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myPainting Skirting Board Cost
At a Glance
- The average cost of painting skirting boards is around £200.
- The job will take approximately 1 day to complete.
- A complete skirting board paint pricing breakdown, including the best paint for skirting boards.
- How long the job should approximately take, and an idea of other jobs you can get done at the same time.
- How to find and hire a local painter and decorator.
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Wondering if there's a special type of skirting board paint?
You're in the right place. To get the best finish on your skirting boards, you should use a gloss, satinwood, or eggshell paint - regular emulsion isn't suitable as it's not durable enough to withstand scuff marks.
Skirting boards, window sills, and door frames are often neglected when decorating, but freshening them up can make a world of difference in your home.
So, what's the cost of painting skirting boards?
On average, you're looking at paying £200 to have your skirting boards refreshed. This guide will cover everything you need to know about painting skirting boards, including supply and additional costs, and how to find and hire a local decorator.
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£200
Table of Contents
- How Much Does Painting Skirting Boards Cost?
- Supply Only Costs
- Labour Costs and Timescales
- Cost Factors of Painting Skirting Boards
- Should I Paint My Skirting Boards, or Replace My Skirting Boards?
- What's Involved in Painting Skirting Boards?
- Hiring Contractors to Paint Skirting Boards Checklist
- FAQs
How Much Does Painting Skirting Boards Cost?
Looking for the right paint for skirting boards?
Painting skirting boards can be a tricky job - especially when there are freshly painted or wallpapered walls to avoid. While the materials may be fairly inexpensive, painting still takes a lot of time, care, and attention.
On average, the cost of painting skirting boards is around £200 for a standard 3m x 3m room, with materials costing £50, and labour accounting for the remaining £150. The work shouldn’t take much longer than 1 or 2 days, depending on the complexity and size of the job.
Some painters quote by linear metre instead of by room. You're looking at £8 to £12 per metre for boards in decent condition, or £15 to £20 if they need proper restoration work. A typical 3m x 3m room has about 11 to 12 metres of skirting, but most decorators charge a minimum of £150 to £250 for small jobs.
Throughout this skirting board paint guide, we'll explore different factors to give you a better idea of how much you’re likely to pay for this job, helping you make cost-effective decisions.
Can you tell the difference between MDF and wood skirting boards once they're painted?
"There is a slight difference, as MDF gives you a smoother finish when painted, while timber has a grain."
Painting Skirting Prices
| Job Description | Average Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glossing of Skirting Boards in Standard 3mx3m Room | £200 | 1 Day |
| Restoration and Glossing Skirting Boards in Standard 3mx3m Room | £300 | 1 Day |
| Glossing of Skirting Boards and Window sills in Standard 3mx3m Room | £500 | 1 – 2 Days |
| Glossing of Skirting Boards, Window sills and Window Frames in Standard 3mx3m Room | £700 | 1 – 2 Days |
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Supply Only Costs
Skirting board paint isn't too expensive - but when you have a large area to cover, the costs can quickly build up.
Skirting board paint usually costs around £18 to £22 per litre, whereas varnish is a little more expensive at around £25 to £30 per litre.
When painting skirting boards, you want to make sure your paint is either:
- Gloss
- Satinwood
- Eggshell
You can also get varnishes instead of paints, which will stain the wood a different colour whilst maintaining the design of the wood. This is a good option if you have paid for premium wood for skirting boards with a distinctive and natural-looking design.
Using regular emulsion won't give you the best results as it won't be durable enough to withstand scuffs from shoes, vacuums, or furniture that bumps up against the edge.
You need a durable paint that's more resistant to marks, otherwise, you'll end up re-painting your boards far sooner than necessary.
Labour Costs and Timescales
The majority of skirting board painting costs are the labour costs, which account for about 75% of the overall price. This is because painting skirting boards is labour-intensive, which adds time to the job.
So, even if skirting board painting seems like a quick, simple, and straightforward job, it really isn’t.
You will pay different rates for labour in different areas of the UK, with London being the highest.
The average day rate for a painter is around £175, with this rising in big cities like London and Manchester.
I want to paint my skirting the same as my ceiling and walls. I have been told I can prime the skirting, then paint with matt paint, and finish with a sealer. Is this OK to do?
"Yes, you can. If it is already glossed, sand it, and undercoat it with waterbased paint. Put your matt paint on, and then seal it with a matt or satin varnish, depending on the finish you want. Or, have some satinwood mixed to the same colour, sand, and apply 2 coats."
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Cost Factors of Painting Skirting Boards
Let's take a look at what impacts the cost of painting skirting boards:
Size of Room
A cost factor you can't change is the size of your room. The larger the area, the more you'll pay.
To cut down your costs on larger rooms, you can do some prep work yourself to save on labour fees, buy your paint during seasonal sale periods to take advantage of lower material costs, or consider painting the skirting boards yourself if you have the time.
Location
Another non-negotiable relates to your geographical location. If you live in a big city where the cost of living is high, you'll pay more for labour than in other areas of the UK, such as the north, where demand is typically lower.
However, in low-demand areas, you might be able to negotiate a lower price as the customer base is far smaller than in a large city, so it's worth discussing this with your contractor.
Paint Quality
The best paint for skirting boards can be expensive, especially if you have a large room. While the price may seem small per tin or tub, if you need a lot of the varnish or paint to cover many rooms, this can quickly add up!
