Which skirting board to choose for parquet. Plastic floor plinth

Modern renovation cannot do without such a product as a plinth. These are thin rigid or flexible strips used in the finishing decoration of the floor space. The products are produced in a huge range. Let us consider in detail what types of floor skirting boards exist, where they are used and how they are installed.

General classification of skirting boards

The range of floor moldings is impressive; they are divided according to several criteria. So, by appointment highlight:

1. Universal profiles that can be used in residential and commercial construction. Therefore, they are the most in demand;
2. Flexible, recommended for indoor use complex shapes, as well as for decorating the base of columns, arches, etc.;
3. Fluted, with which you can mount flooring with an establishment on the wall. This type of product is mainly used in medical institutions, laboratories and other facilities with special cleanliness requirements;
4. Frame or carpet, allowing you to form a decorative strip of finishing material for the floor. A very good solution for the so-called author’s or designer’s renovation;
5. Special, characterized by high levels of resistance to mechanical stress, intended for public, trade and commercial organizations.

Universal skirting boards for all occasions.

Flexible skirting boards. The plinth is especially resistant.

By format can be distinguished:

• Classic figured fillets;
• Modern straight planks;
• Profiled products.

Classic shaped plinth. The slats are straight. Profiled plinth.

To size distinguish:

• Small skirting boards, the height of which does not exceed 40 mm.
• Standard moldings measuring up to 70 mm on the front side are a universal molding for any objects;
• High profiles with a usable width of up to 150 mm - for rooms where the distance from floor to ceiling exceeds 3 m.

Small plinth. Typical planks.

The length of the products varies from 1.5 to 2.5 m, and the thickness is 2–2.5 cm (rarely 3–4 cm).

By fixation method manufacturers offer:

• Products installed using ordinary self-tapping screws or dowel-nails;
• Planks with a self-adhesive strip applied industrially to the reverse side;
• Skirting boards glued with “liquid nails” or any other strong adhesive.
• Moldings mounted on original fasteners: “clips”, mounting strips and so on.

Plinth on dowels. Plinth on glue. Skirting on slats.

The most practical type of skirting boards are profiles fixed with fasteners. They can be installed on walls lined with decorative plaster or wallpaper, PVC panels or lining.

By decoration method skirting profiles are divided into:

And finally, the most important classification sign– the raw materials from which the moldings are made. Let's take a closer look at this group.

Classification by material of manufacture

Floor decorating strips are made from:

• Polyurethane;
• Wood;
• Metal.

Each type of floor skirting boards has a unique set of properties, so before choosing, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with brief description each type of product.

Plastic floor moldings

The most extensive group of products is made from thermoplastic polymer mass, better known as plastic. Pairs perfectly with almost all types of flooring finishing materials, from laminate to ceramic tiles. Thanks to their wear and water resistance, they can be used in living rooms, baths and toilets, offices, shops, clubs, even on open balconies and terraces.

PVC skirting boards are produced:

• Rigid, tinted in the most popular colors. In budget collections, the surface is smooth and lightly glossy. The more expensive ones go through deep or surface texturing stages, so they perfectly imitate moldings made of natural wood. In addition, the premium series has a so-called soft edge - a rubber strip glued to the main strip, which ensures a good fit to the floor and walls;
• Colored flexible profiles, called edging. They can be used both for walls and for decorating arched or doorways, columns, bay windows, paintings, mirrors, false fireplaces and much more;
• White ones that can be mounted in pure form, and paint after installation. For their production, foamed plastic is used, which has good adhesion. Thanks to this property, paint compositions fit perfectly onto the baseboard.

Table 1. Pros and cons of PVC skirting boards

Polyurethane skirting boards

The urethane group elastomer is sometimes mistakenly given the name duroplast or a subtype of PVC. However, it is not. Polyurethane is classified as separate species polymers, in some properties superior even to rubber.

The peculiarity of floor profiles is that they are made from rigid and semi-rigid varieties by extrusion or casting. Finished products can be increased strength or flexible, easily adapting to objects of complex shapes. The surface is white for painting, straight in shape with partial profiling, less often - figured.

table 2. Advantages and disadvantages of polyurethane profiles

High-density MDF plinth

MDF plinth to match the color of the doors.

Products from this group have a thermal expansion rate identical to wood, so they are perfect for laminate, parquet, multi-layer or solid boards. In the assortment of well-known manufacturers:

• MDF products for painting;
• Planks are tinted or painted;
• Profiles covered with colored decorative film with a smooth or textured surface structure.

