How to cut the corner of the skirting board correctly

How to cut corners on a skirting board

The ceiling plinth gives an aesthetic appearance to the room after renovation. It hides all minor construction defects, gaps and crevices. Since it runs along the entire perimeter of the room, you need to be able to dock it at the corners. This is not difficult and is done in several simple ways.

Skirting Corner Tools

Initially, you should decide what exactly to cut. If this is a light material. polystyrene, for example, polyurethane, etc., then a clerical or well-sharpened knife will do. But the most versatile tool for cutting curbs from any material is a metal hacksaw. She cuts almost everything, smoothly and quickly.

A ruler and a chalk or pencil will also come in handy, and when manually cutting a plinth, an angular ruler is required.

How to cut the correct corner of the ceiling plinth with your own hands

You only need to cut the corners on the baguettes at an angle of forty-five degrees, which will help to combine both the outer and inner parts of the material. This can be done both through a slotted tray or in its absence by applying the necessary markings on the ceiling or on paper.

To dock fillets with a decorative corner, you need to place the corner exactly in the center between the walls to the ceiling. Attach to it on both sides of the baseboard and cut them a little with a clerical knife until they fit perfectly together.

The problem is that the standard sizes of such corners do not always fit the size of the curb, in which case it is better to cut the corner yourself.

How to make an inner corner

• Press the fillet to the inner corner in the way it will be glued.
• With a pencil, draw the fishing line along the upper edge of the part (on the ceiling) towards the corner. Next, take the second one and press it in the same way to the second side of the wall.
• Draw the line with a pencil in the same direction towards the corner. As a result, you get the intersection of two lines on the ceiling.
• Then, reattach the skirting board on one side in the same way and mark the intersection of the lines on it. Do the same with the second baguette.

As a result, if you run the line from the mark to the bottom edge of the fillet, you get a flat line at an angle of 45 degrees.
To correctly cut the inner corner of the ceiling molding, follow these steps:

• Transfer the workpiece to the device in the same position as it will be attached to the surface and press it very tightly against the back of the tool.
• Put the hacksaw in the slots at 45 degrees to the workpiece, which must be held by hand during work so that it does not shift.
• Carefully cut the baguette, controlling the pressure of the tool, so as not to damage anything.
• Another piece of plinth should also be installed against the back of the device, also pressing and holding it tightly during operation, avoiding displacement.
• Set the hacksaw at 45 degrees to the workpiece so that it is opposite the first trimmed border.
• Cut off. Done!

It is imperative to cut off the skirting board from the front of the product so that the line is even and clear.

How to cut a baguette in the corner of a wall using a machine

A miter box is a U-shaped tray with sides, in which slots are made for the cutting tool. There can be three or more slots, depending on its purpose. The slots are made in such a way as to cut parts from 15 to 135 degrees. In this case, I am interested in a simple tool with a minimum set of slots for cutting at angles of 45-90 degrees.

The tray provides a ready-made template for cutting at different angles. It can be used to trim both internal and external protrusions. In its absence, you can make it yourself. This will require four planks, even and preferably smooth. Knock the tray out of them and proceed to the holes for cutting. Mark them at 45-90 degrees, cut with a thick cutting object or circular saw.

• The ceiling plinth is applied and cut on the near inner side of the tray.
• The molding is installed in the same way as it is planned for fixing to the ceiling.
• Cutting the workpiece should only be at 90 degrees.
• The side that will be glued to the ceiling must be firmly pressed against the bottom of the tray during operation.
• The border is cut here strictly on the front side.
• For each material from which the skirting board is made, you need to choose the right cutting tool.
• It is best to start cutting fillets from the inner corner, otherwise the part may turn out to be shorter and not fill the entire length of the ceiling.

Preparatory work

Before starting work, you should prepare the material with which you will have to work. Fillets are made of:

• wood;
• gypsum;
• foam;
• polyurethane;
• Pvc.

Based on this, you need to prepare the tools. Depending on the material, a device is selected that will easily cut off the part. Also, there should be glue for attaching the skirting board and a sealant to mask minor defects.

There is also special fittings for decorating corners. they are attached to the joints at the corners. Its benefit is that it can hide some of the irregularities of the work.

The higher the ceilings in the room, the wider the border should be. Otherwise, he will simply “get lost”.
Then, the surface to which the plinth will be attached is prepared. it must be dry, even and clean.

How to make an outer corner

Just as the mowing line was outlined for trimming the inner corners, the outer corners must be done. Attach the planks to the wall at the protruding corner. On the ceiling, mark a line along the length of one baguette, then a line along the other. You will get the intersection point, which should be marked on the upper parts of the skirting board. Draw the line from it to the lower edge of the workpiece (make two sides in this way).

Then work with the marked lines of the outer corner of the baguette as follows:

• Place the workpiece in the tray, pressing firmly against the front wall of the device and holding it with your hand during operation.
• Set the cutting tool at 45 degrees to the workpiece and carefully cut off the corner.
• Install the counter plinth in the same way, pressing it against the front wall of the device.
• Cut at 45 degrees, but in such a way that the angle is directly opposite to the already cut.

After all the corners have been cut off, it is required to dock the fillets together, checking for defects in the work. If there are any, remove them by carefully cutting with a knife. As for wooden curbs, the irregularities on them must be removed with a file.

Material for the production of ceiling slats

The first skirting boards were made of plaster. But they did not last long in the building materials market (the main reason is the high cost of gypsum plinths), giving way to products made of foam, wood and expanded polystyrene.

Before proceeding with a detailed analysis of the question of how to correctly cut a corner on the ceiling plinth, it is necessary to find out what are the features of each category of the presented products.

Polyfoam is the most economically profitable material for the manufacture of ceiling plinths. The main advantages of this category of products are:

• low cost;
• looks great on the ceiling;
• it is not difficult to choose skirting boards that harmoniously fit into the interior of almost any room;
• well cut;
• these skirting boards are easy to work with.

There is also a “reverse side of the coin”. foam products break easily, but many experienced experts argue that this fact is not a serious problem (the skirting board is not physically affected on the ceiling).

Even if you do not know how to properly cut the corners of the ceiling plinth, you can practice on products from the category presented (cut pieces, etc.).

Expanded polystyrene, which is used as a material for the production of ceiling skirting boards, is stronger than polystyrene, but this criterion negatively affects the cost of products.

The main advantages of the presented category of skirting boards are their high strength, long service life and the ability, without strong physical efforts, to cut off the corners you need.

Wood products are more expensive and look more solid than the above products. But the presented category of ceiling plinths is difficult to machine.

In order to cut off a corner, you will not only have to work with a hacksaw (experienced experts recommend using a blade for metal), but also eliminate irregularities using a sandpaper.

The question of cutting the corners of the ceiling plinth must be resolved taking into account the materials used for their production. For example, to prepare foam products, you can use an ordinary clerical knife, which will be a poor helper if you are installing wooden skirting boards.

Preparing corners with a miter box

Builders, carpenters and renovators are familiar with this device.

Miter box. a special wooden tool with slots, in the form of an inverted “P”, which allows you to cut a board or plinth so that an angle of 45 or 90 degrees is obtained.

In addition to this device, you will need a clerical knife, a hacksaw for metal and a sandpaper if you are working with wooden skirting boards.

The preparation of the corners should be carried out without undue physical effort so as not to damage the skirting.

Experienced experts recommend adhering to the following procedure:

• At the bottom of the miter box, you need to lay the side that will contact the ceiling, and the lower part is pressed against the right wall.
• The adjacent corner is prepared in the same way, but the plinth is applied to the left wall / slot.
• The resulting cuts are applied to the corner, if you have a large gap, trim the irregularities with a clerical knife.
• In the case when a small gap is observed between the prepared skirting boards, remove it after fixing all the elements using a putty.

To do this, it is enough to cut the strips at right angles and then insert them into the connecting element. But this solution to the issue cannot always be applied in practice.

Very often the connecting part looks ridiculous, stands out strongly against the general background and spoils the appearance of the room.

The main disadvantage of preparing skirting boards using a miter box is the fact that this method is only suitable for rooms where the angle between the walls is 90 degrees.

Any deviations or irregularities can prevent you from performing this work efficiently. And one more advice from experts.

If you are inexperienced in preparing skirting corners, practice on scrap or unusable material before proceeding with this task.

How to cut a corner on a skirting board: professional advice

The appearance of the ceiling in your home, apartment or office largely depends on the choice and installation of ceiling plinths. It is not only the color, material, width and other parameters of the presented elements of the decoration of the premises that play a role, but also how they are prepared and mounted.

In order to prevent irreparable mistakes in the process of fastening the planks, you need to know the answer to the question: how to cut a corner on a ceiling plinth without asking for professional help.

How to make a miter box without the help of specialists

If you do not have a miter box, but you know that you can use it to prepare ideal angles, then make this device yourself.

To do this, you will need:

• three small boards;
• nails;
• hammer;
• hacksaw for metal.

Make a small U-shaped tray with cuts that form the corners necessary for your task. The main thing is not to rush, carefully check your incisions (preferably with a protractor) and make sure that your structure is stable.

If you know how to cut a corner of a ceiling plinth, but for this you need a device that allows you to cut off non-standard corners on fillets (another name for plinths), make the necessary tool with your own hands.

To do this, you need to connect two rectangular boards with the letter “G”, and make cuts on one of them. On paper, using a protractor, you need to draw a mowing line so that they form the necessary angles with one of the boards. The device is ready, it remains only to test its functionality in practice.

As a last resort, you can always find some kind of thing that will help you cut off part of the baseboard at the right angle (book, table pushed against the wall, etc.).

An important point! When making measurements, keep in mind that for the outer corner of the ceiling plinth you need to take a margin equal to its width (fillets, in this case, protrude outward).

How to cut a ceiling plinth without special tools

If you do not have a miter box and the desire to make it using the above recommendations, try to cut the plinth without using a special tool.

To do this, you need to attach the fillet to the ceiling (only the way it will be fixed) and draw the line.

A similar operation is carried out with another wall forming an angle. The intersection of the two lines will show you where to cut off a piece of the ceiling plinth. To do this, you must once again attach the plank to the ceiling and draw the line from the specified point to the end of the plinth, to the bottom corner.

If you need to prepare the material for the outer corner, use the following algorithm:

• On the right side, a plinth is applied to the ceiling and a fishing line is drawn along it.
• A similar operation is carried out on the left side of the corner.
• On the plinth, you need to make two marks: the place where the corner of the room passes and the point of intersection of your lines.
• After connecting these points, you will receive the necessary cutting line.

Among the main disadvantages of the presented method, it is necessary to highlight the fact that sometimes there are significant errors, the cause of which may be: a human factor, a bad pencil or an uneven ceiling / walls.

Docking the skirting board

Having studied the information provided in detail, you can answer the question of how to cut a ceiling plinth using different methods for solving this problem. But besides this, you need to know effective ways to connect the planks.

One of the ways (which has already been mentioned) is based on the use of connecting elements.

They are available for external corners, for internal corners, as well as for connecting skirting boards in straight sections. A very convenient way to save time and, in some cases, financial resources.

Even experienced specialists will not be able to mount skirting boards for ceilings so that everything is perfectly smooth and beautiful.

In order for the quality of the work performed to be at the highest level, you must use the following recommendations:

• on straight sections of the plinth, you need to connect so that one part slightly covers the other;
• after applying glue at the junction, the residues must be wiped off;
• all gaps between different parts or between skirting boards and ceiling / walls must be sealed with a sealant (alternatively, putty with water-based paint).

A few tips from experts

If you are interested in the question of how to cut corners on a ceiling plinth, from a theoretical point of view, or you plan to make repairs in the indefinite future, then you should remember some tips:

• when making repairs indoors, make sure that all the elements not only create an overall beautiful picture, but also “dock” with each other;
• you should not buy wooden skirting boards if you do not know how to work with it;
• fix the planks only after they are fully prepared (you are unlikely to be able to clean up irregularities on the glued ceiling plinth);
• installation of ceiling strips should be carried out, starting from the corners, according to the principle: “from complex to simple”;
• when buying ceiling plinths, take the material with a margin (not only taking into account possible errors, but also to compensate for losses on uneven walls).

Practice shows that trimming the ceiling plinth, despite the complexity of this process from the position of beginners, after “passing” several corners, is perceived much easier. But doing similar work in a room with rounded corners can be a major challenge, even for professionals.

Typically, these problems are solved using a method that is based on creating “patches” where the bottom is wider than the top. This work requires perseverance, a good eye and accuracy.

After a detailed study of the question of how to cut the ceiling plinth in the corners, even a person without experience in this field of activity will be able to independently perform this task at home.

As a result, you will not only save money, but also get moral satisfaction after the repair work.

Skirting tools

When installing friezes, you need to prepare the necessary tools to perfectly cut the skirting board and fit the ceiling frieze to the corners of the room. To trim the baguette, a miter box and cutting tools are used: knives (carpentry and ordinary), hacksaws, saws. When handling each of them, it is necessary to take into account the features of the device and the subtleties of application.

The miter box is a device that guides the cutting tool blade with the required inclination. It is specially designed for cutting materials that are then mounted at a specific angle. Structurally, it can be conventional and tilt-rotary, or precision. They are visually different, but the principle of operation is the same.

Different types of miter boxes Plastic miter boxes with clamps

An ordinary miter box is a U-shaped tray made most often of plastic. It also comes in metal or wood. There are slots in its walls for guiding the cutting tool at a given angle to the base. This variety has a template type and cannot be adjusted: the material is cut at standard angles (normal or negative), which are structurally embedded in the grooves. When choosing a miter box, you need to look so that it should be wider than the workpiece for cutting. To fix the material in the device, a clamp or special pins can be used. if the structure has perforations for their installation. Usually, the workpieces in it are simply adhered to with the free hand.

Plain plastic miter box Plain wooden miter box

Swivel, or precision miter box. adjusting to any angle of inclination, allows you to cut at an angle and get a simultaneous cut in two planes at once. It is a professional tool that is rarely used under normal conditions.

Swivel miter box with hacksaw Precision (swivel) miter box

Saw. Recommended mainly for hard wood skirting boards. Using the saw on soft materials such as styrofoam and polystyrene is not always good. The cut from the saw turns out to be rough and requires additional grinding with sandpaper or a file.

A hacksaw is a widely used cutting tool for cutting a baguette. It is necessary to carefully approach its choice: the canvas must correspond to the size of the slots of the miter box. be of sufficient thickness and width. When working with a hacksaw, it is necessary to observe the inclination of the tool so as not to damage the miter box and observe the correct direction. At the same time, the cut of the part often turns out to be not very smooth and sometimes requires alignment and grinding.

Construction knife. makes it easy to cut soft foam fillet. It is not difficult for them to work, and the cut turns out to be even and smooth. Instead of a construction knife, it is permissible to use an ordinary knife. the main thing is that it is of sufficient sharpness and length.

Cutting tool h2 3.0.0.0.0.-

Materials for ceiling plinths

Ceiling moldings can be of different widths, have a convex pattern on the front side and special recesses for engineering systems on the back side. Fillets are made in specialized production from polystyrene, its varieties. expanded polystyrene, polyurethane and wood.

Polyfoam is the most affordable finishing material. Its positive qualities: light weight, ease of cutting and processing, the possibility of finishing by painting in any color. Negative point. granularity and low strength. even a slight mechanical damage can violate the integrity of the foam surface.

Varieties of foam plinth Foam plinth on the ceiling

Expanded polystyrene is a more durable type of foam. It is also light in weight and in processing, but it has a higher density and a smooth surface, is more resistant to mechanical damage, and lends itself well to staining. These two materials, due to their low weight, have little stress on the load-bearing walls.

Ceiling plinth made of expanded polystyrene Baguette painted to match the wall

Wood is the hardest and most impact-resistant of all fillet materials. Products made from it retain their appearance longer and are able to withstand significant mechanical stress. In the style of some interiors, it is wooden friezes that are most applicable. Wood ennobles the room and fills it with warmth. However, it has a higher price than previous materials.

Different types of baguettes made of wood Wooden fillet in the interior

Products made of polystyrene, as well as expanded polystyrene, have an advantage over wood. The softness of the material makes it possible to press the baguette as tightly as possible against the wall, ceiling and each other. therefore, there are no gaps. It is possible to achieve excellent joining of the plinth on not perfectly flat walls if you use a not wide foam or expanded polystyrene fillet.

Fillet cutting for inner corner

Internal corners are always present in rooms. so you will definitely have to face them when installing skirting boards on the ceiling. In this case, when cutting a baguette, we follow the algorithm:

• we measure the required length of the workpiece by attaching it to the ceiling at the place of future installation;
• we place the bar in the miter box along the near wall so that its location coincides with how it will be mounted on the ceiling;
• holding the plinth, we put the cutting tool in the groove with an inclination of 45 ° and cut the workpiece without unnecessary pressure;
• we do the same actions in a mirror image for the second, adjacent bar. For the convenience of cutting, you can turn the miter box with the bar installed in it to the desired hand.

Knowing how to correctly cut out the inner corner on the ceiling plinth with a miter box, you can easily arrange more complex ones. outer corners.

Position of the left bar for the inner corner with the direction of pressure when cutting Right bar position for the inner corner with rotation for easy cutting Cutting the left inner bar Cutting the right inner bar h3 2,0,0,0,0.-

Trim skirting in miter box

The miter box is one of the most important tools when processing a baguette, allowing you to make cuts on the skirting board with the desired slope for an even joint. Consider the features of working with fillets using this device.

To correctly and evenly cut the ceiling plinth using a miter box in the corners, you must follow certain rules.

• Cutting workpieces with a miter box is only suitable for right angles equal to 90 °.
• When cutting a baguette intended for the ceiling, it is applied and sawn on the inner side of the miter box closest to you.
• The workpiece is installed in such a position as it will be mounted later on the ceiling.
• Cutting is carried out on the front side of the baguette.
• The side that is subsequently glued to the ceiling must press firmly against the bottom of the tray when cutting.
• It is recommended to use a specific cutting tool for each type of material: a hacksaw or knives are good for cutting soft materials such as foam, a saw is preferable for wood.

Ceiling corners can be internal and external, or external, therefore there are differences in the preparation of the baguette, which consist in the methods of joining the planks and different inclination of the cuts. To make it easier to work with the miter box, it is useful to make visual prompts on it in the form of small stickers with inscriptions, as shown below.

Miter box with tips for easier work Angle types

The main attention should be paid to the accuracy of cutting workpieces at the desired angle. It is recommended to start working from the inner corner and then work to the outer corner. Otherwise, it is possible that the length of the baguette will not be enough. Schematically, the cutting steps look like the figures below.

Scheme for trimming adjacent skirting boards for inner corners Scheme for trimming adjacent skirting boards for outer corners h3 1,0,0,0,0.-

How to properly cut a corner on a ceiling plinth

Ceiling plinth, also known as fillet, frieze or baguette, is a finishing material that is used at the final stage of renovating a room. At the same time, it not only masks possible irregularities of the upper edge of the wallpaper or peeling of plaster near the ceiling, but also acts as a decorative element, giving completeness and uniqueness to the space.

Ceiling plinth with internal and external corners

Many people install the ceiling frieze in their apartment on their own, without involving masters. This job is not that difficult if you know how to choose the tools and cut the corner correctly on the skirting board. The main thing when working with a ceiling molding:

• take into account the peculiarity of the material from which the fillet is made;
• have the right tools and use them correctly;
• know the intricacies of step-by-step work.

h2 1,0,0,0,0.-

Fillet cutting for outer corner

Outside corners in a room are not so common, but they require particularly careful cutting of fillets and precise joining of their sides. Unlike the internal ones, small gaps in the external ones are more noticeable and difficult to hide. You also need to take into account some peculiarities when working with external corners. It’s easy to do, following certain rules:

• parts of the frieze should protrude slightly from the edge of the wall, forming a small margin;
• we measure the bar by attaching it to the ceiling as it will be glued in the future;
• we place the frieze in the miter box, pressing it against the wall closest to you;
• we insert a hacksaw or other suitable cutting tool into a groove with an angle of 45 °, and cut off the workpiece without unnecessary pressure;

The location of the left outer strap in the miter box

• we put the adjacent bar to the nearest wall of the miter box and, holding it, insert a hacksaw or other tool into the groove at an angle of 45 °. For the convenience of work, we unfold the miter box with the blank “under the arm”;
• we do the same as in the previous case. carefully and evenly cut the fillet.

Position of the right outer plank in the miter box with rotation for easy cutting Cutting the left outer plank Cutting the right outer plank

It remains to join the cut baguette strips and check the cutting accuracy. Taking the cut pieces of the baguette in pairs, we join them, forming an inner or outer corner. If the cutting of the planks was carried out accurately and accurately, then the edges of the adjacent planks will ideally coincide with each other.

Fitting the skirting board for the inner corner Fitting the skirting board for the outer corner

In the presence of small irregularities and roughness, it is allowed to work on them with a sharp knife, clean them with a file or emery paper fixed on a bar.

Precise baguette fit

The layout shows how a properly cut and mounted fillet will look in finished form on the inner and outer corners.

Inner skirting board on the layout Outer skirting board on the layout

Following all the rules and principles of working with special tools when preparing fillets, you can easily install any ceiling skirting boards yourself.

Types of corners in rooms

When installing skirting boards, you need to arrange the corners in some way. By their appearance, the corners are external (which protrude forward) and internal (for example, corners in a room). In rooms with normal geometry, the corners are straight, i.e. 90 °. When joining two pieces of the plinth strip in the corner, they are cut so that each has an angle of 45 °.

To arrange the outer and inner corner, the skirting board must be cut

But how to make an angle on the plinth so that it is exactly forty-five degrees? To do this, use a special carpentry tool. miter box.

How to make a skirting angle more or less than 90 °

Not all angles are exactly 90 degrees. If the deviation is small, the cracks can be removed with sandpaper. In other cases, you will have to mark and cut taking into account the real degree. The main task in this case is to find a point on the floor where two plinths will join.

Let’s start by explaining how to properly slice the outside corner if it’s not 90 degrees. We take the bar, put it to the corner on one side, press it tightly against the wall. as it should stand. Draw a line on the floor with a pencil along the bottom edge of the plinth. We apply the bar to the other side of the corner, do the same. The intersection of the two lines will be the joining point of the two skirting boards.

How to join a skirting board if the angle is less than or more than 90 degrees

HOW TO easily cut and scribe skirting boards or trims (new for 2019)

Now we attach the plinth strip again, set it in the way it will be attached. We make two marks: at the top at the turn itself, at the bottom in the place where the lines we draw intersect. Now an important task: it is necessary to make a cut according to these marks. If you have a miter saw or a miter box with an adjustable saw tilt, set it up and cut it. If not, carefully cut it with a hacksaw. In order not to get lost, you can use a pencil to apply the fishing line along which you need to cut. Similarly, mark and cut off the second part. Modifying the connection of the skirting boards with sandpaper.

Few of the professionals process the joints with sandpaper. this is time and additional work. But if you join skirting boards in the corners in your own house, with your own hands, you definitely want everything to be beautiful. This is what this manual tweak is for.

The inside corner of the custom size is exactly the same. We put a plinth in the corner, draw a straight line on the floor. We do it on the other side. Transfer the point of intersection to the planks.

How to cut the skirting board correctly. Miter box for cutting corners

When installing skirting boards, it is important to arrange the corners correctly. It is they who often spoil the overall picture. How to make a corner on the plinth. external and internal, how and with what to cut. We will discuss all this further.

How to saw down the corner of the plinth at the right distance

The second and all other corners of the skirting boards must be made at a certain distance. If the next corner is again internal and the distance to it is less than the length of the plank, use the same fragment on which there is already a cut. We measure the distance with a tape measure. strictly from corner to corner. Then this distance is laid on the bar using the same tape measure. We combine the beginning of the measuring tape with the ledge, measure the required distance, make a mark with a pencil. She will be the starting point for the cut.

A Simple Trick to Install Baseboard Corners Perfectly

You need to know at what distance to cut

Plinth with a mark is placed in the miter box, the desired direction of the cut is chosen. The dash can be combined with a hacksaw blade or with a slot in the miter box. As it is convenient for anyone. Cut off. This segment must be “tried on” in place. If both corners rest against opposite walls or the gap is only 1 mm, everything is fine. You can cut a second strip from a new piece to design a joint. And again we remove the flaws with sandpaper.

If the length of the wall is longer than the length of the plinth plinth, take a new plank. We will cut the second corner on it. It is important not to be mistaken in which direction to cut. Having installed both planks along the wall, mark the joint on one of them, make a straight cut. For a straight cut, there are also slots in the miter box. So there won’t be any problems.

How to connect two skirting boards in a straight line

But the joint in a straight line does not always look perfect, and during operation it often diverges, forming a visible gap. If you wish, you can cut off at an angle (any) two planks.

To do this, first cut off the edge of one plank at an angle, mark the second joint. The mark is placed on the side of the plinth that is pressed against the wall. At this mark, we saw off another section, without changing the position of the saw relative to the miter box, but inserting the bar on the other side. The joint is oblique. It is more accurate. The difference is especially visible on wooden skirting boards and MDF. Cut, again, bring “to mind” with sandpaper.

How and what to cut a plastic skirting board

All of the above applies to MDF and wood skirting boards. Cutting them with an ordinary hacksaw is not a problem. It is advisable to take a blade for metal, since it has a smaller tooth and the saw cut is smoother, you will have to work less with sandpaper. With plastic, the situation is different. when you try to cut a piece, some thin-walled skirting boards crumble and break.

Cutting plastic is not very convenient because of the thin walls

To cut normal quality plastic skirting boards you can use:

• Hacksaw for metal.
• angle grinder (angle grinder) with diamond disc.
• A revolving miter saw. Before cutting, speed up the disc and only then start cutting.
• A jigsaw and a file with a fine tooth. Here you have to try. select the speed and file.
• Sharp knife.
• Metal scissors. In any case, it is not difficult to make straight cuts with them.

Only personal experience will help you decide what is more convenient for you to cut a plastic floor plinth. If you have a miter saw, try using it. It is not a problem to try your angle grinder with a diamond disc a couple of times. If all this does not work well, try a hacksaw, jigsaw, or knife. There are, of course, special scissors for plastic, but they are too expensive to buy for a single use.

Accessories for the design of corners and joints of PVC skirting boards

In plastic skirting boards, you can design corners and joints using special fittings. There are external and internal corners, plugs and connectors. Basically, they allow you to assemble the desired configuration. Each manufacturer makes its own accessories. for its own profile, colors. But the principle of their use is the same.

How to shape the corners of a plastic skirting board

The first rule is that all cuts are made straight. Strictly perpendicular. Marks in the corners are set at a distance of 1-1.5 mm from the corner. The fact is that the rigidity fittings have their own jumpers. For them, it is necessary to retreat a couple of millimeters, but no more. Otherwise, a gap will appear or the skirting boards will pop out of these corners.

This is the result of the assembly

I must say that not everyone likes the look of plastic corners. You can make a corner on a PVC skirting board in the same way as described for wood or MDF. The only difficulty is that you have to be careful with plastic. it breaks down from excessive efforts. There is one trick. before cutting the plastic skirting board, add a little polyurethane foam on the back side and wait for the polymerization to begin. It will be tougher, easier to cut, less deformation. If the foam subsequently interferes, it is not a problem to remove it, but to cut it is, indeed, easier.

The first joint in the room

The first plinth should be cut as close to the edge as possible. Carpenters have their own jargon and they say “cut” the corner. It does not matter what you call it, it is important that in the miter box we set the bar so as to make a cut at the very beginning. For the cutting line, we push the bar a short distance, for a start, you can 1-2 cm. Cutting a smaller piece is more difficult, so save the savings “for later” when at least some skill appears.

In the miter box, place the plinth at the far wall “facing” you. This makes it easier to check if you are cutting / sawing correctly.

Then you need to make a corner on the plinth like this:

• We put the plinth in the miter box, press it against the wall opposite to us. We expose it in the mounting position. how it will stand against the wall.
• Insert the hacksaw into the desired slots (see the picture below).
• Move the bar so that it goes slightly beyond the cut line.
• Cut off.
• We take the second piece of plinth, repeat the same operations, but change the position of the saw on the miter box to the opposite. We insert the bar on the other side. Be careful here, otherwise you will have to redo it several times, since the connection will not work.

How to properly cut a floor plinth in a miter box: for external and internal joint

We got two pieces cut for joining in the inner corner. To make the joint perfect, we try on the details in place. Most likely there are some flaws. We take sandpaper with medium grain, remove everything that interferes with docking. Then, with small grain, we achieve a tight joint without cracks and gaps.

When joining the skirting boards in the corner, use a transparent silicone sealant. Before installing the fasteners, a layer of silicone is applied to the cut. Immediately after the plinth is fixed, we remove the excess that appeared on the outside. We clean up to an absolutely clean surface. This way of connecting the skirting boards in the corners looks more neat, dirt and dust does not clog into it.

Making an external joint

In apartments or houses, there are not only internal corners, but also external ones. In this case, the nearest inner corner is first trimmed and modified. When it’s ready, you can make an outside corner on the baseboard. We put the bar in the corner, as it should be. In the place of the outer corner with a pencil, we make a mark exactly at the place of rotation.

How to make the outer corner of the skirting board

Then we transfer the bar to the miter box, choose the appropriate position. In order not to be mistaken, all the time imagine how the plinth is against the wall and what you should get.

We cut the second segment at 45 degrees so that it joins the finished one. To do this, we change the position of the saw to the opposite and start the plinth on the other side.