Painting a Room
A common pairing is refreshing your room's walls along with your skirting boards. Painting a room costs around £400 to have a standard-sized room of 3m by 3m painted with 2 coats of emulsion.
The larger the room, the higher the cost, with a 30m² space costing £750 to £990.
Painting a Staircase
If you want to colour-wash your home, painting your staircase can create a cohesive floor-to-ceiling look. Painting a staircase costs £400 on average, including the bannisters and spindles.
I have solid pine door frames, architrave, and skirting. They have knots in the pine - what's the easiest way of covering them, and then staining them?
"You can apply knot stabiliser to help prevent knots from working loose over time, but they will typically still be visible through stain, as the purpose of stain rather than paint is to maintain the appearance of the wood grain."
Should I Paint My Skirting Boards, or Replace My Skirting Boards?
To answer this, you should ask yourself the following:
- How damaged are your skirting boards? You should replace your skirting boards if you're missing full stretches, have deep chips or grooves, or if the boards have water damage from flooding, burst pipes, or damp.
- Do you like the style of your existing skirting boards? If your skirting boards are in good condition and you still like the style, you can paint your skirting boards for a cost-effective aesthetic change, rather than ripping them out and replacing them.
To compare the costs of both options:
- Replacing skirting boards costs £250 for an average-sized room.
- Painting skirting boards costs £200 for an average-sized room.
Painting your skirting boards is much less invasive if your boards are still in good condition and just need freshening up with a new coat of paint.
However, if they've suffered extensive damage, your best choice is to replace them to restore the function and prevent further damage from happening.
While hiring a carpenter to replace your skirting boards costs £50 more upfront, you're getting brand new boards that will last another decade or more without needing work. Painting damaged boards might save you money now, but if those boards fail within a few years, you'll end up paying for both the painting AND the replacement.
Replacing Skirting Boards With Other Work
If you're planning to replace your skirting boards while redecorating, always have any new flooring fitted first. Then have the replacement skirting installed afterwards. This lets the boards sit flush against the new floor and hides gaps.
Skirting boards should also go in before you paint or wallpaper. Have your new boards fitted first, then decorate your walls, and have then have your skirting boards painted last. This stops any paint splashing on your skirting boards from painting walls and it also means cutting in neatly.
"I have soil/mud at the brickwork outside my living room wall, and inside, the wall has cracked along the skirting board, and the floor appears to have dropped. Is this a structural issue?"
"Without seeing it and going off what you have said, yes, quite possibly it’s subsidence. Get a structural engineer to look at it, it will cost, but better to be safe."
What's Involved in Painting Skirting Boards?
Wondering what goes into glossing skirting boards?
Once your room is cleared of furniture, here's what your painter will need to do to paint your skirting boards:
Before Painting
- Protecting Surfaces — Your floors get protected from paint or varnish with dust sheets. The skirting boards are sanded with 180-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface. This will help the paint or varnish adhere.
- Cleaning — The dust gets vacuumed up before painting starts to prevent it from mixing with the paint and ruining the finish. The skirting boards are cleaned with a slightly damp sponge to remove any dust, then left to dry.
- Priming — Next, the wall above the skirting boards and the floor beneath them get covered with masking tape to prevent any varnish or paint from being accidentally applied. Primer is applied to the skirting boards.
During Painting
- First Coat — The paint gets applied, brushed in one direction to ensure a consistent look.
- Drying — It's left for 24 hours to dry before applying a second coat. The paint or varnish dries in a well-ventilated room for 24 hours between coats. If there are any imperfections from the first coat, they're lightly scrubbed away with sandpaper, and any dust removed before painting again.
- Second Coat — The second coat is applied, and left for a further 24 hours to dry fully.
Hiring Contractors to Paint Skirting Boards Checklist
There are some things to keep in mind when hiring a painter or decorator to paint your skirting boards - here's what you need to know:
- Have you compared multiple quotes? Get at least 3 quotes from different traders to compare their costs and find a fair price.
- What's included in the price? Ask for an itemised quote so you can see what's included in your quote and what isn't.
- Can you see their previous work? Take a look at the contractor's previous work, looking at photos or videos of their past projects to get an idea of their quality.
- Do they have good reviews? Read through the contractor's customer reviews on MyJobQuote to see what other homeowners are saying.
- Are they insured? Check the contractor has relevant insurance before agreeing to work with them.
FAQs
Do I need to paint skirting boards every time I decorate?
No, but, if you skip them too often, it shows. Bright new walls next to old yellow skirting looks unfinished. You might save money by leaving them, but it will be noticeable. Painters generally say do them every second redecoration at minimum, or once every five years.
Can I paint skirting boards myself?
Painting skirting boards can be a time-consuming job - even before the paintbrush comes out. It's tedious and tricky work that needs meticulous accuracy. While it can be done as a DIY job, a professional painter will ensure a perfect finish.
How long does skirting board paint last?
Quality paint typically lasts 5 to 7 years before it needs redoing, but rooms that are used the most might need refreshing a bit sooner. Scuffs and marks can be touched up without a full repaint.
Can I paint over old skirting board paint?
Painters can work over existing paint if it's still stuck down properly. They'll sand it to rough up the surface before they put a new coat on. Old paint that's flaking or peeling needs stripping back to bare wood first so that the new finish doesn't lift off with it.
Can you use emulsion on skirting boards?
Emulsion is a paint designed for plaster, so this wouldn’t be an effective paint to use on wood or skirting boards as the durability won't be good enough for skirting.
