Filling a space left by Skirting Boards

Question

Hi, I recently removed my skirting boards to make space for built-in wardrobes. Behind them was a space, then the brick. I want to make this part of the wall flat. What is the best way to do so?

Charles · Accepted Answer

Hello mate 
You can buy a bag of bonding 
And use to fill the skirting void 
Leaving a flat and flush surface for new wardrobes to butt up against 👍🏻

Ben · Answer

Grab yourself a bag of thistle hardwall as it’s easier to work with if you don’t have much experience. Cut a nice straight line on the existing plaster above and remove the excess below the line.

Get yourself some pva glue, mix it in a bucket with water, then apply it by brush to the brickwork removing any dust and creating a bond, leave the pva to absorb for 5 minutes then trowel on the thistle hardwall which you have already mixed up in a bucket prior at a consistency similar to ice cream from the ice cream man 👌👍 trowel the hardwall as it hardens, scrape the excess of the above plastered/painted surface m, use a brush and water to trowel smoothe level with the surface above keeping the above surface wet whilst troweling , using the excess that you trowel off to fill any hollow points to create a completely flat surface and make sure you use the trowel vertically whilst trowelling so it’s level applying most of the pressure to the top of the trowel scraping on the surface above so the new plaster just follows suite. Now your a qualified plasterer haha good luck

Phil · Answer

There is a couple of solutions to your problem you can use plaster board if the void is deep enough thistle bonding or the cheaper solution is sand and cement it depends on how confident you are in your own abilities 
But what ever you use just rule of the existing wall with a straight edge to get it niceand flush

Luke · Answer

Bonding compound is needed to fill the gaps behind we're the skirting was, the line were the bonding and the existing plaster meets should then be skim taped and skimmed over to finish smooth and to the floor.

Dariusz · Answer

Clean the gap behind the skirting, then either fill it with plaster or attach a thin drywall panel. Skim over the surface with finishing plaster and sand it smooth. Once dry, prime and paint for a flat, even wall.

Harry · Answer

Hi, 
The best thing to do may be to prime the area appy 1 coat of bristish gypsum bonding and finishWith plastering.

Keith · Answer

Remove the brick fill in exterior with foam and board over the hole. Then tape joints and skim smooth

Jason · Answer

When you pull skirting off, you usually expose the plaster ‘drop’ where the plasterer stopped above the skirting line. That gap is normal. To make it flush, you’ve got three solid options depending on how neat you want it and what’s going in front of it.

✅ Best method (proper finish): Bonding + skim

Clean out loose material

Apply PVA or a bonding primer

Fill the gap with Bonding Coat (gypsum bonding plaster)

Build it out level with the existing wall

Once set, skim over with finish plaster

This gives you a flat wall ready for wardrobes or painting.

🧱 If the gap is deep (30–60mm)

Use this instead:

Hardwall / Browning or one-coat plaster

Or pack with a small piece of plasterboard and skim over it

Deep gaps swallow bonding and can crack if you try to fill them in one go.

🪚 Quickest DIY method (no plastering skills): Plasterboard infill

Cut plasterboard strips to fit the void

Foam or drywall-adhesive them in place

Tape the joints

Skim with joint compound

This is the easiest way to get a smooth, flush finish without full plastering.

❌ What NOT to do

Don’t use expanding foam alone — it moves and gives a wavy finish.

Don’t use standard filler for deep gaps — it’ll crack and fall out.

🔨 Bottom line

Fill deep voids with bonding or plasterboard, then skim.
That’s the cleanest, flattest, most stable result for behind wardrobes

I hope this helps? Jason

Filling a space left by Skirting Boards

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