The front side of MDF products can be smooth, profiled, or figured. The size range depends on the manufacturer, and the length can reach 3 m, thickness - 2 cm, and height - 15 cm.

Table 3. Advantages and disadvantages of MDF skirting boards

Wooden skirting boards

This type of profiled products is considered elite, as it is made from solid wood valuable species(beech, oak, ash, etc.) The surface can be clean or treated with varnish, oil, stain. Some factories even produce veneered planks.

Wooden profiles are perfect for all types of wood coverings, as well as flooring or wall materials that imitate natural textures: laminate, multi-layer boards, vinyl tiles, linoleum, wood-look porcelain tiles, etc. There are no unified standards, so the dimensions, profile shape, and number of cable channels vary over a wide range.

Table 4. Advantages and disadvantages of solid wood moldings

The most resistant to damage, wear and water type of floor profiles are aluminum products, of stainless steel or brass. Produced primarily for industrial and commercial applications. Although, as you can see in the photo below, some designers use metal strips to create an interior in a high-tech, avant-garde or minimalist style.

To protect and give the surface decorative properties Aluminum skirting boards are painted by anodizing or powder enamel. Brass-plated products do not require such a protective layer. Some manufacturers offer profiles coated with a decorating film that imitates wood in texture and color.

Table 5. Pros and cons of metal skirting boards

Article

Basic selection factors

• Durability (we expect about 30 years).
• Easy to care for - just wipe with a damp cloth.
• Resistance to changes in temperature and humidity - especially if you place it on a floor with a “warm floor” system or decorate the coating in the bathroom, where puddles after swimming are not excluded.
• Flexibility - if there are rounded surfaces that we will “go around”.
• Possibility to hide communications (often there is a television wire or Internet channel inside the baseboard).
• Design: The choice of shapes, colors, textures and patterns of finished products is huge, but you can also find a model that can be painted.
• Material and, as a result, price. Something we will talk about in more detail in this article.

1. Plastic plinth
How to choose floor plinth? Let's start with the most popular and economical option - plastic. Interior(fasteners) are fixed to the wall with self-tapping screws, the outer one - the baseboard itself - is put on the fasteners. The joints are covered with plugs.

It is very easy to install and dismantle a plastic floor plinth; it does not require any special skill. You can approve such a plinth match the color of the flooring or doors, find a model with an internal cable channel (you can hide all the wiring, as shown in the photo). As a rule, plastic baseboards are chosen for laminate, linoleum and carpet - that is, repairs “without complaints”. The price for 2.5 linear meters, depending on the manufacturer, ranges from 50 to 150 rubles. When you need to fit into a very modest budget when decorating public spaces, this is perhaps the only possible option.

The main disadvantage is fragility
No matter what they write in marketing brochures about the latest technologies and innovative high-strength polymers, plastic remains plastic. A brush from a vacuum cleaner, a chair leg, a crashed children's car, that is, any mechanical point impact leads to damage. I still want more durable solutions for my home. Which skirting board is better to choose? Let's look further.

2. MDF plinth
The material is environmentally friendly (fine chips pressed under high temperature and pressure), is ideal for parquet boards. It has the same advantages as a plastic baseboard: it is possible to install electrical wiring inside.

There are two ways to attach MDF skirting boards to the wall:

• on special brackets (similar to a plastic baseboard);
• on self-tapping screws without heads. More reliable way- creates a tight seal to the wall.

MDF plinth could well be called the best solution, if not for its instability to mechanical stress (chips, scratches). In addition, if there are many radius partitions in the room, the appearance of the baseboard suffers. Unlike the solid wood version, the MDF plinth is bent using notches on inner surface. They are also visible from the outside and spoil the appearance.

MDF plinth is an ideal option for straight partitions and a budget but high-quality project. The price for 2.8 linear meters ranges on average from 250 to 700 rubles - depending on the size and type of coating. For radius partitions, it is better to choose a different baseboard.

In the photo: thinking about how to choose the right one baseboard material, don't forget- He must be combined with the floor covering

3. Solid baseboard
The most environmentally friendly and durable option, great for indoors complex configuration with radius partitions.

If twenty years ago pine was almost the only option, today the choice is huge: solid oak, cherry, maple, ash - it’s up to you to decide which skirting board to choose. As a rule, solid baseboards are used when laying expensive block parquet floors. It is attached to the wall using liquid nails; the radius of the wall’s curvature is measured on site, and then the dimensions of the rounded parts are calculated in production.

