Profile selection
Period authenticity guide: Georgian (1714–1830) — tall 250–350mm skirting; minimal profile (deep, simple — square or ovolo); architrave 100–125mm. Regency (1810–1830) — similar height; more decorative profile (ogee, dentil cornice option). Victorian (1837–1901) — varies by era; mid-Victorian 200–250mm with ornate profile (ovolo + ogee + bead combinations); late-Victorian 175–225mm with cleaner profile. Edwardian (1901–1910) — 150–200mm with simpler ovolo or bullnose. 1930s — 100–150mm with bevel/square edge. Modern minimal — 75–100mm square or shadow-gap (no skirting, recessed bead at floor-wall junction). Contemporary classic — 150–175mm bullnose or square edge with chamfer. Profile family: choose matching skirting + architrave + dado rail (if used) + picture rail (if used) — coordinated profile family creates coherent room. Common profiles: torus (rounded heritage — classic Victorian), ogee (S-curve traditional), ovolo (quarter-round), bullnose (half-round contemporary), square (modern), Tudor (deeper with bevel — heritage), pencil-round (subtle modern bullnose), shadow-gap (no skirting — recessed bead). Match to era + style of property + room aesthetic.
Material + cost
MDF (medium-density fibreboard) primed + supplied: cheapest, most consistent dimensions, easy to paint smooth, no warping; £8–£28/m supplied depending on profile + size; £18–£45/m supplied + installed. Best for: paint finish (default modern renovation), where consistent profile + no movement required. Brands: Ronseal MDF Profile, Howarth Timber MDF, Wickes/B&Q standard. Solid pine: traditional natural timber, slightly less consistent dimensions, can move with moisture, accepts paint or stain; £15–£45/m supplied; £28–£75/m supplied + installed. Best for: heritage spec (where solid timber authenticity matters), or stain/oil finish (natural wood appearance). Solid oak / hardwood: premium spec for visible joinery — solid timber finish (oil or wax) or paint; £35–£85/m supplied; £55–£155/m supplied + installed. Best for: heritage restoration matching original solid timber, premium spec where staining/oiling for natural wood finish (e.g. F&B Down Pipe stain on oak skirting). Bespoke profile (sticker + sawmill): replicating obscure heritage profile not in catalogues; sample to specialist (Howarth, Tilbury, Champion Timber) for milling — £45–£185/m bespoke + 4–8 week lead time. Pre-primed v site-primed: most MDF + pine supplied pre-primed (single coat factory primer); 2 site coats top paint to finish typical (matt + eggshell).
Install + finish
Install: fix to wall via grab adhesive (Loctite, No Nails) + finishing nail; mitred internal + external corners (45° cut); scribe-in to uneven walls (Victorian + Edwardian plaster rarely perfectly flat); fill all nail holes + caulk top + bottom junctions before painting. Architrave: install at door + window frame perimeter; mitred corners at top; scribe to wall + frame; cover gap between door frame + plaster. Coordinate skirting + architrave intersection: typically skirting butts against architrave bottom (architrave wider than skirting) or scribed to fit. Plinth block (square block at floor-wall-architrave junction — heritage Victorian detail): adds period authenticity; £15–£45/block; common in late-Victorian + Edwardian. Finish: 2 coats eggshell (water-based standard or oil-based heritage); brush + roller alternation for smooth finish; sand between coats for furniture-quality finish (premium spec); colour typically white (Strong White, Wevet, Wimborne White, Cornforth White) but increasingly two-tone (matching wall or contrasting). Cost: decoration of skirting/architrave £8–£18/m of run (3-bed full house = 80–120m total = £640–£2,160 decoration alone). Heritage restoration: original profile retention preferred — sand, repair, fill, repaint; replace where rotted or damaged beyond repair (match profile). Conservation: LBC for any visible removal/replacement on Listed Building.
