Advice Hub

July 2026  |  MW Profiles Team

Skirting boards finish a room. They cover the gap where the wall meets the floor, hide small imperfections in plaster and flooring, and protect the base of the wall from knocks. Fitting them well is what separates a tidy finish from one that draws the eye for the wrong reasons.

This guide explains how to cut and fit skirting boards, including straight cuts, internal corners, external corners, 45 degree mitre cuts, adhesive fixing, scribing and finishing. It applies to MDF, PVC, aluminium, polystyrene and flexible skirting boards.

Materials First, Method Second

Before you start cutting, check what type of skirting board you are fitting. Different materials need slightly different tools and techniques:

• MDF and softwood skirting: usually cut with a mitre saw, then glued, nailed or screwed into place.
• PVC skirting boards: lightweight, moisture-resistant and best cut with a fine-tooth saw, hacksaw or suitable mitre saw blade.
• Aluminium skirting: cut with a hacksaw or a suitable non-ferrous metal blade, then deburred with a file.
• Flexible PVC skirting: often self-adhesive and easier to fit around uneven walls.
• Polystyrene skirting: very light and easy to cut, usually fixed with adhesive.

Tools and Materials You Need

• Tape measure and pencil
• Mitre saw, chop saw or mitre box
• Fine-tooth handsaw or hacksaw
• Coping saw for scribed internal corners
• Profile gauge for pipes and obstacles
• Spirit level
• Grab adhesive, screws, plugs or nails
• Decorator's caulk for finishing gaps

Expert tip: use a fine blade. A 60-tooth or 80-tooth blade gives a cleaner finish on MDF and PVC than a coarse blade. This is especially important on visible corners.

How to Measure Skirting Boards

Measure each wall separately from corner to corner. Do not measure the whole room in one long run, as small mistakes quickly add up.

Write each measurement on a simple room sketch. For corners that will be scribed or adjusted, add around 10 to 15 mm extra length, then trim carefully during fitting.

Always dry-fit each piece before applying adhesive or fixing it permanently.

How to Cut a Straight Length

For a straight cut, mark the required length with a sharp pencil, set the saw to 90 degrees, support the skirting board properly and cut steadily.

• PVC: use a fine-tooth saw, hacksaw or suitable mitre saw blade.
• MDF and softwood: use a mitre saw for the cleanest cut.
• Aluminium: use a hacksaw or suitable metal-cutting blade, then smooth the edge with a file.

How to Cut Skirting Boards at 45 Degrees

A standard 90 degree corner is normally made from two 45 degree cuts. Each skirting board is cut in the opposite direction so the two pieces meet neatly in the corner.

Important: do not cut all corners before testing. Cut one pair, place both pieces against the wall, check the joint, then adjust if needed. Many UK walls are not exactly 90 degrees, so a perfect 45 degree cut may still need slight correction.

How to Cut Internal Corners

An internal corner is where two walls meet inwards, for example the inside corner of a room.

There are two common methods: mitring and scribing.

Method 1: Internal Mitre Joint

For a standard internal corner, cut both skirting boards at 45 degrees so they meet inside the corner.

• The left-hand board is cut in one direction.
• The right-hand board is cut in the opposite direction.
• When fitted together, the two 45 degree cuts form a 90 degree internal corner.

For internal corners, the longer point of the mitre usually faces towards the front/visible side of the skirting, while the shorter point sits closer to the wall corner.

Method 2: Scribed Internal Corner

Scribing is often better than a simple mitre because walls are rarely perfectly square.

1. Fit the first skirting board square into the corner with a straight 90 degree end.
2. Cut a 45 degree mitre on the second piece to reveal the profile shape.
3. Use a coping saw to cut along the visible profile line.
4. Push the shaped piece against the first skirting board for a tighter joint.

Expert tip: scribing hides small gaps better than a normal mitre and is often the preferred method for internal corners.

How to Cut External Corners

An external corner is a corner that points outwards, such as around a chimney breast, column or wall return.

External corners are usually cut with two 45 degree mitres. The long points of the cuts face outwards so the joint closes neatly on the visible outside edge.

If the external corner is not exactly 90 degrees, measure the real angle and divide it by two. For example, if the corner is 92 degrees, each cut should be around 46 degrees.

Important: external corners are very visible, so always test the joint before fixing the skirting permanently.

