Re: "The Skirting Board Problem"

[McDarren]

I'm not sure I understand the complexity of the problem...

I'm no builder, but I would assume that bits of skirting board come in standard lengths? And I would also assume that you then just cut them to suit?

So given that you've already measured all your walls, isn't it simply a matter of taking the sum of all these lengths, and then dividing that by the standard length of an off-the-shelf skirting board?

Or, as I strongly suspect, am I missing something that makes it somewhat more complicated?

Cheers,
Darren

[loris]

I'm also no builder and your approach would work. But the problem is to do each bit of wall with only one piece of skirting board (apart from the walls longer that the off-the-shelf length, of course). With your method, I might have to use half a dozen leftover pieces on the last bit of wall. I could of course just put a cupboard in front of it ...

loris

[Gavin]

You also have the problem of mitres left or right, inside or outside, if you get it right first time it can save a lot of extra work not having to cut extra mitres and also save the loss that each cut takes from the skirting length.

It may sound trivial but if you have large skirtings in my house for example the boards are 14 inches wide with lots of ogees and detailing and now have to be specially made. Being economical with cutting and length can save a lot of money in the long run.

I have to admit the last time I did a room I drew it out on graph paper first, then cut paper strips to the length of the skirting and fitted them in place on the drawing first.
Testing by cutting paper was a lot easier and cheaper than cutting full boards. The skirting lengths could then be matched to the appropriate board length.