How to paint skirting boards without staining wall or floor
To paint skirting boards without making a mess, protect the floor and the wall with masking tape, use little paint on the brush and work in short sections. Skirting boards are a slow but simple job. Almost all smudges come from rushing, badly applied tape or too much paint.
Prepare the area before painting
Start by vacuuming the skirting board and the floor along the wall. Dust and hairs stick to wet paint and spoil the finish. Then wipe the skirting board with a damp cloth and a little detergent. Leave to dry.
If there are holes, gaps between the skirting board and the wall, or visible nails, fill them with filler or with paintable acrylic sealant. Small gaps are very visible after painting.
- Vacuum cleaner and damp cloth
- Fine sandpaper and sanding block
- Good-quality masking tape
- Paper, cardboard or plastic for the floor
- Small angled brush
- A dry cloth to hand for wiping up straight away
Protecting the floor and the wall
Stick the tape to the floor, next to the skirting board, leaving a small gap of about a millimetre so the brush does not touch the flooring. Take care with parquet and laminate flooring: the tape should be low-tack so it does not lift the finish.
At the top, stick the tape to the wall, right against the skirting board. Run your fingernail or a plastic spatula over the tape to seal it properly. Badly sealed tape lets paint through and gives a crooked line.
If the floor is very close, put a strip of cardboard or a wide plastic ruler between the brush and the floor. Move it along as you go.
Tip: If the skirting board is wooden and in good condition, sand only to remove the shine. You do not need to sand down to the wood unless the old paint is peeling.
Painting without drips
Dip only the tip of the brush and wipe off the excess on the rim of the tin. A loaded brush runs over the tape or onto the floor. It is better to give two thin coats than one thick one.
- Paint sections of about one metre at a time.
- Start with the top of the skirting board and then work down to the flat part.
- Draw the brush lengthways, in one smooth stroke.
- Do not go back and touch up once the paint has started to dry.
- Wipe any smudge straight away with a damp cloth, if the paint is water-based.
If you use solvent-based paint, keep the thinner and a cloth to hand and keep the room well ventilated. Wear gloves.
Removing the tape at the right moment
This is the step where many people spoil their work. If you remove the tape when the paint is already completely hard, you may tear paint off with it. If you remove it while the paint is still very wet, it may run.
The best time is when the paint is no longer liquid but has not yet fully cured. Pull slowly, at a low angle, pulling the tape away from the skirting board. If the paint has formed a film joining it to the tape, first score the line with a thin blade.
If paint gets onto the wall or the floor, do not scrub hard. Leave it to dry, scrape it carefully or touch up the wall colour with a small brush.
Tip: Paint the skirting boards before painting the ceiling and walls only if you are repainting everything. If you are only refreshing the skirting boards, it is easier to protect the wall with wide tape or a plastic ruler.