How to cut a ceiling skirting board: work with or without a tool
Any renovation requires attention to the smallest detail. On how well the finish is made, depends on the look of the room and its overall perception. To a greater extent this applies to ceilings, which in most cases are not perfect, so to hide all the imperfections (their and the walls), many owners use ceiling skirting boards, which give the rooms completeness. If the installation of baguettes in straight sections does not cause particular difficulties, the joints of elements in the corners require maximum accuracy. Therefore, many owners who are planning, or have already begun the repair, are interested in how to cut the ceiling plinth, what tools can be used for this stage of the work.
The answer to the question of how to cut a ceiling plinth, depends on what material it is made of. Cutting is different, since baguettes have different density. Therefore, the first thing to consider is the most popular materials, and at the same time the peculiarities of their cutting.
Styrofoam
Such products have the lowest price, because the material is very unstable to mechanical influences. Styrofoam is easy to scratch, damage by accidental impact. Advantages. minimum weight, which simplifies gluing, easy processing, the ability to paint in any color.
This foam material consists of small granules, which are quite easy to separate from each other. However, they are the main disadvantage of such baguettes. They require very sharp tools. Otherwise, the skirting may crumble, so it will be unsuitable for installation. This is true for both angular and flat cut.
Styrofoam
This contender is more expensive, but it does not differ from the first candidate very much, because it is a “relative” of Styrofoam: it is produced from expanded polystyrene. This material also consists of small granules-bubbles, but they adhere to each other more densely. But also polystyrene foam will not tolerate a blade that is not too sharp, it will also crumble. Therefore, the master needs to prepare not less than a sharp instrument.
The main advantage of foam and polystyrene foam is their softness, which allows you to avoid gaps, tightly pressing the workpieces to each other and to the corners.
Extruded polystyrene foam
EPPS is made from the same raw materials as conventional polystyrene foam, but in this case uses a different, more advanced technology. Conventional PVC is made with steam, which is passed through microgranules.
To obtain extruded polystyrene foam, the particles are mixed at high temperature and the same pressure, and then a foaming agent is added to the raw material. The granule size in this material is much smaller (maximum 0,2 mm), as a result it is less crumbly and more resistant. Very sharp tools are not required to cut it, but bluntness of the cutting edge is also not welcomed.
Polyvinyl chloride
Plastic skirting boards (PVC). another type of ceiling products. They are usually purchased for finishing bathrooms. If we consider the topic “How to cut a ceiling plinth“, in this case they are exceptions, because they use special, ready-made corners to dock them.
In general, these baguettes can be cut with a stationery knife, a metal hacksaw or a sharp kitchen tool. As PVC products do not restore their shape due to the lack of elasticity, it is not recommended that they are pressed hard when they are cut.
Polyurethane
This is another representative of polymer products. It is distinguished by high density and lack of disadvantages of previous competitors. It is easy to cut, so the tool must be sharp, but there are no maximum requirements for its sharpening. Polyurethane skirting boards do not crumble, do not warp and can withstand almost any pressure with honour.
Wood
This traditional material is cut with common joinery tools, e.g. a jigsaw, hand or electric. The places of the cut are processed with sandpaper or a file. Since such products are more expensive than other plinths, care is required when working. A serious mistake can easily be made, but there is no way to correct it. The consequence of negligence will be the purchase of a new baguette.
An ideal tool for cutting wood would be an electric mitre saw. The biggest disadvantage of it. the high price, especially quality models. On the other hand, customers have the opportunity to find an inexpensive tool that will do the job decently.
Tools used
First, about how to cut a polymer or wooden ceiling plinth, how to do it correctly and quickly. In this case, 2 tools will be needed for the work. a wire cutter and a cutting tool.
What to cut skirting boards with?
As for the latter, the choice depends on the baseboard material:
- Foam products (all polystyrene) suggest the use of a sharp office knife;
- Polyurethane skirting boards are usually cut with a hacksaw for metal;
- wood requires “active” participation of a jigsaw or saw.
The second potential tool for polyurethane is the same office knife. The reason is rather low density of the material. Another alternative is a sharply sharpened kitchen knife. A special requirement for it. not too thick a blade.
A possible substitute for the wood jigsaw. a metal hacksaw. The blade that has the smallest serrations is optimal. Otherwise, the tool will get stuck in the material, and in such conditions it is extremely difficult to make a flawless cut.
