How to prepare skirting boards for painting - Step by step guide

Don't leave your skirting with a visual paint line above the carpet, it looks messy and unprofessional.
In this video I take you through step by step how to prepare and paint skirting boards, and in particular when the floor is carpeted, showing you the best way to mask up and avoid getting paint on the carpet, whilst ensuring your whole skirting board gets painted.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND PRODUCTS
👉 Dusting brush: amzn.to/33f87R1 (Amazon)
👉 Cutting in brush: amzn.to/3jhqBG9 (Amazon)
👉 Dust mask: amzn.to/33deZhY (Amazon)
👉 Masking tape: amzn.to/349FBQh (Amazon)
👉 Quick dry satin: amzn.to/2GoY7M2 (Amazon)
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#homeimprovement #painting #preparation #decorating #prepping

[@andyl666]

Great. I never knew Chris Martin from Coldplay was so multitalented

[@JBTV]

😀

[@ashleyjaytanna1953]

Problem is that he has a preference for yellow. 🤣 Great video BTW

[@martynmantack4026]

Yeah he got me too 😀😀

[@cerirabbitify]

No wonder Gwynnie left him...she obviously preferred the guitar to the brush! 😆

[@lisaupnorth7696]

Ha ha... the comment we're all thinking. Good job by the way.

[@GraemeWoller]

That "tuck the tape under the skirting board and around the edge of the carpet" was perfect! Thanks!!

[@fuhcough]

Oh Nice one! Settled down for a night of going down a 'You Tube videos rabbit hole' trying to suss out how to do my skirting without getting paint on the carpet. First vid... shows & explains everything... don't even need to watch any more, I know what I'm doing now. Cheers, Thank you!

[@philsimpson2854]

I’ve learned more about decorating watching your videos in 30 mins, than every where else in the last 10 years ! Thank you

[@JBTV]

Excellent. Cheers Phil

[@remco2777]

Just the video I needed before I started on painting my skirting boards! Thank you! Very clear and helpful advice 👌

[@pippy3550]

Me too

[@paulglaser649]

A really helpful video from someone who really knows what they are doing

[@willbarrington9828]

This video is exactly what I was after. Much better than the others available. Cheers!

[@sugarlips2750]

Thank you for your decorating tips. Now I can start decorating my son's bedroom feeling a bit more confident.

[@coffeeguy6673]

As Trig said in Only Fools, "look after your brush", Nice video, thanks Justin, Can you believe I'm 55 years old and never painted skirting before?!! Some great tips here as was thinking of pulling the carpet up.

[@M-M1987]

Excellent tips. Thank you!

[@peterwebb1026]

Thanks for the video Justin. Really good tips there!

[@michellejones4110]

This guy is good looking and is a great painter. First time paint coming up! Clear and concise👍

[@viv311]

Thanks for a clear and easy to follow video. I am just about to start on my hallway and there is so much to do and the advice on here will do for all aspects of the room but skirting boards are the biggest hurdle as so many stairs and carpet. I know I will regret starting this huge three story hallway with its dados, picture rails and fancy skirting boards but it has to be done!

[@JC-cw1uz]

Cheers Justin. Super instructional demo!!

[@sheltie797]

Thanks for this, never painted a skirting board before or done any kind of home painting, now I'll be ready!

[@JBTV]

I'm glad you find it useful

[@rickcooper752]

Fantastic video. Thanks very much.

[@markmarz]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@gillcook5382]

Excellent so glad I saw this!!

[@presh_the_ceo]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@jonathanhall3823]

That's exactly how I do it. Top job

[@tanemynott5149]

Thank you for great easy to understand tips

[@mirandapanda8228]

This was so helpful, thank you

[@sobatdin9593]

Justin thank you great video

[@garyjjohnson9021]

Great video very helpful as I’m just about to tackle the skirting on the stairs !

[@martinapelesova4059]

I like your way of preparation and paiting. Very helpful 👍👍👍

[@gusolive]

Very good! Thanks!

[@Lurrvburrg]

Thanks very helpful!

[@bergeracvandamme]

Some good tips here. Thanks.

[@davetate1155]

That was pretty useful. thanks

[@neilshirley]

Great video, thank you.

[@TheHillsInTheUK]

Very helpful thanks.

[@angelbreath6539]

Great stuff, thanks uploader

[@khalidmkhan]

Loved the video. I already knew what you showed, but, its good to see how others do the same thingm

[@ellyfryer2067]

thank you for video, im just about to start painting out new house and dreading skirting boards and doors but you have helped showing it isnt gonna take me long to sand thank you

[@thirdratecontent585]

Very useful vid. Thanks 👍

[@DaveAbdul-q1s]

Fantastic video and your advice was spot on. Thank you.

