Repainting skirting boards?

[KingJeff 4th]

Thinking of doing this in our hallway and I'm a bit of a DIY noob.

Do i need to strip the existing paint all the way back to the wood or just rough it up with a bit of sandpaper to give it a key?

Or just paint over it after a quick clean?


I'm assuming all are possible with varying levels of quality result. Any tips?

[blinkythefish]

KingJeff 4th said:

Thinking of doing this in our hallway and I'm a bit of a DIY noob.

Do i need to strip the existing paint all the way back to the wood or just rough it up with a bit of sandpaper to give it a key?

Or just paint over it after a quick clean?


I'm assuming all are possible with varying levels of quality result. Any tips?

It kind of depends on the state of the skirting. If there is a lot of old, chipped paint I would be tempted to strip it back. If the skirtings are just looking a bit tired, I would just sand it down. Don't just paint over after a quick clean, because it'll fall off.

Make sure you use an undercoat and two thin coats - it spreads easier and gives a better finish, rather than try to get away with one thick coat, which will run. Sand down(lightly) between each coat.

[KingJeff 4th]

Cheers matey. Paint is in OK nick at the moment, just looking a bit tatty and needs a refresh (looking to sell).

I'll give it a rub down and crack on with it.

Cheers

KJ

[Harry Flashman]

Mine are chipped and flaking, so need stripping back. Especially as the rest of the house is looking good.

Started with a hot air gun and scraper. Gave up after an hour and one side of a doorframe done. What a pig of a job.

[jas xjr]

if you want a good finish then the more prep you do the better the finish will be. having said that i am a bodger and would go for the quick rub down option

[blinkythefish]

Harry Flashman said:

Mine are chipped and flaking, so need stripping back. Especially as the rest of the house is looking good.

Started with a hot air gun and scraper. Gave up after an hour and one side of a doorframe done. What a pig of a job.

Try "peel away" It's a caustic paste you layer onto the paint, cover it with paper and leave it for a bit(few hours). It'll eat through 12-16 layers of paint, and scrapes of really easily. Only down side is you have to wash/scrub the woodwork down a lot to clean the paste residue off and neutralize it with acid(vinegar).

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/p/PALPA...

I used it to strip the woodwork in my lounge, see this thread for the result:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by blinkythefish on Monday 7th December 17:39

Edited by blinkythefish on Monday 7th December 17:45

[Busamav]

Harry Flashman said:

Mine are chipped and flaking, so need stripping back. Especially as the rest of the house is looking good.

Started with a hot air gun and scraper. Gave up after an hour and one side of a doorframe done. What a pig of a job.

rip them off and fit new skirtings , much more satisfying .

[Harpo]

Agreed. I have used MDF, so no knots to worry about and they don't warp like pine.
A decent mitre saw isn't that much to buy and gives a great finish. Fit them on with 'no more nails' and the job is a good 'un!
Much quicker than stripping or sanding back to the bare wood.

[Harry Flashman]

Busamav said:

Harry Flashman said:

Mine are chipped and flaking, so need stripping back. Especially as the rest of the house is looking good.

Started with a hot air gun and scraper. Gave up after an hour and one side of a doorframe done. What a pig of a job.

rip them off and fit new skirtings , much more satisfying .

This is very much the option. A LOT of skirting/doorframes though. The skirting boards are those 9 inch high Victorian jobs. How pricey is this all going to be?

[blinkythefish]

Harry Flashman said:

Busamav said:

Harry Flashman said:

Mine are chipped and flaking, so need stripping back. Especially as the rest of the house is looking good.

Started with a hot air gun and scraper. Gave up after an hour and one side of a doorframe done. What a pig of a job.

rip them off and fit new skirtings , much more satisfying .

This is very much the option. A LOT of skirting/doorframes though. The skirting boards are those 9 inch high Victorian jobs. How pricey is this all going to be?

Depends on the Skirting board you put on. Bog standard OGEE pine will be about pound a metre(depending on the profile - wider boards will be dearer); MDF is marginally dearer, but easier to paint/better finish; up to solid oak for tenner a metre

http://www.realoakfloors.co.uk/oak_wood_skirting_b...

Are the boards in your house good quality - good quality wood, nice profile etc? i.e. will they be expensive to replace? Your description above sounds like they may fall in this category. If they are, and you are prepared to take them off, a further option is to send them off to be dip stripped. The down side is that you have to be careful when taking them off so as not to split them.

[furtive]

KingJeff 4th said:

I'll give it a rub down and crack on with it.

Probably worth washing them down with sugar soap as well as rubbing them down