To accurately match the tone of the doors or parquet, the baseboards are tinted. Price per linear meter solid baseboard approximately 750 rubles, for the radius part - on average, twice as high.

Any fashionista will say that the main thing is in the details, or rather, in the accessories.

When applied to parquet flooring, such accessories are baseboards and thresholds. It is impossible, of course, to say that they are the main thing, but the owner of the house needs to understand them in order to comply with harmonious design rooms and increase the reliability of the floor as a whole.

Practice shows that clients are interested in 3 questions:

What is the function of parquet accessories?

How to choose it correctly?

How to install (check if the experts did it well)?

Below you will find the answers to these questions.

What are parquet accessories for?

Parquet is a special floor. The tree changes its geometry depending on climatic conditions, in particular on the level of humidity, which in our country “jumps” like the dollar exchange rate. Throughout the year, natural parquet flooring literally words - “breathes”, now expanding, now narrowing.

Knowing these features of parquet, craftsmen never lay it close to walls or other floor coverings - a compensation gap is always left.

To cover it, skirting boards and thresholds are needed.

How to choose the right skirting boards and thresholds?

It is correct to start from the type of parquet and the quality of accessories. Skirting boards come in the following types:

Plastic skirting board

The most popular product because it is affordable. Of course, laying plastic skirting boards with natural parquet (for example, solid boards) is blasphemy. But in other options - why not? Moreover, it has its own advantages depending on the type, there are 2 (main):

1) Plastic plinth made of dense PVC is one of the most convenient options, abrasion-resistant, easy to install on the mounting plate. This plinth can be removed and reinstalled several times.

2) Plastic plinth made of foamed PVC - this option has one of the lowest prices, but this plinth is quite fragile and when replacing the cable, it will not be possible to install it back.

Laminated plinth

As the name suggests, it goes best with laminate. The basis of the structure is pressed wood fiber (MDF), and the outside of the plinth is covered laminated film, imitating this or that tree.

Veneered plinth

This is already an option for connoisseurs natural wood, ideal for block parquet. The design is based on inexpensive spruce or pine, and outside veneer is glued on - a thin slice of valuable wood, coated with several layers of varnish.

Veneered plinth has 2 key advantages:

1. A huge selection - it can be matched to any, even the most exotic parquet.
2. Resistant to changes in air humidity - does not deform.

Solid wood plinth

The elite among skirting boards, an accessory for status owners of parquet floors. The plinth consists entirely of valuable wood. In our country, oak is more often chosen, because oak “holds” the Russian climate best, and foreign manufacturers even make skirting boards from exotic species.

A massive plinth has only one drawback (besides the price) - it is afraid of changes in humidity. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain stable air parameters in the room, and not to be too zealous when cleaning wet.

Metal baseboard

Metal + wood + stone – this is a special aesthetics. Metal plinth goes well with solid parquet when the design is made in techno or minimalist styles. Look:

In addition, metal skirting boards are like good man– consist only of advantages:

• Durable
• They have an incredible number of colors and textures depending on anodization (an oxide film is created on the metal surface for protection and decoration)
• Have extreme resistance to mechanical loads
• Not afraid of water and temperature changes
• Fireproof
• They bend, allowing curved surfaces to be “joined”

As you can see, the choice is huge, and when laying a parquet floor you can always choose the right baseboard.

Now let's talk about the thresholds:

Types of thresholds

To put it simply, a threshold is a decorative strip.

Unlike skirting boards, which close the gap between the covering and the wall, thresholds have several functions. Therefore, they are divided not only by type of material, but also by functionality:

• Straight (joint-overlapping) - decorate the border between different floor coverings located on the same level.
• Multi-level - help to decorate the transition between two floor coverings located at different levels.
• Final (terminal) - help to edge the border of the floor covering.
• For steps - they decorate steps, prevent slipping and protect the edges from rapid destruction.

Cork thresholds (compensators)

Serve for connecting glued parquet with ceramic tiles and other stone floor coverings. The pliable material (cork) easily gives way to the expanding parquet floor and then returns to its place. Not suitable for floating floors.

Wooden thresholds

Premium segment of parquet accessories. Wooden thresholds are made from solid valuable wood, so they are combined with natural parquet, but they also require the same care - they are periodically treated with special protective compounds, and for serious scratches and abrasions, you can even sand it and then coat it with varnish or oil.

Metal thresholds (moldings)

Choosing a plinth is an important stage in finishing a room. It can be combined with different interior elements. The plinth can be floor or ceiling. For both varieties there are a number of recommendations for selection. They allow you to create a harmonious, interesting interior. How to choose a plinth will be discussed in detail below.

