Utility room skirting

imokyrok

I've ripped old wooden mouldy skirting from my utility room and am looking for suggestions for a more practical replacement than wooden skirting boards. I was thinking of upvc skirting boards but an acquaintance said they become brittle after a few years. Any suggestions?

awec

I think you need to figure out why your skirtings are getting mouldy. I don't think that should happen, even in a utility.

seamus

Rather than trying to fit skirts around all that pipework, would it make sense to build boxes around it. Tidy up the look of it, give you a little extra storage and somewhere to sit (when changing shoes, etc etc)?

Piece of piss to build and you could attach it with brackets that let you clip the sides off if you need to access the pipes.

But yes, you should also make sure that whatever made the original skirts mouldy, is no longer an issue.

Edit: Although I see a waste pipe there, so maybe you usually have appliances in there, in which case you don't really need a skirt.

imokyrok

That section is where the appliances go and it's under the stairs so not head height making it awkward to get at too. I'd prefer to finish it it off to prevent any future leaks or floods getting into the walls. It's already rotted some of the wall timber.

imokyrok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117708030#Comment_117708030

The existing laminate flooring got drenched with a flooding accident from the washing machine plus I've discovered a barely perceptible leak from a connector. I've replaced the flooring with lino and want to waterproof the skirting against future accidents which are almost inevitable in a utility room.

antix80

It's the utility room...just box it in. If it rots, caulk and paint it and you'll get a few more years out of it.

As they say...you can't make a silk purse out of a cow's ear.

lawred2

Skirting wouldn't waterproof anything

imokyrok

I've seen rolls of a flexible skirting in the UK but can't find a source here. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjptsXExZryAhVvgFAGHY_nACIYABAEGgJkZw&ae=2&sig=AOD64_1F4_9wkXUgPDRd05sIg2BcthIMAw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwicgr7ExZryAhUUiFwKHeC0A_AQwg96BAgBECA&dct=1&adurl=

Another option I'm considering is https://www.eurocell.ie/homeowners/interior-products/skirting-and-architrave

imokyrok

Also does anyone know if this connector leak could be sorted with self fusing tape or must it be replaced?

seamus

Yeah, the set-in skirting is the way to go here, this is like they use in hospitals and schools. There will always be bounce in your laminate floor so trying to waterproof seal traditional skirting boards is a mug's game.

Another option is to put down lino, except at the edges you run the lino about 4-6 inches up the wall and pin it in place with special beading. Bonus is that your whole floor is now waterproof and not just the edges.

imokyrok

That's a good idea. Pity I didn't think to do that before the lino was laid. But I have a lot of offcuts so I could cut strips to glue L shapes covering floor and wall at the bad bits behind the machines and just use normal skirting where it will be seen and away from where leaks occur . Think that's what I'll try. Thanks for the idea!

policarp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117712719#Comment_117712719

Or you could go continental and put a tile skirting all round with a silicone sealer at the floor joint.