[@JBTV]

Great stuff 👌

[@thepie4052]

Great vid, thank you 👍

[@andrewsnowdonYT]

excellent and very helpful - thanks!

[@JBTV]

You're welcome

[@trevorgillman4972]

loving your vids Justin, some great tips for a home decorator. many thanks, Trev

[@JBTV]

Thanks Trev 👍

[@paulineclarke5940]

Thank you very much.

[@jamesgrant7814]

I’m about to start a pretty big refurbishment job on our new home and every skirt and door frame will need doing. Good tips.

[@jamesgrant7814]

Meant to ask I’ve got a lot skirts and frames that are brown and I want them white. What’s the best course of action please?

[@isyt1]

Great video!

[@willk5402]

Very helpful. I skipped the sanding with mine (was a pre-primed skirting board) but didn't great great results, got quite a lot of streaking so will try again with your method

[@lifeinthescotland1528]

From Edinburgh, Scotland. Great video like it man.

[@MuhammadAtif-dd8rl]

Great job

[@evelyndorman5301]

BRILLIANT

[@andrewvideouk]

Thank you.

[@mimboyce6643]

Very good

[@Semapho0ore]

Thank you for the video. It gave me some confidence I can do my first DIY 👍

[@JBTV]

Great stuff 👍

[@coffeeguy6673]

Justin, big thanks for this video. I followed your tips with the masking tape and painted my skirting yesterday, worked a treat and didn't have to pull the carpet up. Great job, cheers !

[@JBTV]

Fantastic, great to hear it 👍

[@toolmanmakita7120]

Just keep doing it JB

[@kilcool01]

good job

[@dazzyboy33]

Good vid, I do the same mask on the bottom freehand on the top. I've tried both ways, diff tapes, cutting the top by hand is pound for pound quickest way

[@pumpvisionfitnesshealth4651]

Subscribed bro! Going to follow your tips - just got a house and I am brand new to diy!

[@JBTV]

Good man 👍

[@jamesmace8266]

I like how number one , upsetting ya mrs before the client :D enjoyed this video

[@JBTV]

Cheers James

[@Digitaldelboy]

Thank you Chris Martin.

[@warriorspirit6083]

Really liked the tips, I'm a new subscriber. What's the pro and cons of oil vs water based paints?

[@classicwrehasha]

Great video- just to get even more clarity- I’ve just finished sanding down the skirting but is your advice not to bother with a primer if the skirting was previously painted and you’ve sanded it down?

[@tonyalways7174]

Good video but a word of caution on using tape to mask the wall above the skirting. If you dont use low-tack tape (TESA tape is what I recommend) you also run the risk of pulling paint off the wall

[@chrishamilton4999]

Thank you very much for this user friendly and comprehensive video. I am from Australia. I see that you didn't fill the gap between the skirting board and the architrave. Is this something that should be done?

[@addaplaster4976]

Can you do a video on setting up work and platform or ladder for painting a stair well.

[@Abby_walks]

Call it magic, call it true, call it magic, when I'm painting my skirting boards with you! lol ❤

[@user-tu7nj8em5j]

Good video cheers just going to paint my staircase and doors with white satin I'm going over a grey gloss can I just sand and coat or have I got to use a primer thank you wait for your reply

[@anyat686]

I’ve just spent a full day prepping my hallway. I’ve not even lifted a paintbrush. This prepping better be worth it, for a good finish. Tomorrow, I’m painting!

[@JBTV]

Good luck. It'll be worth it 😁

[@p51dgp91]

@@JBTV Time spent on prep is never wasted.😉

[@carolinew9964]

Great tips. My bedroom has pipes going a long one wall above skirting boards any tips. The pipes are annoying so made a feature and spray painted in silver a long with radiator.

[@shanemcginley7437]

Loved this. Can you tell me did you need to prepare the brush first? I'm not a pro just yet, I like you're style. Skirtings slow me down so much

[@baileeeyyy]

This is so helpful, thank you. On my stair skirting, there seems to be at least 1 layer of existing paint. The top layer peels/scratches off. Should I scrape all of this off first then sand the next layer as it seems in better condition? Or do I need to go back to wood? Thanks

[@JillianAdamson]

Painting a clear acrylic medium over the edge of the masking tape (and allowing it to dry, of course) before painting will eliminate bleed, for those who don't feel confident cutting in.

