Should you fit skirting boards yourself or hire a professional?

Skirting boards don’t often get much attention, but they make a big difference to how a room looks. Whether you’re replacing old ones or fitting them for the first time, there’s a choice to make. Do you tackle it yourself or bring in someone who does it for a living?

This guide walks you through the pros and cons of both.

Why skirting boards matter more than you think

Skirting boards cover the join between the wall and the floor. They protect your plasterwork and create a finished look.

Some are simple and modern, while others are taller and more decorative. When fitted well, they almost disappear. When badly done, they stand out for the wrong reasons. Uneven joins, messy corners or gaps can ruin the look of a freshly decorated room.

What the job involves

Fitting skirting boards is more than cutting wood and sticking it to a wall. You’ll need to measure accurately, make angled cuts, and handle any awkward corners. You’ll also need to decide how to fix the boards — either with adhesive or with nails or screws, depending on the wall surface.

Once the boards are fixed, there’s usually a bit of filling, sanding and finishing. This takes time but makes a big difference to the end result.

Is it worth doing yourself?

If you’re confident with tools and have done a few home jobs before, skirting boards might feel like something you can manage. And you probably can. But even experienced DIYers can run into problems with uneven walls, tricky angles or boards that don’t quite sit flush.

You’ll also need a few tools — ideally a mitre saw, a decent filler, and some finishing materials like paint or stain. If you already have what you need, it might be worth having a go.

But if you’re short on time or patience, the job can drag on. And if something goes wrong, you might end up pulling the boards off and starting again.

When it makes sense to hire a professional

A good joiner or decorator will have the right tools and the experience to do a clean, neat job. They’ll know how to handle uneven walls, wobbly corners and the little details that can be hard to get right.

If you’re working on a key space like a hallway, living room or kitchen, a professional finish might be worth the cost. Especially if you’re doing up the room to sell or rent.

How to decide

The main things to consider are time, skill, and how important the end result is to you. A spare room might be a good place to try it yourself. But if the job needs to be spot on, or the space is full of corners and joins, calling in a pro could save you hassle.

Also think about what tools you have. If you need to buy or borrow everything, the savings from doing it yourself might disappear quickly.

Final thought

There’s no right or wrong answer here. If you’re happy to learn on the job and don’t mind taking your time, it can be satisfying to do it yourself. If you’d rather avoid the stress and get a crisp, professional result, hiring someone is often worth it.

Skirting boards might be low down, but they carry a lot of visual weight. Getting them right will make your room feel complete.

Featured image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay