SAM offers a diverse range of MDF skirting boards, architraves, window boards and more interior mouldings, renowned for our quality and durability. Our products are sustainably manufactured and designed to suit both contemporary and traditional interiors.
Explore the full range of SAM MDF mouldings to find the perfect finishing touches for your home.
By considering these factors and following precise measurement techniques, you can ensure a flawless installation of skirting boards, architraves, and window boards, enhancing the beauty and functionality of your home.