[@slothmaster8444]

Am Painting skirting tomorrow and finding your advice invaluable. Very clearly explained, thanks v much 😃 hopefully I will justify choosing not to pay a professional 😂

[@JBTV]

Let's hope so, good luck 👍

[@Ripperoo2010]

The best way to prevent paint bleed and to get perfect straight lines is to paint along the edge of the masking tape with the same colour you are masking off (the wall colour in this case). This creates a seal of the same colour as that behind the tape and leakage of the other colour cannot occur. When paint used to seal the edge of the masking tape is totally dry, then paint your skirting boards with the desired colour. Slowly peel off the masking tape at a 45 degree angle once dry and low and behold....perfection! You could probably even use something like decorators caulk to seal the edge, if the backing colour is no available. Good demo of the technique here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZnYl56Gq9Oda80 You don't even need expensive Frog or 3M masking tape either.

[@HeartsForCheese]

I paint ma boreds I paint ma boreds !!!!! Evey year it. was was all yellow. Cold play 🎼🎵🎶

[@tomtom3378]

Hi bud do you have any videos on preparing a wall after you stripped the walls of paper what I mean is flaky patches I know you have to rub the lose off including any glue but what do you use to make sure the wall looks flat before painting ☺️

[@fatsruks6548]

Looks lovely! How do I repaint already glossed skirting board? Do I just sand the old gloss down and start repainting with new gloss?

[@vanessastephen6416]

Great informative, helpful and engaging video. Do you need to use an undercoat if you are going to paint over a skirting board that has already been painted several years ago? From your video, it would appear not, but a decorator said this provides the best finish! About to get work done in next two days. With gratitude,

[@JBTV]

Thank you, and I would agree with decorator; it will give you a better finish, and I would prime/undercoat if it hasn't been painted for a long time, and particularly if it was white bit has yellowed. Hope this helps.

[@katiedenton4540]

Great video thinking of decorating myself for the first time if I’m doing my walls also what would I paint first walls or Skirting?

[@JBTV]

Thanks Katie, ceiling, walls, then woodwork. Check out my top tips for painting a wall video

[@sueburr141]

Thanks, really useful. How best to paint white over a dark colour skirter and door frame?

[@JBTV]

You're just going to have to apply a couple of coats of undercoat first, then maybe 2 coats of white, depending on how dark the orig8nal colour is.

[@nicolahoult785]

will that satin quick dry last as long as say gloss i prefer the satin look ?

[@Ch3lsi3J0]

I’ll be painting the whole house by myself and there’s A LOT of thick skirting boards and coving so this was great 😊 👍🏻 also great tips about how much to sand them down or idve gone nuts rather than just breaking up that shine 😅

[@JBTV]

Glad it helped 👍

[@peppermintpolo]

I benefitted from the same wisdom! However, I am going to be painting over dark blue painted skirting boards (looks like ordinary matt paint) in order to get them back to white; do you reckon I need to sand them down a lot more or just do maybe two coats of satinwood?

[@Ch3lsi3J0]

@@JBTV completed the painting a while ago and I’m amazed at the results. Saved a fortune doing it myself and all the paint went on well in straight lines and didn’t peel off! 😂 thanks again!

[@gazcrx]

someone said to mask of the wall to the skirting and cork it then prime and paint. then when you you peel off the tape its sharp ?

[@mariaefelices6543]

Ty save me stress

[@thomascorcoran5641]

Thanks for the clear video. If you're applying 2 coats, when would you take off the tape? When first is tacky, then retape, or get both coats on before removing?

[@JBTV]

The rule of thumb is to remove the tape before the paint dries. If you're applying 2 coats of paint then I would gently pull the tape from the skirting after the first coat, just enough to break the paint line between the skirting and the carpet.

[@ginarhodes7907]

What if you have to do more than 1 coat? Do you replace the tape every coat?

[@chelseafootballc]

Great video. So if my skirting and doors are all ready painted white I don’t need to prime? Just sand then paint ?

[@JBTV]

Yep, just sand and paint 👍

[@Avital4414]

Excellent video. I painted the skirting in a room recently, but then when I painted the wall above it I got some of the light gray wall-color paint on the skirting. Do I need to re-prime the skirting before re-applying the top coat - or will a top coat (satin sheen) cover the wall-color paint? Thanks!!

[@JBTV]

Thank you. You won't need to re prime it, just paint straight over the top. You might need 2 coats though depending on how dark the grey is.

[@AA-uf3bl]

Excellent tutorial! I wish you could also show us how to paint skirting, where there's a laminate flooring with beading. Can I sand the skirting, let's say today, and paint it tomorrow, or do I have to paint it soon after sanding it? Do I need undercoat paint? I'm also planning to paint the doors of my flat. Do I need to use undercoat paint? The current paint on my doors is not that old. Cheers mate.