Chisel and its self-made
The chisel is the second indispensable tool for working with baseboards.
What is it?
Not everyone may know what it is. This is a device that allows you to cut any workpiece at different angles (45-90°). It’s a groove, consisting of a bottom and two sides in which slots are made for tools. At the bottom of it lay the material, and in the slots are inserted a hacksaw (knife, etc. д.). After sawing baguettes with its help you get almost perfect blanks.
Chisel. a necessity for trimming any skirting boards, because the joints of the elements requires an angle of 45 °. Otherwise, the connection of parts will not work: either between the adjacent skirting boards will remain a gap, or they will simply need to be trimmed again, because it will be impossible to dock the adjacent products.
Yes, the remaining hole can be masked with a compound. However, this option is still not the best. The filler may soon change color a little, and this discrepancy will be very noticeable. However, even here there is an exception.
How to Make a Jigsaw?
For self-made manufacture you will need to find a board length of about a meter or more, or a sheet of plywood (chipboard). Still need to prepare:
- From the selected material is cut 3 parts in width of 200 to 250 mm, their length. 300 mm (400, 500 mm). Use self-tapping screws to connect them in a “U” shape.
- Using a protractor, on the upper parts of the sides make marks corresponding to an angle of 45 ° (if necessary, and 90 °).
- Then take a hacksaw, which sawed holes so that the grooves reach the bottom of the tool.
Finished holes are reamed with a rasp, so that a jigsaw or hacksaw could freely enter into them.
Cutting with a jigsaw: the outer corner
Most often, when installing ceiling plinths home craftsmen are interested in how to properly formalize the inner corners of the room. Cutting outer corners is made less often, but with a certain wall layout and it is necessary. Let’s consider how to properly make an internal fillet, using a special tool (the chair).
First you will need to buy a chair. This tool is a tray, in which the part is fixed, and its trimming is performed. In order to measure the length of the necessary product, you must attach it to the ceiling. Next, you will need to install the skirting board in a jig. Its location must match the position it will occupy on the ceiling.
Plinth
Important! While cutting, it is necessary to hold the tack with the left hand. It must fit tightly against the wall of the tool. The part of the product, which will be fixed to the ceiling, should be at the top. The other part is pressed firmly to the bottom of the working tool.
How to properly cut the inside corner of the ceiling plinth. a difficult question, to answer which helps to appropriate photos. Experts recommend that you study them, and only then proceed to work.
After you make sure that the product is positioned correctly in the tool, you can proceed to the cutting itself. The hacksaw should have a certain angle, namely: 45 degrees. While working it is not recommended to apply too much pressure on the cutting tool, as it is possible to damage the surface of the jigsaw. Then the trimming of the adjacent fillet is performed, which is done in a “mirror” way.
Cutting with a jigsaw: inside corner
To get the right internal angle, it is easier to use a professional tool. Of course, such work can also be done without a chisel, but, in that case, you will need to make more effort. Consider the sequence of operations for cutting an inside corner with a power drill.
The first thing to do is to determine the distance from the corner on the outside to the nearest wall. Next, it will be necessary to mark the baseboard, thus preparing it for cutting. On the outer side of the fillet, you need to draw a line for the trimmer along the length of the measurement. Note that in this case the upper part of the plank must protrude slightly.
After that, you can start trimming. To do this, the ceiling plinth is placed in the cutting tool and pressed firmly against the wall. After trimming the first piece, you can start working on the counter element.
What tools can be used to cut corners
Cutting the ceiling plinth (outer corner) with explanations will be a good help to the novice craftsman.
How to cut a skirting board without a joiner
Suppose you urgently need to glue a ceiling plinth.
How to make a corner without a joiner? It is possible, although it will take more time. Proceed in this order.
- Both parts of the skirting board are first cut at right angles.
- The position of the elements on the wall is marked and a fishing line is applied to trim them together. As a result we will see two intersecting lines. The point of their intersection is projected directly on the baseboard details.
- The skirting board is placed against the ceiling and a cutting line is drawn from one edge to the other.
- Completion of details is carried out with a stationery or construction knife.
- A virtual notch is drawn on paper, with lines drawn at the right angles. Skirting boards are attached to such a scratchboard and the cut is performed (with the blade of the knife should be held vertically).
How to cut the corner of the ceiling plinth with Комментарии и мнения владельцев from a specialist will help to solve this problem.
Tip! Since the inner or outer corner is not always in perfect shape, the ceiling plinth will have a noticeable gap at the junction.
To make them less noticeable, plaster putty should be applied to the ends of the skirting boards before gluing them on. After joining the elements, remove excess putty with a rubber spatula. All gaps will be filled and the joint will be less noticeable.
It is not easy to glue and dock the skirting boards correctly. What to do in such a case? The video will tell you the answer.
How to cut a skirting board without a mitre cutter
Let’s say you urgently need to glue a ceiling plinth.
How to make a corner without a joiner? It is possible, although you will have to spend more time. Proceed as follows.
- Both parts of the skirting board are first cut at right angles.
- The position of the elements is marked on the wall and a trimmer line is applied to join them together. As a result we will see two intersecting lines. The point of their intersection is projected directly on the baseboard parts.
- The skirting board is placed against the ceiling and a trimmer line is drawn from one edge to the other.
- Parts are finished off with a utility knife or a construction knife.
- A virtual jig is drawn on paper with lines at the right angles. Skirting boards are attached to such a notch and cut (with the blade of the knife should be held vertically).
How to cut the corner of the ceiling plinth with Комментарии и мнения владельцев from a specialist will help to deal with this problem.
Tip! Since far from always has an ideal shape internal or external corner, the ceiling plinth will have noticeable gaps in the joints.
To make them less noticeable, before gluing the skirting board on its ends should be applied plaster putty. After joining the elements, remove excess putty with a rubber spatula. All the gaps will be filled and the joint will be less noticeable.
It is not easy to glue and properly dock the skirting boards with the pattern. What to do in such a case? The answer will prompt a video.
Attaching baseboards with decorative corners
In the case where the walls are perfectly prepared, and external and internal angles are equal to 90 °, you can use special decorative elements for joining baseboard trim. The advantages of this method:
- easy installation: there is no need to “learn by hand”, improving the technique of trimming parts of the baseboard;
- Time saving: to join the elements you just need to cut right angles and attach the decorative part.
The decorative parts themselves are designed to join the galleys:
This method of connection is the only option in the case of installation of plastic skirting, which trimming without gaps cannot be performed.
Trimming baseboards in the mortise. Trimming technology
- The right-hand strip is inserted from left to right into the joiner. The bottom part, which will be attached to the ceiling, is laid on the bottom.
- Profile is pressed firmly to the tray and cut at an angle of 45º.
- The other strip is placed from right to left and cut in the same way.
- The corners of the cuts are docked at the attachment point and corrected with a knife (for foam plastic and plastic).
The standard room has a rectangular shape with 90º corners. In fact, such perfect angles are quite rare and are only the dream of the installer. If you are lucky, then the procedure for cutting the corner of the edge of the baseboard is as described above, it is very easy to do it with a facing.
When cutting it is necessary to remember which side the skirting board will be located. To create a perfect corner for a wooden surface or joint, you can use putty, but a good carpenter will never do this, and simply file evenly.
Cutting out the inner corner
What is necessary to form an internal angle that is not equal to 90º
- It is necessary to make a preliminary marking on the floor with a pencil. On both sides the profiles are placed one after the other and their borders are marked. That way a rhombus is formed in the corner. Its diagonal will be the cutting line.
- We put a plank to the received figure and we put a diagonal mark.
- Connect the mark and the corner of the skirting. This angle of inclination will be the cutting line.
- The resulting side edge must be painted in the color of the baseboard.
If the inner corner is cut with a small exaggeration, it will give the opportunity to make the most accurate fit. Sometimes a plug is inserted into the plastic or foam at the final stage in the joint and you get a nice, neat corner. In wooden products, the joints are simply neatly trimmed, puttying is the destiny of the unskilled.
Material and name
The first material from which plinths began to be made for the design of ceilings was plaster. They had to be cast in special molds, after which they were attached to the ceiling with plaster mortar. Similar decorative elements were called skirting boards, and nowadays they are practically not used, and you can see them in old houses, which have hardly survived during this time. These are expensive elements of interior decoration, so no one uses them today, and their name is practically unknown to anyone. Nowadays, there are cheaper and more practical skirting boards for finishing ceilings.
