THE BEST PAINT FOR SKIRTING BOARDS IN YOUR HOME
Freshening up your walls is hardly sufficient if the skirting boards are all worn-out. To bring a breath of fresh air into your home, it is essential to paint the mopboards too.
But what is the best paint to consider? Should you choose a wood paint or a product for MDF or melamine?
Although skirting boards are generally made from modern materials, we found that a wood paint can do the trick as long as the surface is properly prepared. To help you find the right product, our expert team has tested and rated the most popular paints for skirting boards on the market. Check out our top picks below.
OUR BEST PICK SKIRTING BOARDS PAINTS
Everbuild Wood Stain
A superb wood stain for skirting boards – it comes in 8 natural shades and offers up to 5 years of protection.
Low Cost Option
Ronseal One Coat Stays
Non-drip and easy to clean paint guaranteed to stay white for up to 10 years – a budget-friendly solution to consider.
Best Of The Rest
Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood
Odourless water-based paint for interior wood and metal – ideal for skirting boards, stair rails and more.
Crown Non-Drip Satin
Water-based mid-sheen paint for interior wood and metal surfaces.
Ronseal Ultra Tough
Durable and resistant skirting board paint guaranteed to stay white for up to 10 years.
Exceptional wood stain designed to enhance the natural beauty of wood skirting boards.
Natural wood can seamlessly integrate into all interiors and that’s why a translucent wood stain could really enhance the beauty of your skirting boards. But that’s not the only reason why Everbuild Wood Stain is our top pick.
This product comes with a host of advantages and interesting features. To start with, Everbuild has a more than affordable price, while the stain offers long-term protection for interior and exterior woodwork.
Ideal to use on smooth planed wood, this wood stain is perfect to freshen up the look and feel of your skirting boards, window frames, doors and stair rails. Due to its water-repellent properties, the product is perfect to use in high condensation areas and it provides up to 5 years of protection under normal wear and tear.
The quick-drying formulation is another important advantage. The stain touch dries in less than an hour and it can be re-coated after approximately four hours.
Thanks to a watery consistency, the product is easy to apply with a brush but the operation can be messy. This is a disadvantage – especially if you have carpeted floors. Masking tape and drop cloths can minimise the damage but you’ll have to pay attention to seal the surface properly.
Pros
• The product is supplied in 250ml, 750ml and 2.5L tins and boasts a superb coverage of up to 20m²/litre.
• Coming in 8 translucent shades, this wood stain enhances the natural beauty of the wood and dries to an elegant satin finish.
• Weather and water resistant, the product resists without peeling or cracking for years. This wood stain is suitable to use on interior and exterior surfaces.
• Low solvent formulation makes the product safe to use in enclosed environments. The Everbuild Wood Stain complies with ISO 9001 standards.
Cons
• The colours displayed on the labels are indicative only and the actual shades can be different than expected.
• Poorly designed tin is hard to open.
• For consistent results, it is essential to stir the product intermittently during use. Otherwise, the stain may dry patchy.
Stays White non-drip paint for wood, skirting, doors, trims and more.
A great solution for budget-savvy homeowners, Ronseal One Coat Stays is a versatile paint to use on a wide range of surfaces. Boasting a non-drip formulation, the product is ideal for vertical spindles but also for painting skirting without damaging the floor.
Guaranteed to stay white for 10 years, this paint has a water-based formulation and is safe to use in poorly ventilated environments. Safe for pets and plants, the product is suitable for interior and exterior use on new or previously painted surfaces.
Despite these advantages, you’ll have to compromise on the colour. This paint comes in Pure Brilliant White only and in only one finish.
That said, this didn’t bother us. White is a traditional choice for skirting and woodwork and it blends well in all interior styles. The product is supplied in 750ml and 2.5L tins.
Pros
• Non-drip formula and one coat covering power add value to this paint. A litre covers up to 6m².
• Quick drying time guarantees fast results. One Coat Stays touch dries in 2 hours; a second coat can be applied after approximately four hours if necessary.
• This paint dries to a matt finish that hides minor surface imperfections while giving a contemporary finish to the skirting boards.
Cons
• This paint is surprisingly watery for a non-drip product and quite patchy.
A wide colour choice and a superb silk finish – a versatile paint for skirting boards and more.
Dulux brand paint is usually guaranteed to be good quality and this paint is no exception. Boasting a stylish silk finish and coming in a wide colour range, Quick Dry Satinwood impresses with its quick-drying formula that helps you finish work faster.
A great consistency makes the paint pleasant to use. The product is virtually odourless and it touch dries in only two hours. Thanks to a brilliant covering power, a second coat may only be required if making substantial colour changes; if this is the case, the surface can usually be re-coated after at least six hours.
An advantage this paint has over its oil-based counterparts is its colour resistance over time. Thanks to the low content of VOCs, the white shade won’t turn yellow and will maintain its brightness over the years. All other shades also resist discolouration thanks to the quality of the pigments.
While Satinwood dries to an elegant mid-sheen finish, Dulux proposes other two versions of the Quick Dry paint: specifically gloss and eggshell.
Like all other products, this paint does have its flaws, but we thoroughly enjoyed working with it. Satinwood is suitable to use on interior wood and metal.
Pros
• Satinwood by Dulux is a self-undercoating paint that can be applied directly onto previously painted surfaces.
• Great coverage and covering power. A litre of paint covers up to 12m² and two coats are usually sufficient to achieve consistent results.