How to choose a plinth for the ceiling and floor? This question is faced by people who do repairs themselves. The choice of finish occurs at the final stage of work. At this time, the material for the walls, floor and ceiling has already been selected, and all the interior details have been thought out. The baseboard allows you to hide the gaps between the trim and the wall. In this case, the repair looks neat.

The baseboard can be bright, standing out against the general background, or blend in with the main color of the finish. In any case, he is able to combine all the disparate elements of the interior into a single picture. To do this, you need to take into account several recommendations from experts. There are several classic and original techniques that allow you to create harmonious interior.

When choosing a plinth for the floor, you need to take into account a number of nuances. Be sure to pay attention to the type of room and its purpose. You should also take into account the dimensions of the room, the chosen design style, as well as the existing color scheme. It is possible to install both a contrasting plinth, which will differ from the main range, and in accordance with the color of certain interior elements.

The plinth for the ceiling is selected in accordance with the existing design features. In this case, the materials chosen for finishing must be taken into account. The ceiling plinth should be in harmony with the ceiling. There are many options for similar products on sale.

When considering how to choose a plinth for the floor or ceiling, you should take into account that it should not only be beautiful and harmonize with the rest of the interior elements, but also practical. If the room is humid, there are temperature changes, the border material must be resistant to adverse influences. Also on sale are the most different designs skirting boards. Cable channels can pass through them. Such products allow you to hide electrical and television wires from sight.

The ceiling plinth can provide space for additional lighting around the perimeter of the room. The size of the edging may vary significantly. The choice depends on the characteristics of the operation of the premises, the taste preferences of the owners of the house, as well as the budget for repairs.

Interior style and dimensions

How to choose a plinth? The style of the interior should be taken into account. It can be very different. Designers claim that a product made of natural wood is ideal for an interior in a classic, baroque, retro, or Provence style. The material does not need to be painted. Such materials are selected in accordance with the floor covering.

If you plan to create an interior in the modern, minimalist, or high-tech style, you can choose aluminum slats. There are many options for materials today. Modern styles allow for the most original color solutions.

How to choose a plinth for the floor in a spacious room? In this case, you can give preference to a wide border. She may be different color, stand out from the general background. But in a room with low ceilings it is better to abandon contrasting, wide edgings. They should blend into the flooring, wall or ceiling. The width should not be large. Such skirting boards will look harmonious.

Professional designers argue that you need to select a plinth not so much according to the material from which it is made, but in accordance with its design. Take into account the size of the border, its color and texture.

• white;
• beige;
• brown;
• natural wood;
• black;
• grey.

However, there are skirting boards that can be painted any color. This allows you to create a single picture of the baseboard with the wall or ceiling. You can also choose the option with a removable top panel. For example, floor carpet or linoleum is installed in it. This also allows you to apply an interesting effect when decorating a room.

Selection of floor plinths

No single rule, what the baseboards for the floor are selected for. There are many options. The baseboard shade can be perfectly combined with the selected interior element. A deviation of 1-2 tones is acceptable. You can choose it for the following elements of the room:

• Floor. This is one of the most common options. It has been used since the invention of skirting boards. If you plan to make a wooden floor, this option will be preferable. In this case, the texture and shade of the edging must completely match the floor covering.
• Walls. This option is suitable for a small room with a low ceiling. In this case, the walls will appear higher, merging with the baseboard into a single space. To do this, it is better to purchase edging that can be painted. The walls should also be plain.
• Door. In this version, the plinth door leaf and the platbands will be the same color. This is an interesting, unusual approach. However, it is only applicable to a single-color door made of wood or a material that imitates it.
• Window frames. The interior looks impressive and unusual. The frame and plinth can become bright accent. Sometimes they are made of wood or purchased designs intended for painting. The color can be any. But it must be combined with common interior.
• Furniture. The baseboard should be combined with the largest or central furniture in the room.
• Platbands. In this version, the door leaf differs in texture and shade from the trim. The plinth is selected in accordance with the door frame. These interior elements form a frame that runs throughout the entire room. This technique allows you to combine disparate interior details.
• Beams. Sometimes beams are created on the ceiling. The baseboard can be selected to match this design element.

When considering what floor skirting boards are selected for, you should consider another option. The border can be a bright accent. They can be created in an interior in beige or pastel colors. This makes the image more expressive and effective. Sometimes the baseboard doesn't match anything at all. In this case, its color should be neutral, white or beige.

