How To Cut Skirting Boards

Scribed joints

While the external corners of a skirting board should be mitred, internal corners should be scribed. Otherwise, the timber may shrink as it dries out and the mitre will eventually open up. For the internal corners you have to mitre the end of the skirting board you want to scribe. Use a pencil to mark the edge and then cut through the edge with a coping saw for the curved profile and with the panel saw for the straight one. If you want your skirting board to fit perfectly, the back edge should be slightly undercut. Otherwise, it might be difficult to tell which of the boards you have scribed.

Mitre cuts

Unlike an internal mitre, which may sometimes be difficult to adjust, a scribed joint can be adjusted in order to fit better. However, internal corners and decorative profiles can also be mitre cut a bit and then butt-joint the straight piece left. A mitre cut is generally recommended for simple bull-nose pieces, where a scribed profile may be weak and break when fitting. For skirting boards larger than 4 inches high, you should use a tool to determine the angle of cut required before starting.

Here are some diagrams on how to do an internal mitre:

Learning how to cut a board is easier when using images. With a little bit of knowledge, even an inexperienced carpenter can develop enough woodworking skills to be able to use a do-it-yourself approach to cutting skirting boards.

Here are some useful links where you can find more information on cutting skirting boards:

• The Tauton Press
• Diy Diary