Rate my skirting!

[TheInternet]

Everbuild Instant Nails - anybody used it for skirting?

Looking for something just strong enough which can be easily cut through with a multitool down the line. I don't want something that's going to rip all the plasterboard to shreds if I pull it away.

Also measured the internal corners and they're squarer than Moss from the IT Crowd so they will be mitred.

[Evoluzione]

PositronicRay said:

It'll look better once the furniture and curtains are in.

Yep, you won't even see it then. If matey boy had had the sense to fill, then splash a bit of primer over his joints OP would have been none the wiser. He probably gets away with it 90 odd percent of the time.
What you don't know about you can't complain about.

[Simpo Two]

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

[netherfield]

Bald Dave from Denby Dale makes it look easy.

[Mr Whippy]

Simpo Two said:

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

Same as laying flooring.

I’m surprised someone capable of one is so bad at doing the other.

[KAgantua]

This is what I dont understand - im a DIY person not a tradeseman, and I have done both activities.

They derive from teh same carpentry skillset (Prep and working with (Cutting/ joining) wood)

If your tradesman didnt want to/ couldnt do the Skirting, why did he agree to it?

(Though I would be somewhat concerned about employing a floor fitter who couldnt do skirting)
Apologies in advance to certain tradesmen on this thread.

[Evoluzione]

Mr Whippy said:

Simpo Two said:

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

Same as laying flooring.

I’m surprised someone capable of one is so bad at doing the other.

You do know why brain surgeons don't work as bin men?

[Mr Whippy]

Evoluzione said:

Mr Whippy said:

Simpo Two said:

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

Same as laying flooring.

I’m surprised someone capable of one is so bad at doing the other.

You do know why brain surgeons don't work as bin men?

Mmmkay.

[SIMON67]

KAgantua said:

This is what I dont understand - im a DIY person not a tradeseman, and I have done both activities.

They derive from teh same carpentry skillset (Prep and working with (Cutting/ joining) wood)

If your tradesman didnt want to/ couldnt do the Skirting, why did he agree to it?

(Though I would be somewhat concerned about employing a floor fitter who couldnt do skirting)
Apologies in advance to certain tradesmen on this thread.

My reason for paying him to fit the skirting was that working with skirting is surely a key function of being a wood floor specialist. Both functions involve measuring, cutting and fixing wood. I also thought that having the same person fit the skirting would mean that they would take extra care as the quality of the skirting influences the perceived quality of the floor. Obviously I was wrong

[SEDon]

TheInternet said:

Everbuild Instant Nails - anybody used it for skirting?

Looking for something just strong enough which can be easily cut through with a multitool down the line. I don't want something that's going to rip all the plasterboard to shreds if I pull it away.

Also measured the internal corners and they're squarer than Moss from the IT Crowd so they will be mitred.

Use expanding foam, any will do. Just run a thin bead nearish the top of the skirting (let the foam expand for a few minutes especially if you don't get low expansion foam) then push the skirting on and wait for it to go off. When you need to get it off run a flexible knife down the back and slice through. That's what I did and recently needed to get it off to fit some units, meant no damage to the plaster

[Evoluzione]

Simpo Two said:

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

To give them their due though a floor fitter would lay a floor quicker than a Joiner and be cheaper.

[Mr Whippy]

Evoluzione said:

Simpo Two said:

Evoluzione said:

A skilled joiner can fit wooden flooring because he's over qualified, a skilled floorlayer can't do the job of a joiner because he has no formal qualification in anything.

Which is probably why they usually bodge the join with plastic moulding rather than dabble with the skirting. Skirting is one of those jobs which looks easy - until you start...!

To give them their due though a floor fitter would lay a floor quicker than a Joiner and be cheaper.

Competently is the key variable here though.

Good old cost, quality, speed triangle. Pick two.

Anyone with sense should pick quality given the material costs!

[dhutch]

Mr Whippy said:

Same as laying flooring.

I’m surprised someone capable of one is so bad at doing the other.

I mean, engineered flooring clips together, and almost you have the whole wide of the skirting to hide your errors!

[ATG]

Evoluzione said:

Hopefully the OP reads this because he appears to think it's everyone else's fault but his own.

Caveat emptor applies as ever.

He chose this bloke based on recommendations. What what was he supposed to do?

[SIMON67]

Evoluzione said:

Hopefully the OP reads this because he appears to think it's everyone else's fault but his own.

Caveat emptor applies as ever.

Thank you for your opinion and support - great to have your expert input on this thread.

[Slowboathome]

ATG said:

Evoluzione said:

Hopefully the OP reads this because he appears to think it's everyone else's fault but his own.

Caveat emptor applies as ever.

He chose this bloke based on recommendations. What what was he supposed to do?

Quite.

[Evoluzione]

Recommendations can be taken with a pinch of salt.
You have to have at least some responsibility for letting this happen. Aside from not getting one trade to do another's job, get a detailed written quotation and go look at some of their previous jobs.

You'll be a lot more careful now with the next person than you were originally.

[Slowboathome]

Evoluzione said:

Recommendations can be taken with a pinch of salt.
You have to have at least some responsibility for letting this happen. Aside from not getting one trade to do another's job, get a detailed written quotation and go look at some of their previous jobs.

You'll be a lot more careful now with the next person than you were originally.

Viz Top Top: every time you want a job doing, insist on visiting several of their previous customers' homes to inspect their work.

The really good tradespeople will definitely prioritise you over all the other customers desperate to use them.

Also, if you're buying a used car, insist on being given the contact details of several recent customers to check if they were satisfied with their purchase.

[SEDon]

If he's coming back OP don't forget to employ a chauffeur to drive him to your house, can't reasonably expect him to be able to drive competently no matter what he says

Edited by SEDon on Sunday 2nd April 08:59

[James6112]

I doubt that you’d be checking out other peoples houses before getting someone to do a simple skirting job!
A competent amateur would do a better job than he tried to get away with…

Just choose some new skirting, say an inch taller than the existing.
Spend a couple of hours removing his handywork.

Line up someone who isn’t a total clown.

Will be sorted in no time & you can enjoy.

Put the disappointment behind you & move on.