Floor plinth overview: types, size, comparison
The final chords of the repair are already heard: the walls are finished, the flooring is laid. It's time to draw the line. Everything at first glance is beautiful, but the feeling of incompleteness definitely does not leave. Perhaps it's the annoying gaps left by the walls. Well, of course, these beautiful floors need an appropriate frame, which will not only hide small defects, but also bring completeness and comfort to the atmosphere.
You already guessed what is needed. But to a specific gender, because there are several of them? We will help you make the right choice.
It is hard to underestimate the importance of the skirting board for the floor, so skillfully it separates the floor and walls. This, one might say, is simple, but. But the practical side of the floor plinth should also be noted - thanks to it, in particular, passing around the room is possible.
Wide floor skirting boards: photo of a wooden floor skirting board in the interior
Today, the market of finishing materials presents a variety of models of floor fillets. For a long time, the boring skirting boards for the floor, representing an ordinary right-angled triangle in the context, have long disappeared from sight. Today everything has changed - both materials, and, and forms. Consider the most common types of skirting boards for the floor, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
Plinth floor plastic
It is the most popular today. The plinth floor plastic possesses exclusively high consumer qualities and, first of all, tremendous and universality.
Wide plastic floor skirting boards: a combination of aesthetics and functionality
The plastic used in the production of these products, thanks to the latest technology, is quite durable. It is resistant to mechanical stress, but at the same time - elastic. Plastic plinth for the floor is in no way inferior, and even surpasses it in some characteristics. Plastic panels are moisture resistant, extremely unpretentious in maintenance, do not require significant financial investments or time costs. It is impossible not to mention its biological stability - it does not rot, does not corrode, does not create an environment favorable for the life of bacteria.
The original version of the heating system: heated baseboard
Floor plinths made of plastic and, therefore, they are simply irreplaceable when framing round or multi-profile walls.
Advice: If you want to shape your PVC product, simply heat it up with a hair dryer or hot water to around 70°C.
Moldings for plastic skirting boards
All kinds of plastic elements for edging corners, external and internal, help to avoid inaccuracies when filing corners when joining. On their reverse side there are special clip-on grips: the corners are put on the edge of the bar and snapped into place.
The use of corners when connecting plastic fillets significantly increases the aesthetics of the finish
Plastic floor plinth: dimensions, shape and color scheme
The height of the plastic floor profile varies between 5 cm and 8-10 cm. Products with a height of 60 mm are most in demand, they cover about 22 mm on the floor, providing a large indent. The standard profile length is 2.5 m, although there are samples up to 5.05 m.
Soft PVC roll profile
Plastic floor skirting boards are also available in rolls 25-50 m long. They are a flexible tape that is laid almost seamlessly around the entire perimeter. True, it is almost devoid of decorative indicators, so its main purpose is to finish the joints of the floor and walls in offices and administrative premises.
How to use a flexible plinth floor
PVC profiles have a wide range of colors, both plain and textured - "under the tree", "metal" and more. For example, you can choose the color and texture of the panel for any natural wood: oak, mahogany, wenge, etc. This provides great design opportunities for decorating a room.
Spectacular white high floor skirting gives the interior a special elegance
The shape of the edging has also become more elegant: it can be flat and convex, with a “leg” or a ledge.
Increasingly, in the design of modern large rooms can be found from plastic. In combination with high ceilings, it gives majesty to the structure.
Plastic panels are used with almost any coating: porcelain stoneware, ceramic tiles, carpet, linoleum, with self-leveling and wooden floors.
Advice: however, when finishing floors made of artistic parquet or massive boards, it is worth considering first whether the simpler look of PVC skirting boards will not be discordant with their luxurious look.Plastic panels, despite their flexibility, are still inferior to wooden ones. The reason is the hollow structure of polyvinyl chloride, so it is better to handle the installed plastic floor profile more carefully.
Floor plinth with cable channel
Today, wide ones are in great demand. What are their advantages?
