Painters and decorators
How to repaint skirting boards
Prepare, protect, then paint, and check the age of the paintwork before you sand it. HSE says lead was not removed from all commonly used paint until the early 1980s, and advises stripping old leaded paint only if it is flaking, chipping, giving off dust or particles, or is a risk to children.
Sources: [7] HSE (accessed 2026-09-28).
- Lightly sand the boards, then clean them with a damp cloth and vacuum away the debris, as Wickes advises.
- Caulk the join between board and wall before painting, not after, as Decorating Centre Online advises.
- Tape the wall above the board with low-tack masking tape, as Wickes advises.
- On boards that are already painted, Crown says an undercoat is optional but gives a better finish, especially when covering a dark colour with a light one.
- Cut in first along the top of the board where it meets the wall, as Crown advises.
- Paint the rest of the board, let the first coat dry, then apply a second coat, with a light sand between coats if the product calls for it: Crown advises one and says two coats should do it, while Dulux says its Quick Dry water-based paint needs none.
Sources: [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28); [6] Decorating Centre Online (accessed 2026-09-28); [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Check what is on the boards before you sand
HSE says lead pigments were widely used in paints for homes until the 1960s, and that lead was not removed from all commonly used paint until the early 1980s. It can therefore lie beneath existing paintwork in older buildings.
Sources: [7] HSE (accessed 2026-09-28).
Where old leaded paint may be present, HSE advises making a key for the new coat with wet abrasive paper, stripping back old paint only if it is flaking, chipping, giving off dust or particles or is a risk to children, and not overheating it with blow lamps or gas torches. This guide does not cover testing or removal; the related lead paint guide covers the subject in more depth.
Sources: [7] HSE (accessed 2026-09-28).
Condition table: what you find and what to do
| What you find | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sound paint or existing gloss | Go over it with fine sandpaper; Crown advises this particularly where the paint is gloss or badly chipped. Crown advises against normal emulsion over gloss, as it will not take well even after sanding. Crown says an undercoat is optional on pre-painted boards but gives a better finish, especially when covering a dark colour with a light one; alternatively use a self-undercoating product, such as Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood, which Dulux describes as self-undercoating. |
| Grease, dirt or stains | Wickes advises wiping stains and dirt with sugar soap. For its Quick Dry Satinwood, Dulux says the surface should be clean, with no dirt or grease, and dry. |
| Gaps along the wall or filled holes | Decorating Centre Online advises a thin line of decorators' caulk along the joins, applied before painting, and lightly sanding dried filler until flush with the surrounding surface. |
| Bare wood or knots | Crown advises knotting solution on dark spots or knots so they do not show through. Decorating Centre Online says primer is essential on new skirting or bare wood. |
| Possible old lead paint | HSE advises making a key with wet abrasive paper, stripping back only if the paint is flaking, chipping, giving off dust or particles or is a risk to children, and not overheating it with blow lamps or gas torches. |
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28); [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28); [2] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28); [6] Decorating Centre Online (accessed 2026-09-28); [7] HSE (accessed 2026-09-28).
Clean, sand and fill
Wickes advises lightly sanding the skirting, then cleaning it with a damp cloth and a vacuum to get rid of debris. For stains and dirt, it advises wiping the surface down with sugar soap.
Sources: [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28).
Crown advises going over the skirting with fine sandpaper to help new paint go on properly, particularly if the existing paint is badly chipped or is gloss. It then advises vacuuming and wiping with a damp cloth to get rid of all the dust.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28).
Decorating Centre Online advises a thin line of decorators' caulk along the joins between board and wall, applied before painting rather than after. Once filler is dry, it advises sanding it lightly until flush with the surrounding surface.
Sources: [6] Decorating Centre Online (accessed 2026-09-28).
Protect the floor and wall
Wickes advises taping the wall above the skirting with low-tack masking tape and, on hard floors, sticking masking tape to the floor as close to the skirting as possible. Where the floor is carpeted, Dulux advises pushing the tape edges down with a blunt edge tool.
Sources: [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Choose a compatible coating
The right coating depends on what is already on the boards and on the product you select. Crown advises against normal emulsion over gloss, because it will not take well even after sanding. On new skirting or bare wood, Decorating Centre Online says primer is essential. On boards that are already painted, Crown says an undercoat is optional but gives a better finish, especially when covering a dark colour with a light one.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [6] Decorating Centre Online (accessed 2026-09-28).
Wickes says oil-based paints are more durable but have an extended drying time, and that white gloss can yellow over time through oxidisation, which happens with all oil-based paints.
Sources: [5] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28).
Example only, not a recommendation: Dulux says its quick-drying satinwood is self-undercoating, so existing paintwork needs only a light sand and dust removal. Follow the instructions for the product you actually use.
Sources: [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Where the skirting fits in the room order
Guidance differs on order. Crown's rule of thumb for a whole room is to paint top down and leave the skirtings until last, but to do the skirtings first if you are hanging wallpaper. Wickes says yes to painting skirting boards before walls, as it prevents paint splatters on freshly painted walls. Pick the order that suits the job and the products in use.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28).
Apply the coats
Crown advises cutting in first, applying paint to the top of the skirting where it meets the wall. Dulux advises always making the final brush stroke along the length of the board, and using a brush with synthetic bristles for water-based paint.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Whether to sand between coats depends on the product. Crown advises lightly sanding and removing the dust once the first coat is dry, then painting again, and says two coats should do it. Dulux says there is no need to sand between coats of its Quick Dry water-based paint.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Recoat time also depends on the product. As an example, Dulux says to leave at least 6 hours between coats of Quick Dry Satinwood, longer when cold and damp. Check the instructions for the product you use.
Sources: [2] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
Take off the tape and hand back the room
Advice on when to remove masking tape differs. Crown advises removing it while the paint is still wet, pulling it off slowly at an angle. Wickes advises removing it just before the paint is fully dry, so the tape does not chip the paint on the wall. Dulux advises removing it once the second coat is fully dry. Follow the instructions for your chosen product.
Sources: [3] Crown (accessed 2026-09-28); [4] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28); [1] Dulux (accessed 2026-09-28).
If new flooring or carpet is going down, Wickes advises waiting at least 24 hours after painting the skirting boards.
Sources: [5] Wickes (accessed 2026-09-28).