• Quick Dry is supplied in 750ml and 2.5L tins. Leftover paint has a decent shelf life as long as the paint is stored as instructed.
Cons
• The covering power drops considerably if you’re painting over a substantially darker colour. In some cases, it may take over four coats to get satisfactory results.
• Water-based formula cannot be applied on surfaces painted with an oil-based product.
Breatheasy technology guarantees a 99% solvent-free formulation.
Crown proposes a non-drip alternative to the Ronseal product above. This water-based satin paint is ideal to use on a range of wood and metal surfaces, providing long-lasting results and a non-yellowing finish.
Undercoat and topcoat in one, Non-Drip Satin can be applied directly onto previously painted substrates. However, we recommend priming any bare surfaces. Priming could also be necessary if you’re making a substantial colour change, to improve the covering power.
Regarding the covering power, we recommend applying two coats either with a brush or with a roller. Thanks to a self-levelling consistency, it is easy to apply the paint without leaving unflattering brush strokes.
Another thing we like is the durability. This product is made to last; it offers years of protection and it can be used on skirting, doors and windows – and even on radiators.
Pros
• Breatheasy guarantees a 99% solvent-free formula. This paint is safe to use in poorly ventilated environments and is eco-friendly.
• Ready-mixed non-drip satin finish paint comes in 24 attractive colours. Choose from a range of neutral shades and pastels.
• Quick and easy to apply, the paint touch dries in an hour and can be re-coated after approximately six hours.
• Coverage is up to 12m²/litre; a 750ml tin is ideal for a surface up to 4.5m² in two coats.
Cons
• The drying time is quite long for a water-based paint. With that said, the results are well worth the waiting.
Primer and paint in one – only two coats required to achieve satisfactory results.
Ronseal Ultra Tough is similar to the One Coat Stay paint above in that it comes in only one colour and has a similar coverage. In terms of its differences, this paint could be a better choice for a high-traffic area.
Ideal for interior use on bare or worn wood, the Ultra Tough paint acts as a primer and topcoat in one. This is particularly advantageous because it cuts the costs of the project by eliminating the need for one product and shortening the duration of the project.
Like its One Coat counterpart, this paint dries to a contemporary matt finish that blends amazingly well in most environments.
Moreover, this water-based paint is guaranteed to stay white for up to ten years.
Pros
• Water-based paint has a low content of volatile organic compounds and is suitable to use on wood and metal.
• Thick consistency minimises drips, a useful feature if you don’t want to make a mess.
• Easy to work with, the paint touch dries in two hours and it can be re-coated after approximately four hours.
• A litre of paint covers a little over 6m².
Cons
• The product is only guaranteed to stay white when applied over a primer manufactured by the same brand.
HOW TO PAINT SKIRTING BOARDS
MATERIALS
• Skirting boards paint
• Primer
• Sandpaper
• Masking tape
• Drop cloths
• Thin cardboard
TOOLS
• Paintbrushes
DECORATING GUIDELINES
Painting the skirting boards is easy but hardly enjoyable. There is a lot of crawling involved and crouching around on the floor – but the results will be rewarding. The most difficult part is the room preparation, especially if you have carpeted floors.
Step 1 – Prepare the room
Skirting boards are annoying to paint due to their position. Because of the unnatural posture you’ll have to assume during painting, accidents can easily happen and paint can end up on the wall or on the floor.
Freedom of movement is particularly important for this project; if possible, remove all furniture from the room. Alternatively, if the room is big, move the furniture in to the centre of the room, ensuring you have plenty of space to crawl around.
Next, you’ll have to think about your floor and walls. Apply a thick band of masking tape on the walls right above the skirting. If you have solid floors, use masking tape to seal the edge of the floor, then lay drop cloths to prevent messes.
Things are trickier if you have a carpeted floor. Often, it is impossible or too difficult to lift or pull back the carpet, but there are still ways to protect it from getting stained.
Seal the edge of the carpet with masking tape and insert a thin cardboard under the skirting to cover the gap between the tape and the board. This way, drips will end up on the cardboard instead of on your carpet.
Step 2 – Prepare the surface
If you’re painting over a previously painted surface which is in good condition, simply wash it with soapy water, rinse, and let it dry before proceeding.
If the old paint is in poor condition or if you’re painting bare skirting boards, a light sanding may be required. Use fine sandpaper to remove any flaking or peeling paint and to level the wood. Remove the dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner, then wash the surface to remove any oil or grease stains.
Leave the skirting boards to fully dry before proceeding.
Step 3 – Prime the skirting boards
Most skirting board paints can be applied directly onto previously painted surfaces, but priming could be required if you’re making substantial colour changes or if you’re painting bare wood.
Use a suitable primer to treat the surface and let it dry completely before applying the paint.
Step 4 – Paint the skirting boards
Painting the skirting boards is similar to painting window frames. Use a suitable brush to apply an even layer of paint to the surface. Work on small sections at a time and apply the paint by following the natural wood grain. Correct any drips and fix any imperfections before moving on to the next section.
Repeat the steps to cover the whole surface, then leave the paint to dry as instructed. Wait for as long as indicated before applying a second coat if necessary.
If you’re using solvent-based paint, wait for at least 24 hours before applying the second coat.
Step 5 – Remove the tape
Remove the drop cloth and masking tape immediately after applying the second coat to prevent the paint from cracking.
Wait for at least 24 hours before replacing the carpet (if you’ve lifted it) and before repositioning your furniture.