Floor plinth material

When considering how to choose a plinth, you should pay attention to the types of materials. Used for finishing floors the following types borders:

• Wood, veneer. When considering how to select skirting boards for the floor or doors, this option should be used when creating a base covering made of natural wood. Only if other materials are used for the floor, and the door is made of natural solid wood, is it worth purchasing a wooden baseboard that matches the color of the door.
• PVC. Most often it is purchased if linoleum was chosen for finishing the floor in the room. The texture of this edging is very similar to this type of material. Also, PVC skirting boards look impressive in combination with carpet or laminate.
• Metal. Available in chrome or regular. If the owners of a house or apartment are faced with the question of how to choose a baseboard for tiles, this option should be considered first. Metal edging and porcelain stoneware look especially impressive. This technique is often used in high-tech style.
• LDF. Suitable for laminate, carpet, wood and ceramic tile flooring. Universal type finishing. At the same time, the LDF edging can be painted in any color.
• Ceramics. Suitable only for tiles or porcelain stoneware. Suitable for bathroom or kitchen.

The choice depends on the features of the interior and the taste preferences of the owners. Plastic and LDF are relatively inexpensive. That's why they are purchased more often. Wood, metal, ceramics are much more expensive. Therefore, such materials are purchased only when creating a specific interior design.

Experts say that the classic option is to choose the color of the baseboard in accordance with the floor. If natural wood is used for finishing a room, other options are not even considered. But how to choose skirting boards for linoleum, tiles or carpet that have a non-uniform pattern? In this case, designers recommend making a border to match the color of the walls or other interior elements.

So, in a small room, a narrow baseboard to match the walls will look great. This will make them appear taller. And for a large room it is better to make a contrasting plinth, combining it with the door frames. In this case, a contrasting line will run along the perimeter of the room. The plinth should be the same width as the trim. This is an interesting technique that is used to create fashionable, modern interiors.

Matching skirting boards to doors is possible if you can find the same shade of border. Moreover, its width may differ from the size of the platbands, which, in turn, should be the same color as the sash. This is also an interesting option.

By combining the shade of the baseboard with the furniture, you can emphasize that this is a single composition. Sometimes without such edging it is difficult to fit a large wardrobe or sofa into overall design. The floor plinth makes the interior complete.

When creating contrasting accents, you need to avoid unsuccessful combinations of shades. For example, if the interior is made in pale purple tones, you should not make the border green. Orange and blue, blue and pink shades also don’t go well together.

Color solution

How to choose a baseboard color? If you can choose a shade in accordance with the selected object (floor, walls, doors, etc.), there will be no problems with choosing a shade. But there are also controversial decisions when choosing the shade of the edging becomes difficult.

If the predominant shade of the floor is light, the baseboard can be chosen a tone lighter or darker. It depends on the rest of the interior elements. If the flooring is dark, the same shades will work when creating a border. The combination of a white baseboard with beige walls and dark floor. A bright border in this case will decorate the interior.

For floor dark shades You should choose a beige, white, or yellowish baseboard. If you choose it even darker, the interior will look gloomy.

The gender combination looks beautiful warm shade(especially natural wood) with walls in pastel colors. At the same time, the platbands and the baseboard itself can be dark. The ceiling in this case should also be light. The baguette can be chosen in the same color as the floor plinth. The thickness of the top and bottom borders may vary indoors. It will be thicker near the floor and thinner near the ceiling.

A bright baseboard can be made in a room where there are no active colors in the interior. In this case, the compatibility of shades must be taken into account. The accents shouldn't be too big. In rooms with modest dimensions, it is better to choose a tone for the edging in which it will blend in with the floor or walls.

Ceiling plinth

There are a number of recommendations that will allow you to choose a border for the ceiling. There are skirting boards on sale that differ in material. There are foam, wooden, and polyurethane skirting boards. Depending on the material, the operational characteristics of the baguette are determined.

So, the foam border is the cheapest. Its installation does not cause difficulties, since the material is lightweight. Foam skirting boards are predominantly white. If desired, they can be painted in any color. The disadvantage of this material is its fragility. The foam baseboard can be damaged by slightly pressing its surface. Also, breaking a baguette is not difficult.

Foam plinth may look out of place in expensive, classic interiors. Therefore, it is worth purchasing other varieties in these cases.

Polyurethane plinth looks more impressive. It is harder than foam. Therefore, it is difficult to damage this material. At correct installation and subsequent painting, this type of border will look no worse than stucco. There are baguettes on sale that differ in width and pattern. Polyurethane foam is relatively inexpensive material. However, its scope is wider than that of foam products.