Skirting board with cable channel
- inside the product you can hide up to ten cables laid along the walls;
- they allow you to make electrical wiring without undesirable difficulties, while maintaining the appearance of the room unchanged;
- the presence of a removable panel on the outer side of the profile allows you to complete an existing cable system
The undoubted advantage of these products can be considered a soft rubber edge, which allows you to effectively hide the unevenness of the walls and floor.
When choosing the dimensions of products with a cable channel, they proceed from the number of wires that are supposed to be passed through it. On the one hand, I want to have a compact model, but on the other hand, would it not be better to mount a thicker floor plinth in order to be able to lay another cable if necessary.
Plinth with plastic cable channel: dimensions are selected depending on the number of wires
Plinth floor polyurethane
No less in demand are wide profiles made of foamed plastic -. This material has many positive characteristics. For example, we can note its strength and environmental friendliness, lightness and moisture resistance.
A high polyurethane plinth divides the wall horizontally, visually expanding the space
Polyurethane plinth floor is produced in two versions:
- already painted and ready for installation;
- white, .
Plinth floor veneered
This type of floor skirting board is made of inexpensive glued raw materials - pine or spruce. A thin layer of precious wood veneer, including the most exotic ones, is attached over the base.
The veneered floor profile consists of several layers glued together
During the production process, a special UV curing and bioprotection varnish is applied on the panels in several layers to protect the product from fungus and microorganisms. The veneered profile is tinted in the required color. Such a plinth is actually made from natural raw materials, it is environmentally friendly and much more affordable than wood.
Important: but it must be borne in mind that conifers are quite sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity conditions, and this cannot be ignored. For example, veneered profiles cannot be installed on a "warm floor".Plinth floor MDF
One of the best combinations of skirting boards with floorboards, laminate and linoleum are products made from MDF - natural cellulose, which is pressed into a certain profile shape and covered with a water-repellent fixing film. MDF skirting boards very successfully imitate wooden products, their technical characteristics are much lower.
Planks made of MDF are afraid of constant excess moisture, and, having absorbed moisture, they can be deformed. Under the influence of brute mechanical force, say a sharp blow, the product can crack or break. However, the material is UV-resistant and does not fade, it is well cleaned.
MDF plinth is more often used for laminate floors
In favor of these skirting boards is also their beautiful appearance, reminiscent of wood and a very low price. But they are not particularly durable. So, having once saved on repairs, after a while the skirting boards will have to be replaced.
MDF cable channel looks more attractive, but more difficult to install
But from MDF - very different, and this greatly facilitates the choice.
Metal plinth for floor
These skirting boards are usually made of stainless steel, brass or aluminium. These materials have increased strength, are highly resistant to moisture, so they are often chosen for installation in such rooms as a bathroom, kitchen or hallway.
Wide aluminum skirting board
Floor plinths made of metal are also in demand in commercial buildings with heavy traffic. They are mounted on a base of commercial linoleum, tiles, porcelain stoneware and self-leveling floors.
Metal profiles are different:
- great strength;
- long service life;
- high resistance to mechanical stress, including shock;
- not afraid of moisture and extremely high and low temperatures;
- easy to install;
- are available with the possibility of built-in sockets.
metal floor frame
The main disadvantage of this type of skirting boards is the high price and limited choice of textures and colors.
Traditional wooden skirting board
The classic version, and today has not lost its relevance, with the only difference being that it has turned from a household floor frame into an elite one. To characterize a modern quality wood product, you will have to use epithets such as luxurious or sophisticated.
Oak skirting board: dovetail profile
The following models of wooden skirting boards are especially popular:
- profile with a "sole" - has a height of up to 60 mm, a distinctive feature - a relatively narrow lower part, up to 25 mm. The smoothed relief of the front side of the product facilitates the cleaning of dust;
- euro plinth - its dimensions -10-16 mm allow you to install furniture quite tightly to the wall. There are other, non-standard models of products, for example, up to 80 mm high with a figured notch on the front or up to 30 cm, made of beech or oak.
The impeccability of a wooden skirting board: wide fillets in dark color