[@mmbarrett3156]

me too

[@djwazzerfrigg7105]

Id love you help regarding if your redecorating what best way to start painting the boards first or the wall also what best way to stop the paint pealing when ur done painting

[@JBTV]

Undercoat the boards, paint the walls, then top coat the boards The best way to stop paint peeling? Not sure, what paint are you using? and what are you painting on? are you sanding/keying the paint first?

[@stephenhunt7760]

Hi there, great vid. What satin paint are you using? Also what would you recommend?

[@JBTV]

Thanks man, I'm using dulux Satinwood here. If you can go for the dulux trade, it covers really well.

[@fms3124]

Hi thanks for the great video. Do you ever bother using sugar soap solution on woodwork after sanding or is that unnecessary??

[@JBTV]

Hi, thanks for the feedback. Usually just sanding will do the job, only if there was black mould or mildew would I use sugar soap before sanding. If you use it after sanding, be sure not to soak the woodwork, and either way make sure it's rinsed off and dry before painting.

[@fms3124]

@@JBTV OK thanks v much for the speedy reply, much appreciated!

[@Bobby-sb9cz]

Have you done how many layer? Or how many layer will you recommend if the skirting never paint before? Thank you so much for your great tips. 👍👍

[@JBTV]

2 top coats usually, but if the skirting is in good condition, then maybe just 1. If it's never been painted, then 1 primer/undercoat, then 2 top coats

[@Xodia91]

Hi JB quick question If I mask up and then apply an undercoat, do I need to take the masking tape off and reply for my top coat? I have a staircase to do so masking up twice sounds like hard work Please advise

[@JBTV]

Keep the masking tape on, but gently pull it away from the skirting before the paint dries, then you can use it for the next coat 👍

[@erikawilson1154]

Hiya great video. How do you suggest we prep the woodwork. We're moving and the new house has a nice coat of greasy nicotine on the wood work. Super soap just isn't working. Thanks erika

[@JBTV]

Lots of sandpaper!!

[@erikawilson1154]

Thanks. Thats exactly what we did. Worked a treat.

[@KayJohnsonArt]

Any reason why you didn't undercoat the skirting board first?

[@junyuanxue3600]

Wow this is such an amazing and informative video! Perfect for newbies like me. After watching this I've decided not to pay someone to paint my skirting so you've saved me £££s! Thank you 😄

[@JBTV]

Brilliant, you're welcome 👍

[@jal786]

So if I've already got white skirting boards/frames I don't need to remove the paint then sand it down? I can just straight sand it down? And what if the paint is peeling off the frame of the door would that need peeling of and sanding or straight sand would do it?

[@JBTV]

So if the original paint is in fairly good condition, then give it a sand before painting. If the original paint is peeling, you must either scrape it off or sand it down, and if it goes down to bare wood you'll need to prime it first.

[@TheKepler1000]

hi - justin - great vid - can you paint satin over gloss?

[@JBTV]

Yes, as long as you key it first, hit it with a piece of 120 sandpaper to scratch the surface. You shouldn't really see any shine in the paintwork before you paint over with satinwood

[@TheKepler1000]

@@JBTV brill - thanks a lot, justin

[@mariospacagna2132]

What if you have to put on two coats

[@7002164]

I have a silky skirting board that’s gone yellow. (Moved to the house last year) what should I do? Also is an egg shell Matt finish better or should I stick to silky? X

[@7002164]

Also, can you avoid paint marks? Read somewhere to use sponge instead of brush 🤯

[@jackt3058]

Can you recommend a primer that you can use as you mention which wouldn’t affect the wall top coat? I have had issues with crazing of paint after caulking which I believe was because of lack of primer/undercoat. Thanks!

[@JBTV]

I would go for a zinsser product. Bullseye 123, B-I-N, or B-I-N aqua

[@jackt3058]

Great thank you and this wouldn’t interfere with like vinyl Matt for example if I were to paint over on the walls?

[@JBTV]

@@jackt3058 it'll be fine 👍

[@GautamThakur]

is zinsser bulls eye 123 good to use as a primer before painting

[@JBTV]

Yes, for sure.

[@GautamThakur]

@@JBTV Thanks a lot for the reply, can I use zinsser on top of gloss paint, or do i need to remove the old gloss paint first?

[@JBTV]

@@GautamThakur scratch it up with some sandpaper first

[@angelikasinkevich894]

I would like to see painting with darker colors and that taping carpet part. Lighter would not be that noticeable.

[@JBTV]

I'll consider that for a future video 👍

[@angelikasinkevich894]

@@JBTV Thank you!!! :)))