How to Cut Corners Without a Mitre Saw

You do not always need an electric mitre saw. For small jobs or DIY fitting, you can use:

1. A mitre box and handsaw for simple 45 degree cuts.
2. A coping saw for scribed internal corners.
3. Pre-formed corner pieces for PVC skirting systems.

Modern PVC skirting systems, such as our Hi-Line skirting board, can be fitted with matching internal corners, external corners, joining links and end caps. This means you can use straight cuts only, without complicated mitre cutting.

View Hi-Line skirting system

How to Fix Skirting Boards with Adhesive

Grab adhesive is one of the easiest ways to fit modern skirting boards, especially PVC, polystyrene and lightweight profiles.

• Apply adhesive in a zig-zag bead along the back of the skirting.
• Press the board firmly against the wall.
• Check the position with a spirit level.
• Hold or support the skirting until the adhesive begins to grip.

Expert tip: a zig-zag adhesive pattern spreads more evenly than straight vertical lines and gives better contact with the wall.

Fitting to Uneven Walls and Floors

Few walls and floors are perfectly straight. If the skirting leaves small gaps, you can usually correct them with one of these methods:

• Scribe the bottom edge if the floor is uneven.
• Use decorator's caulk along the top edge and internal corners.
• Choose flexible skirting for older properties or uneven walls.

Cutting Around Pipes, Sockets and Obstacles

Use a profile gauge to copy the shape of pipes, sockets or other obstacles. Transfer the shape onto the skirting board and cut it with a coping saw or jigsaw.

For pipes, drill a hole the same diameter as the pipe, then cut a slot from the back edge of the skirting into the hole. Once fitted, the slot is mostly hidden behind the pipe.

Finishing: Filling, Caulking and Painting

1. Fill nail holes or screw heads with suitable filler.
2. Sand the filled areas smooth once dry.
3. Run decorator's caulk along the top edge where the skirting meets the wall.
4. Caulk any small internal corner gaps.
5. Paint MDF or softwood skirting after fitting if required.

Caulking gives the skirting a cleaner finish and helps hide small imperfections between the wall and the board.

Finished Skirting Board Examples

Well-cut and neatly fitted skirting boards create a clean, professional finish around the room.

Quicker Alternatives: Clip-Fix, Flexible and Self-Adhesive Skirting

If you want to avoid complicated mitre cuts, modern skirting systems can make installation much easier.

• Hi-Line clip-fix PVC skirting: uses matching internal corners, external corners, joining links and end caps.
• Status Line PVC skirting: lightweight, modern and glue-fixed.
• Flexible PVC skirting: ideal for uneven walls and quick installation.
• Aluminium skirting: suitable for clean, modern interiors.
• Polystyrene skirting: light, decorative and easy to fit with adhesive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cut skirting boards for internal corners?

You can mitre both pieces at 45 degrees or scribe one piece to fit against the other. Scribing is often better for internal corners because it hides small gaps caused by uneven walls.

How do you cut external corners on skirting boards?

Cut both boards at 45 degrees, with the long points facing outwards. If the corner is not exactly 90 degrees, measure the actual angle and divide it by two.

What angle do you cut skirting boards for corners?

For a standard 90 degree corner, cut each piece at 45 degrees. For out-of-square corners, measure the real angle and cut each board to half of that angle.

Can you fit skirting boards without a mitre saw?

Yes. You can use a mitre box and handsaw, scribe internal corners with a coping saw, or choose a PVC skirting system with ready-made corner pieces.

Should you glue or screw skirting boards?

Grab adhesive is suitable for most PVC, polystyrene and lightweight skirting boards. Screws or nails are better for heavier MDF or timber skirting, especially on uneven or solid walls.

How do you attach skirting board to plaster?

Apply grab adhesive to the back of the skirting and press it firmly against clean, sound plaster. For heavier boards, use adhesive plus screws for extra strength.

How do you cut skirting board around pipes?

Mark the pipe position, drill a hole the same size as the pipe, then cut a slot from the back edge of the skirting into the hole. This allows the board to slide neatly around the pipe.

Do you paint skirting boards before or after fitting?

MDF and softwood skirting can be primed before fitting and finished with a final coat after installation. PVC, aluminium and polystyrene skirting usually come pre-finished and do not need painting.

Shop Skirting Boards at MW Profiles

MW Profiles supplies PVC, flexible, aluminium and polystyrene skirting boards in a wide range of colours, sizes and lengths, with fast UK delivery from our Barnsley warehouse. Browse our full range below or visit our skirting boards hub for more information.