Skirting where radiator pipework is close to wall

[kevinsmbuk]

I am completely renovating our lounge and there is a large radiator sitting on the wall below our window. The pipes have been fitted so close to the wall that skirting won't fit. What would you do in this situation? The skirting is torus profile.

 

[terryplumb]

Alter the pipework.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Naughty plumber! Alter the pipework, scribe the (I.e do cut outs in it) to the pipework if it looks OK or make up boxed skirting. You do that by running a batten along the wall at floor level (with gaps for the pipe), then a second batten along the wall with the top edge at skirting height plus 5 to 10mm (scribed around the pipework). Finally plant your skirting on the front of that. The height difference between the top of the skirting and the (planed) batten, some 5 to 10mm which should be constant, forms a quirk or reveal (step) which looks more acceptable IMHO than a flush joint which will tend to crack over time and reveal itself

 

[foxhole]

Did you tell plumbers you intended to change skirting?

 

[kevinsmbuk]

Did you tell plumbers you intended to change skirting?

The heating system was installed prior to me moving in. There was some smaller chamfered profile skirting there before. The one I have is double the height.

 

[kevinsmbuk]

Naughty plumber! Alter the pipework, scribe the (I.e do cut outs in it) to the pipework if it looks OK or make up boxed skirting. You do that by running a batten along the wall at floor level (with gaps for the pipe), then a second batten along the wall with the top edge at skirting height plus 5 to 10mm (scribed around the pipework). Finally plant your skirting on the front of that. The height difference between the top of the skirting and the (planed) batten, some 5 to 10mm which should be constant, forms a quirk or reveal (step) which looks more acceptable IMHO than a flush joint which will tend to crack over time and reveal itself

Sorry just to clarify are you saying baton along the wall at floor level and at the top of the skirting level, but at the top project it out from the wall an extra 5-10mm so that the pipework just fits inside. So essentially the skirting will be slightly angled?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

No. Batten along wall at floor level. Second batten along wall with top surface 5 or 10mm above the height of the skirting (so if the skirting is 170mm tall, the top of the upper batten would be at 175 or 180mm above floor level). If, for example, 2 x 1in (44 x 22mm finished) battens are fixed with the narrow edgs to the wall they will project by 44mm at right angles to the face of the wall. Skirting fixed to those two batters will in effect form a u-shaped wooden box within which the pipes run. Imagine a squared off "u" on its' side

 

[kevinsmbuk]

No. Batten along wall at floor level. Second batten along wall with top surface 5 or 10mm above the height of the skirting (so if the skirting is 170mm tall, the top of the upper batten would be at 175 or 180mm above floor level). If, for example, 2 x 1in (44 x 22mm finished) battens are fixed with the narrow edgs to the wall they will project by 44mm at right angles to the face of the wall. Skirting fixed to those two batters will in effect form a u-shaped wooden box within which the pipes run. Imagine a squared off "u" on its' side

Ok I see what you mean, probably a stupid question, but why the extra 5-10mm height on the top batton?

If it's to accommodate the pipes then couldn't you just fix at the top of the skirting height then scribe the batton to accommodate the pipework or am I missing something here?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

If you set the top batten so that it's the same height as the skirting you'll probably find that there are minor crowns and/or hollows along the length of it which will look very untidy and won't fill well.

Even if you don't have any "hump backs", the joint between the top batten and the back of the skirting will invariably move over time and crack the paint very visibly (apart from being difficult to get tight and near invisible in the first place). By setting the batten 5 or 10mm above the top of the skirting a visible quirk or step is formed which bypasses the first issue and is far less obvious should the second issue occur. It's the approach a professional should take if at all possible. Simples!

 

[kevinsmbuk]

If you set the top batten so that it's the same height as the skirting you'll probably find that there are minor crowns and/or hollows along the length of it which will look very untidy and won't fill well.

Even if you don't have any "hump backs", the joint between the top batten and the back of the skirting will invariably move over time and crack the paint very visibly (apart from being difficult to get tight and near invisible in the first place). By setting the batten 5 or 10mm above the top of the skirting a visible quirk or step is formed which bypasses the first issue and is far less obvious should the second issue occur. It's the approach a professional should take if at all possible. Simples!

Right, it's finally clicked! Yes I understand totally what you mean now. Well definitely batton at least 5mm higher! Thankyou so much for your advice