When wanting to create lighting around the perimeter of the room, polyurethane is preferable. It does not burn and is not afraid of mechanical stress. Therefore, it is purchased much more often today. Than other finishing options.

Another option is a wood baseboard. It costs more than other types of edging. This type of plinth is not suitable for every interior. It gives the design pomp. At the same time, the installation of such edgings is quite complicated. Wood is a beautiful but capricious material. It is susceptible to rotting and burning.

To use a wooden plinth, it must be properly treated (with antiseptics, fire retardants). Much more often, buyers purchase polyurethane and foam varieties of baguettes.

Width

How to choose the right ceiling plinth? It is important to consider not only the material, but also the configuration of the product. The border may vary in width. You need to be able to choose it correctly.

The widest varieties of skirting boards allow you to smooth out corners in the room. The room looks somewhat round. This makes her cozy and calm. Rounded shapes pacify the human psyche. It is recommended to install such skirting boards in the bedroom.

The advantage of a wide plinth is its ability to hide unevenness in walls, joints and ceilings. This is especially true for corners. To hide all the shortcomings of the room, you will need to mount the baguette very accurately. It is better to seek help from a professional. Errors made during installation will be especially visible on a wide baseboard.

However, it is worth considering that wide products are not suitable for a small room. This edging will make it appear even smaller.

Hue

When choosing a plinth for the ceiling, you should pay attention to its shade. Most often, white baguettes are on sale. They harmonize with almost any interior. Choosing the material for finishing the ceiling and the same baseboard light shade, you can visually increase the space in the room.

If a wide baseboard is used, it must be selected in accordance with the shade of the walls. In this case, the ceiling will be visually reduced somewhat. Therefore, similar techniques can be used when creating an interior in a spacious room.

When choosing a color, it is worth considering that when decorating a room you should not use more than three main colors. Otherwise, the interior will be too colorful and tiring. However, a contrasting plinth with a sufficient ceiling height will look impressive. You should select a shade for it in accordance with the main color scheme in the room or a group of main objects.

Configuration

Ceiling plinths are on sale different shapes. Their surface can be either simple, smooth, or elaborate, rich in different elements. The choice depends on the overall style of the interior. pretentiousness ceiling molding would be appropriate in a pompous interior, for example, a classic style. At the same time, the finishing materials in the room must be expensive. In this case, elaborate curls will not look out of place.

The complex reliefs of the plinth complicate its installation. Particular difficulties arise when combining corners. This must be taken into account when choosing.

If a baguette has a simple shape, it does not attract much attention. This option is suitable for almost any interior. If you want to highlight the ceiling edging, you should paint it in suitable color. Simple lines on the outer surface make it easy to match corner joints. This option is chosen more often than baguettes with complex patterns.

By considering how to choose a plinth, you can create a harmonious interior. It will be complete and original. Modern techniques design art allow even a non-professional to create fashionable interior with your own hands.

The plinth performs two tasks: it hides uneven seams between floors and walls and improves the design of the room. At wrong choice all efforts to create the finishing of the floor, walls and ceiling can be leveled. And vice versa, skillful selection of this element will not only decorate the room, but also hide imperfections or problem areas. Such dependence of the appearance of the room on a small-sized element requires making a balanced final decision.

When choosing a specific model, you need to take into account several factors, each of which has a significant impact.

1. Purpose of the premises. IN residential buildings in bedrooms and bathrooms, corridors and halls it is necessary to install different kinds skirting boards. There are requirements for office buildings, trade and exhibition halls, etc. For rooms with high humidity, it is recommended to choose skirting boards made from moisture-resistant materials: ceramics, artificial stone, plastic. In rooms with high traffic, elements of increased strength should be installed: ceramics, MDF.
2. Room decoration style. Designers recommend various skirting boards for high-tech and classic styles, for country and baroque. Classic styles look better with skirting boards made from natural materials and natural colors, retro should be decorated with antique skirting boards, modern styles Allows the use of plastic and aluminum materials.
3. Height and total area. In some cases, skirting boards can visually enlarge a room, in others, on the contrary, they can make it smaller. In spacious rooms you can lay a dark floor with the same skirting boards; the use of original ones is allowed color solutions. Low ceilings look more spacious with light floors and the same skirting boards.
4. Color solutions. There are no general universal rules for choosing; there are options for contrasting skirting boards or to match the existing flooring and wall decoration. It is not recommended to combine blue with pink, purple with green. The baseboard should be in harmony not only with the flooring, but also with the windows and doors.

