This guide is more focused on which fixing products to use rather than the complete process of fitting the skirting boards. We recommend this guide by checkatrade for a more complete guide of the whole process.

The best fixing products

For tradesmen looking to efficiently fix skirting boards in a quick and cost effective way, we recommend a combination of adhesive and finishing nails (to be fixed with a 2nd fix nail gun). We have some customers who fix skirting boards week-in-week-out who use this method and tend to choose the cheapest adhesive available. Therefore, we recommend using the Everbuild Instant Nails Adhesive, which is a fantastic price and is sufficient to securely fix the skirting board alongside the use of finishing nails.

It is advisable to use 50mm finishing nails (2nd fix) because this is the required length to go through the skirting board, drywall board and the timber studs. Specifically, you should buy the 16G nails, making sure to choose either the straight or angled options depending on the gun that you are using. If you are using a gun that requires gas, such as the Paslode IM65, then you should choose the nails that come with gas. We sell the gas separately if you have some nails already.

It is recommended to use fixings at least 600mm apart. This can be with nails or with screws (for masonry walls, as explained below).

For masonry walls

If you are fixing the skirting board directly into a masonry wall, you can use a twinthread wood screw and wall plug (commonly referred to as rawl plugs). The length of the wood screw should be at least double the thickness of the skirting board. You will need to pre-drill a hole in the masonry using SDS or Masonry Drill Bits  and the skirting board before screwing the screws in.

For a professional finish

Using nails or screws creates an unsightly hole in the skirting board. To cover the holes, use a wood filler. The wood filler will be disguised when the skirting board is painted.