Part of the range in a specialized store
In our time ceiling skirting boards are made of materials such as polystyrene or polyurethane. These are inexpensive decorative elements, which have a number of advantages, associated with ease of installation, with the practicality and attractiveness, as well as “weightlessness”, compared to the elements of decoration of the plaster, which have an impressive weight. Similar plinths of polyurethane or polystyrene are made of various widths (from 5 to 250 mm), and also have a wide range of forms and drawings, so there is an opportunity to pick up such decorative elements for any style of design. The only exception are wooden buildings, decorated in the appropriate style, where elements of wood are used as a base and there’s nothing you can do, because the style always dictates its terms.
There are still skirting boards made of plastic, which are not afraid of moisture, so they are used for finishing rooms in which there is increased humidity. At the same time for the sake of justice it should be noted that the decor elements made of polystyrene are also not afraid of moisture.
Trim ceiling skirting boards in the corners with some methods, but such options are not suitable for trimming skirting boards made of plastic.
Tools used
Depending on the manufacturing material, different tools are used for trimming baseboards: when working with wooden baseboards, wood hacksaws are used, and when working with plastic or polyurethane baseboards, it is better to use a hacksaw for metal. Elements of foam decor are easily cut with an ordinary, sharp office knife. In most cases, a squeegee is used, allowing a precise cut of the skirting board at a certain angle. If you use a hacksaw for metal, you should not press too hard, because the cut can be uneven, with burrs, and the material can be crumpled and unusable. Ceiling plinths made of polystyrene and polyurethane require careful handling.
If there is no experience with such tools, as well as elements of the decor, it is better to take a small piece of finishing material and practice with different force of pressing, which will further help in solving the problem.
Not every interior design involves the use of a ceiling plinth, but most often the overall appearance of the room seems incomplete without it. In the attachment of this element. moldings. there is nothing difficult, almost all types of skirting boards are attached to the glue. But the question of how to properly cut the ceiling plinth in the corners of the premises, can puzzle many.
After all, even in the simplest rooms there are internal corners, where ceiling plinth strips must be accurately and beautifully docked. And in a more complex configuration of the room will also have to dock the baseboards, performing the outer corner. In this article we will consider various ways of cutting the ceiling plinth with or without the help of hand tools.
First we should deal with the question of how to cut a ceiling plinth, the answer depends on the material from which the baseboard is made. Currently sold ceiling plinths of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene foam (plastic foam), polyurethane and wood.
PVC ceiling skirting boards are the cheapest.
They easily form dents and creases that can not be repaired, so the product has to throw out. Another disadvantage is their electrostatic properties, i.e. their ability to attract dust. They can be cut with a sharp construction knife or a hacksaw.
PVC foam ceiling skirting boards are also among the cheapest. This material is very fragile, when processed easily crumbles, so cut the polystyrene must be a sharp knife or hacksaw for metal, not making too much pressure.
Ceiling skirting boards made of extruded polystyrene are a little more expensive than polystyrene ones, they are denser and more difficult to cut. However, they are less crumbly, so they are easier and easier to work with. Can be cut with a construction knife and a metal hacksaw.
Polyurethane ceiling plinths are the most expensive at the moment. They are strong, flexible and water resistant, easy to cut with a construction knife and do not crumble.
A disadvantage of polyurethane skirting boards is their dependence on temperature differences. For example, over a gas stove, a polyurethane skirting board will get permanent deformations and start to crack a little. If you try to trim or trim such a skirting board, it could warp or otherwise deform.
Wooden ceiling skirting boards are dense, heavy products that can only be cut with a hacksaw, preferably with fine, frequent teeth. You can also use a metal blade.
Before proceeding to the listing of ways, how to properly cut the ceiling plinth, I would like to note that there is a possibility not to cut the plinth with special precision.
Special corner elements are available on the market, into which the edges of the skirting board are inserted. In this case, the baseboard trim plank enough to trim at an angle of 90 °, and the corner element will hide all the flaws. But this method is not always used, because the size of the corner elements a few more plinths themselves, so the corners in the room will stand out against the background.
Sometimes it can look awkward. Nevertheless, if the room design allows you to use corner elements for ceiling skirting, it makes sense to use them. The following instructions are helpful to those who do decide to precisely cut the skirting boards to a given angle.
How to cut a ceiling moulding corner with a joiner
Chisel. a simple carpentry tool that allows you to cut the workpiece at the required angle.