Modern solution - backlit plinth

By these criteria you can find skirting boards from various materials, but each of them has its own performance indicators, which also need to be taken into account when choosing a specific model.

If the appearance affects the harmonious design of the room, then the durability and installation technology depend on the material of manufacture. What should you pay attention to?

Durability. In all cases, the service life of skirting boards should be 30 years or more. External covering must be resistant to infrared radiation, not change color, and be resistant to mechanical stress.

Easy to care for. The more the surface has relief patterns, the more difficult it is to maintain it in proper form. If the room is often cleaned, it is recommended to choose elements with a flat, smooth surface, preferably matte rather than glossy. Minute scratches are visible on the glossy one.

Resistant to direct contact with water, low coefficients of linear thermal expansion. In bathrooms, kitchens and corridors, wet cleaning is most often done; in addition, these floor coverings have an increased risk of flooding. Skirting boards should not lose their original properties after prolonged contact with water.

Flexibility. If the quality of the walls does not meet the required parameters, then the skirting boards should hide problem areas. After fixing, there should be no gaps between the wall and the element. This is achieved in two ways: by leveling the walls or selecting flexible types skirting boards. The first method requires a lot of time and special construction measures, and is associated with big amount dust and construction debris. Flexible skirting boards make it possible to smooth out uneven surfaces much easier, while visually the walls will appear perfectly smooth.

Additional functions. In many cases engineering Communication located around the perimeter of the premises. The plinth must have special grooves in which the TV cables, electrical wiring for various household appliances low voltage.

Price. There are no cheap and reliable materials at the same time; this should always be remembered. In some cases, the price of skirting boards is almost equal to the cost of cheap flooring. When choosing, you should always adhere to universal rule: expensive floors require equally expensive skirting boards and vice versa.

To make the right decision, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of skirting boards currently available.

What materials are currently used for floor finishing elements?

When choosing, you should focus on the floor, walls, doors and windows. Products can be selected exactly to match the floor tone, in which case they will not stand out and visually increase the area of ​​the room. Most designers believe universal option installing skirting boards to match the color of the floor, but the final decision must be made by the consumer. Main criterion– the design of the room should please you personally.

For wooden flooring you need to choose skirting boards from the same materials; on laminate floors you can install skirting boards made of plastic or MDF. The tone should be as identical as possible.

Skirting boards are selected according to the color of the walls only if they have a completely uniform color. But recently, white skirting boards have become widespread; they give the room a special charm.

Contrasting skirting boards – bold decision, does not suit all interior styles. Before buying materials, it is advisable to draw a sketch and first evaluate the result of your choice.

Thick or thin baseboard

When choosing, you need to start from the size of the room and the prevailing colors. Small rooms look better with narrow, thin elements; they should match the walls in color. Due to this, the room becomes more spacious and brighter.

It is strictly not recommended to use thin skirting boards for large rooms; they distort the geometry and spoil the interior.

Practical advice. Choose skirting boards at the stage of thinking over ways to finish the floor and walls.

Step-by-step instructions for installing veneered plinth

The plinth is made of low-grade wood, the outer surface is covered with veneer of valuable species.

To install products, manufacturers suggest using special fasteners, but professional builders do not recommend listening to this advice.

The fastening technology involves fixing a metal bracket to the wall with dowels, the lower part resting on the floor surface. The wooden plinth is held on the hooks installed at the top and bottom of the brackets. The problem is that this fastener can only be used perfectly. smooth walls and a perfectly flat floor. The slightest deviations from these parameters cause the appearance of gaps between the baseboard and the wall. And if the floor is uneven, then placing the wooden element on the bracket is very problematic. In addition, even during operation, with minor touches, the plinth comes out of the holders, and this is a very unpleasant phenomenon.

We offer our own method of fastening skirting boards; it eliminates the occurrence of the problems described above. To install the baseboards you will need foam and finishing nails.

Initial data. Paul from parquet board, the walls are completely covered with wallpaper, the door has platbands.

Step 1. Due to the fact that the skirting boards are glued to the mounting foam, it is necessary to remove a strip of wallpaper along the width of the elements. To do this, it is recommended to make a simple device. Cut off wooden block length is several millimeters less than the height of the baseboard. At one of the ends, use wood screws with wide heads to secure a piece of the mounting knife. Its tip should protrude slightly beyond the plane of the block. The mounting knife has special notches on the blade, along which the metal easily breaks off.

Place the block on the floor, place the tip of the knife against the wall, move it along the wall and cut off a strip of wallpaper. After cutting, the required part can be removed without any problems.

Step 2. Make a correct connection of the baseboard to the door casing. To do this, carefully cut the edge at an angle of 45°; it is better to use a special circular saw with adjustable cutting tool position. If it is not there, then you can cut it manually using a hacksaw. You need to cut off the edge of the baseboard equilateral triangle. Rotate it 90° and place it against the cut end. You will get a beautiful connection with an even rim of the end of the plinth; the place where it fits to the platband will become the same in thickness.

Step 3. Prepare the junction of two long skirting boards. If this is not done, then there may be a difference in height between the two slats, and this is very ugly. The junction is made by cutting the edge into the end at an angle of 45°. On one element you need to cut off the outer corner, and on the second the inner one.

Step 4. Prepare internal and external corners connections. If the walls are at right angles, then the cutting is done at 45°; if there are deviations, then in each case the actual angle between adjacent walls should be first measured. If the error between the joints is small, then it can be leveled out by cutting the sharp end of the skirting boards being connected, as a result of which they can move closer to each other by a few millimeters. Before gluing, check the correct position of all elements.

Step 5. Apply mounting foam to the wall in a thin strip. Make sure that there is not too much of it and that after expansion it does not appear outside. This requires a little experience, it is recommended to practice for a few minutes on any surface. Instead of foam, you can use liquid nails, but they are much more expensive, but the effect is the same.

Important. Don't let it hit polyurethane foam on flooring, it is then difficult to remove, stains or mechanical damage may appear on the surface. Always place a piece of film or paper under the gun.

Step 6. Glue the baseboard to the wall. It is better to start from the corner, this is the most difficult place. Immediately adjust the second plinth, this way you will be able to control the parameters of the connection of the two elements.

Step 7 If everything is normal, then the skirting boards can be fixed with finishing nails. It is better to use a special electric gun; it greatly simplifies and speeds up the work.

Step 8 Using a rubber hammer, carefully place the cut triangle in place, its straight side should be adjacent to the casing.

Step 9 After graduation installation work seal the holes from under finishing nails wood putty. Choose it to match the baseboards.

The described method allows you to slightly bend the wooden plinth taking into account the actual plane of the walls, cracks do not appear, and the appearance of the room improves.

Installation of plastic plinth

Now we will briefly consider a simpler and widely popular option for installing a collapsible plastic plinth with two soft edges.

The product comes with accessories: external and internal corners, left and right ends, plank connector.

The plinth is fixed to the walls with dowels. The plinth is convenient because when replacing the wallpaper it does not need to be dismantled; it can only be removed top part. In terms of cost, this is the most cheap option, used for floors covered with linoleum or laminate.

Important. Make sure that there are no communications inside where the baseboard is attached to the wall.

The distance between them is approximately 25–40 cm; if there are noticeable irregularities on the wall, then the distance must be reduced so that the fasteners allow the element to be bent to the desired radius. While drilling, make sure that the baseboard does not move. Practitioners advise first drilling the two outer holes; they will fix the plinth in the desired position. Then you can drill all the remaining ones.

Step 2. Insert the plastic dowel element into the holes and drive in the dowel nail. It is advisable not to hammer it in completely, but to tighten it with a screwdriver; this will prevent excessive compression of the plastic and its possible cracking. After drilling the holes, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust, otherwise it will spread throughout all areas of the apartment.

Step 3. Cover the baseboard with the top decorative part. Paste it on seats and press until you hear a click. Make sure that the elements fit only into the special grooves. If large efforts occur, find the cause of their occurrence and eliminate it.

Step 4. At the end of one plinth, place a joint and attach the second one. The length of the skirting boards can be cut with special scissors, a hacksaw or a grinder with a metal disc. Measure the next strip together with the attached plastic corner. No need for great precision; additional elements allow for precise adjustment.

Practical advice. We have already mentioned that the joints of plastic skirting boards differ in texture from stripes. In connection with this problem, it is recommended to think through the arrangement of elements in such a way that they are invisible to the eye: behind the bed or closet, bedside tables, etc.

Continue finishing the entire room using the same algorithm. If you have chosen and installed the elements correctly, the appearance of the room will always please the residents. Don’t rush to get to work, draw up a preliminary action plan, decide on materials, taking into account the above tips. If everything is done correctly, then even the cheapest skirting boards will decorate the room, but incorrect actions can ruin the most expensive flooring.