Skirting Board Coming Away From The Wall

What's happening?

Skirting is fixed to the wall by one of three methods, depending on the wall. Screwfix and Wickes say to use grab adhesive on plasterboard, wall plugs and screws on masonry, and lost-head nails into the studs on timber stud walls. When a board comes away, the fixing has let go or was never suited to the wall. Screwfix says the top gap between the board and the wall should be sealed with flexible decorators' caulk, applied only there so the joint can accommodate house movement, and that wood filler is for nail holes and joints that will be sanded. A rigid filler in the top gap is likely to crack as the house moves. If the board is dark, soft or crumbling at the bottom, the cause may be damp or rot, which is a different job.

What usually causes it?

• Adhesive that has let go on plasterboard, often because the wall was dusty or uneven
• Nails or screws that missed the studs or plugs, or have worked loose
• A fixing method that did not suit the wall type
• Movement at the junction between the board and the wall
• A bowed or uneven wall that the board no longer follows
• Damp or rot at the foot of the board, which needs its own repair

Is it dangerous?

No. If the board is rotten or the wall behind it is damp, treat it as a damp problem, not a refixing job.

Can I fix it myself?

Look at what is behind the board. If it is sound, a joiner or competent DIYer refixes it with the method that suits the wall and then seals the top gap with flexible decorators' caulk. Use wood filler on nail holes and corner joints. Do not push expanding foam behind a loose board. If the board or the wall below it is damp, soft or stained, stop and find the cause first.

When should you call a carpenter?

Call a carpenter or joiner if several boards have come away, if the wall behind is bowed or crumbling, or if the board is rotten. Call a damp specialist if the board is wet or the wall is damp.

What will the carpenter actually do?

• Check the wall behind the board for dampness and soundness
• Remove loose board and old adhesive and prepare the wall
• Refix with adhesive, plugs and screws or nails to suit the wall
• Seal the top gap with flexible decorators' caulk and fill nail holes
• Replace boards that are rotten and prime and paint the joints

Who fixes this

• Skirting and architrave

Questions people ask

Sources & References

1. Screwfix: how to attach skirting board
2. Homebuilding: how to fit skirting boards
3. Wickes: how to fit skirting boards