Most often is a tray of plastic, wood, or metal with vertical slots for cutting at 90° and 45° angles. There are also more complex designs of plinths. for cutting at angles of 90, 60 and 45 degrees. For more professional work use a power plier with a pivoting mechanism where the hacksaw can be fixed at any angle to the workpiece.
How to cut a ceiling plinth with a wood plinth saw. inside corner:
- We apply the skirting board to the ceiling, measure the required length.
- Then fit the skirting board into the mortise, so that its position is identical to the position of the skirting board on the ceiling.
- The baseboard slat must be pressed against the far wall of the ruler.
- Hold the skirting board with your left hand.
- We choose the position of the hacksaw with the angle of 45 degrees, with the handle of the hacksaw as close as possible to the left hand.
- Cut the workpiece without exerting excessive pressure on the saw.
- The next step is to cut the skirting board. Place it on the far side of the baseboard frame.
- Press it down and hold it with your right hand.
- Choose a position for the hacksaw where the angle is 45 degrees and the handle of the hacksaw is close to your right hand.
- Cut the skirting board.
Next dock the cut skirting boards and check the accuracy of the cut. For more precise orientation, it is also said that to perform an inside corner, you must start cutting from the front of the baseboard. Wooden skirting boards after trimming, you will most likely need to still fit with a file.
How to cut a ceiling skirting board with a wire cutter. the outside corner:
- To not make a mistake with the size, it is better to start with the marking of the inner corner, and then cut the outer corner. Otherwise it is possible that the strip may not be long enough.
- It is necessary to attach the strip to the ceiling and mark out the dimensions.
- Install the ceiling plinth trim and press it to the nearest wall.
- Hold it with the left hand and choose a 45 degree angle for the hacksaw when the handle is close to the left hand.
- Cut the workpiece.
- Hold the skirting board against the nearest wall with your right hand.
- Set the hacksaw at a 45 degree angle with the handle close to your right hand.
- Cut off the workpiece and join the corner.
Trimming the workpiece with the plane will be suitable only if the angle between the walls is even. 90 degrees. If the accuracy leaves much to be desired, it is necessary to use other methods.
How to cut a ceiling plinth with the help of a jigsaw template
Something similar to a power plough can be made by drawing the required angles of cut on paper, cardboard or wood.
It is necessary to draw two parallel lines, determine the center, and then set off the necessary angles using a protractor. The advantage of this method is that you can set off any angle, including greater than 90 degrees. Of course, before you cut the corners of the ceiling plinth, you must first check the angle between the walls with a corner and measure the protractor.
The method of cutting the ceiling plinth with the drawn jig is exactly the same as with the jig itself. We press the baseboard plank to one of the parallel lines, then set the hacksaw at the desired angle, which is already marked, and cut.
Improvised tray-tool with their own hands
It is also not very difficult to make a jig with your own hands.
Need three wooden slats or boards, which should be nailed into a U-shaped box. Then the necessary corners are marked on the walls of the box, and the cut is made with a hacksaw. As a result, you should have a wooden bowl in which you cut slots.
Combination of improvised jigsaw and template with marked lines. For ease of cutting you need to build something that will be convenient to hold the plank ceiling plinth, because keep it on the weight is difficult. It is enough to hammer out of two wooden slats or boards a corner.
On paper, it is necessary to draw lines with angles for cutting at 45 degrees or any other. Then we put a piece of baseboard to the corner, press it by hand, as described in the technique of using a jig, move the paper with a template under the edge where we are going to cut, and cut. In the process of cutting we are guided by the trimmer line drawn on the paper.
You can use anything you like as an improvised jig, anything that forms a corner. For example a table pushed up against the wall.
Important! Note the rule of thumb for trimming ceiling plinths.
To mark an inside corner, you must measure the length directly from the corner. To outline the outer corner, it is necessary to be guided that the baseboard will protrude deep into the room at a distance equal to its width.
It is not necessary to fix ceiling plinth trims before you cut the counter trim and tried on their location.
Only after the two mating strips are perfectly aligned in the corner, you can begin attaching them to the ceiling. Minor imperfections can be corrected with a file or file in the case of wooden and polyurethane skirting boards. You have to use a sharp knife to fit the foam products.
If suddenly even after fitting the skirting boards between them remains a small gap, do not despair, it can be sealed with putty. It is not difficult to cut the ceiling skirting by yourself. But in order not to spoil a lot of products, it is better to pre-train on small billets.