Deep skirting boards

[oldbutnotdead]

Question for the experienced. Part way through the House of Pain- looking at skirting board for the first 3 completed rooms. Ceiling height pretty much requires 6" or 7" but the price of 7" is fairly horrid (£4- odd/metre). Given I've got at least 150 metres to put in, is it worth me spanking £80 (on a no name 1/2" router), £50 on the router bit for the profile I want and making my own skirting from 170 x 20 PSE (at about £2/metre). Or will I quickly lose the will to live?
Ta

 

[TheVictorian]

From my experience I'd buy pre primed MDF skirting in that size. I've done this in a few rooms and it's very stable, pine skirting has had a tendancy to warp creating a concave profile which makes it harder to fix and it pulls away from the wall at the top marginally.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

From my experience I'd buy pre primed MDF skirting in that size. I've done this in a few rooms and it's very stable, pine skirting has had a tendancy to warp creating a concave profile which makes it harder to fix and it pulls away from the wall at the top marginally.

Ta for that, trouble is I'm an old hippy and rather like the bare wood look (well stained down a bit and then Ronsealed to death). And yes I've had fun in the past with warped skirting but I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than pay what's being asked for MDF!

 

[Gerrydelasel]

You could use plain board for the lower part of the profile, and a cheaper panel moulding for the top? That's how skirting used to be made. I made my own skirting in a similar fashion, though I did use MDF. 11 inches, now that's deep Or you could even use the board and just plane a chamfer along the top, if you're happy with a minimalist profile.

See also:
http://www.thejoyofmoldings.com/pattern-book-molding-millwork-designs/baseboard-molding-designs/

 

[oldbutnotdead]

You could use plain board for the lower part of the profile, and a cheaper panel moulding for the top? That's how skirting used to be made. I made my own skirting in a similar fashion, though I did use MDF. 11 inches, now that's deep Or you could even use the board and just plane a chamfer along the top, if you're happy with a minimalist profile.

See also:
http://www.thejoyofmoldings.com/pattern-book-molding-millwork-designs/baseboard-molding-designs/

Yeah, i'm aware of that trick, hadn't thought of sticking the profile to the wall then adding the baseboard, good tip. Again MDF isn't going to stain well.....

 

[foxhole]

I think Gerry was implying you could use timber for the base board .

 

[oldbutnotdead]

I think Gerry was implying you could use timber for the base board .

Another valid point- yes of course I could, walls are all fresh plaster so square, must have a look at prices for skinny wide timber (if I can lay my paws on such- snag may be adding moulding to 5 inch may push the price up to not far from just buying the 7".