Smart DIY tips for painting skirting boards to get a smooth, dust-free finish

Painting skirting boards can significantly enhance the appearance of a room. You can opt for classic white or venture off the beaten path with a contemporary colour. A high-gloss finish can add a touch of style, while a satin or matte paint offers a more subtle look.

Whatever colour or finish you choose, getting your prep right is crucial to getting a professional-looking finish. Just like most paint projects, such as painting a wall, window or door, the more time you spend, the better the final outcome will be.

Here, you’ll find expert tips and tricks for achieving a durable and good-looking finish and the tools you’ll need to make it happen.

The tools you'll need to paint skirting boards

• Primer
• Undercoat
• Gloss/satin paint
• 2” paint brush (like this ProDec 2 inch Short Handle Paint Brush from Amazon)
• Dust sheets
• Masking tape
• Sandpaper (like these Bosch expert sanding blocks from B&Q)
• Wood knot solution (like this Ronseal Colron Knotting Solution from Amazon)
• Sugar soap
• Sponge

Try these tools to help paint skirting boards

Nick Parsons

Nick began his time with Harris in 1988, and throughout the decades has worked in various departments. His experience and product understanding inform the evolution of all Harris products, from benchmarking to insight, research and development.

Prep area and skirting boards

1. Clear the floor

Ideally, you want to be painting all the skirting boards in a room at the same time. So the first step is to move furniture into the centre of the room and cover with dust sheets to keep clean.

Give yourself at least a couple of feet of space from the wall to make painting the skirting boards comfortable. Give yourself more space if you can – an empty room is good.

2. Protect the floor

You will need to protect the floor to prevent getting paint on it.

If you have bare floorboards, a strip of masking tape will do the job. Sweep or vacuum the floor first for better tape adhesion. A strip of masking tape will help stop dust and debris getting in the brush. You can cover the bare floorboards if you don't want to get paint on them. But if flooring/carpet is being laid later it doesn’t matter too much.

If you have flooring that needs protection, like carpet, vinyl, or wood, there are a few options. Nick Parsons, technical manager at Harris, says, "To protect your flooring and achieve crisp, professional edges, lay down a dust sheet and secure it in place with masking tape or painters tape." He adds, "This prevents any paint from bleeding onto your flooring and helps speed up the cleanup."

Alternatively, put down a strip of masking tape as close to the skirting board as possible – put down a double strip if you want to be extra careful. In the case of carpet, you may even be able to tuck some of the masking tape between the carpet and the skirting.

Another option is to tape down newspapers near the skirting board and then use dust sheets to cover the rest of the floor.

If you have enough of a gap between the flooring and skirting board – this is more likely if you have vinyl or wood flooring – you can use plastic sheets. Stretch out the sheets and gently push the plastic sheet into the gap using a flat paint scraper or filling knife.

If you are a confident DIYer you can use a decorators paint shield. Place firmly up against the skirting board and paint the section above. Move and paint the next section and repeat until complete.

3. Clean, treat and sand

Before you start painting Parsons says, "Start by wiping down the skirting boards using a microfibre cloth (like these Scrub Daddy Microfibre Cleaning Cloths) to remove any surface dirt and debris."

He adds, "Once the surface is clean, lightly sand the skirting boards. After sanding, go over the boards again with a clean, damp cloth to remove dust."

If you have bare wood skirting boards, such as pine or oak, you need to give them a quick sand. Use a fine grade sandpaper (120 grit is fine).

If your skirting boards have wood knots, treat with an appropriate wood knot solution to stop any resin seeping out after painting and ruining your beautifully painted skirting boards. The same method needs to be applied to MDF skirting boards. A lot of MDF skirting boards come pre-primed so will need a quick sanding to improve adhesion.

Previously painted skirting boards will need cleaning and sanding. Use sugar soap and a sponge to get rid of dirt and grease. Wipe dry and then sand down with a fine-grit sandpaper. Use a hand sander (if you have one) to speed up the process. To get rid of any dust, first vacuum and use a damp cloth to finish.

Prime and paint skirting boards

The first coat on bare wood skirting boards needs to be a primer as Parsons points out, "If your skirting is bare wood or previously glossed, apply a quality primer before painting." This will seal the wood and stop it from absorbing too much paint.

For maximum adhesion and longevity an oil-based wood primer is the best choice. Alternatively, you can buy an all-in-one primer and undercoat such as Dulux Wood White Wood Primer & Undercoat.

Parsons says, "Pour the primer into a paint kettle (like this Harris Ultimate Handyhold Paint Kettle from Amazon) for easy access." He adds, "Use a suitable paintbrush (like this Harris Trade Fine Tip Brush from Amazon) to achieve ultra-sharp, clean lines along the edges and corners."

You might want to switch to a 1-inch brush to get crisp, straight lines in the corners.

When applying the primer, start at the top of the skirting board and make sure you don’t overload the brush. This helps prevent drips and runs.

If you are confident, you can cut in and create a straight edge. If you are not, use masking/painters tape along the top of the skirting board. Take your time and make sure that the tape is close to the skirting board and in a straight line.

Paint in one metre sections. If you are using ogee or decorative skirting boards (like this GoodHome Primed White MDF Skirting board from B&Q) add paint into all the grooves, then go back over with consistent brush strokes to even out the paint. Once the top of the skirting board is done finish the rest of the section. Now repeat until you reach the corner.

Go back and check coverage. If there are any runs or drips, lightly run the brush over them to spread the paint for an even finish.

Once the primer is dry (this should take 2-4 hours) rub down with a fine sandpaper.

Next, clean and apply a coat of undercoat - this typically takes around 1-2 hours to dry. Repeat the process and add a second coat of undercoat.

When dry rub down lightly and apply the top coat. Gloss provides a good tough finish, but if you want something with a little less sheen, but still a good finish, try satinwood or eggshell. This typically takes around 2-4 hours to dry.

To make sure the paint is completely dry, leave for an extra hour or two.

Now remove the masking tape to finish the job. Peel off slowly and hold at a 45-degree angle as you pull. If the tape is proving difficult to remove, run a Stanley knife – or razor blade – along the edge of the tape where it meets the skirting board to cut and create a straight edge. Be careful. Hold the knife at a 45-degree angle so not cut the skirting board or flooring.

FAQs

How do I keep painted skirting boards looking fresh?

Skirting boards attract dust and are prone to getting to the odd scuff mark, so to keep them clean they need regular dusting.

For stubborn dirt or scuff marks, use warm soapy water and a cloth. Washing up liquid is good. If needed, use a sponge scourer – but be gentle. Try not to use strong detergents or sprays for regular cleaning as this can affect the paint.

What's the best way to touch-up knock and chips

Skirting boards are often kicked or knocked, which can leave dents or chipped paint.

For dents or chips, you need to fill and paint – or just paint – depending on size and depth. Get a decent wood filler, like this Ronseal High Performance Natural Ready Mixed Wood Filler, and fill if needed. Let dry and rub down with fine 120-grit sandpaper.

Then apply undercoat, let it dry and give it a gentle rub down. Use a small 1-2 inch brush. Apply another coat if needed and gently rub down. Finally apply a top coat.

White is a popular choice when painting skirting boards, but check out our skirting board ideas and skirting board colour ideas for some inspiration on your next paint project. If you're adding new skirting boards, you want to learn how to scribe skirting boards for perfect corner fits.