Staircase meets skirting - making good

[Ginga]

Hello, Following a loft conversion and subsequent installation of a new staircase, the second fix guy fixed skirting board to the wll that forms that new landing at thye top of the stairs. However, where the skirting meets the staircase it looks untidy. I feel I need to do something to tidy it up a bit. I will be replacing the skirting board with Ogee type. Has anyone got any ideas how I could tidy it up e.g some sort of plinth block maybe? Is there a known solution for this type of thing?
Many Thanks in advance.

Here are the photos

//www.diynot.com/network/Ginga/albums/

 

[awbcm]

The photo seems to show a rebated stair string. So you could have a skirting the same thickness as the stair string with a matching rebate. And to finish you could add a architrave. See drawing

 

[Symptoms]

Ginga - introduce a 'block' between the stair string and the skirting. This should be taller than the string & skirting and marginally thicker so as to create an obvious 'shadow' line or step/return, it could (should) be decorative. Sometimes these blocks can mirror the size & shape of the opposite newel post but are thin so as not to protrude far from the wall. You often see these blocks at doorways architrave/skirting intersections in quality work (where they are know as Architrave Pedestals).

 

[awbcm]

(where they are know as Architrave Pedestals).

or plinth blocks page 3

 

[noseall]

i call them architrave stops.

 

[noseall]

why have you had the string rebated?

 

[^woody^]

I would just add a piece of timber so that the string naturally continues up to the line of the top of the skirting. Or up and then horizontal for about 50mm, and then with a vertical edge to butt the skirting up to

You will have to joint and sand it smooth, so that it looks like a continuous string when painted

 

[Ginga]

Gents ( I presume! ), Thanks for your posts . Some good ideas for me to think about. Noseall - the string isn't rebated, the "rebate" is just a long piece of cut timber pinned to the top of the string, the guy used this instead of a decorative moulding / beading ( quality job - not! ) between string and wall. I wish I was more on the ball at the time but with two young kids and busy job...its tricky to be on top of everything.

Symptoms I like the idea of a block of wood, maybe mimicking the bottom part of the Newel post on the opposite side. I'll ponder this over the weekend. The guide that you guys refer to gets referenced quite a lot - very handy.

 

[Ginga]

Hello anyone whose kindly advised me on this. I've made a plinth block - just a pice of planed timber with chamfered top. I don't have a router so cannot achieve a curved chamfer like a Newel Post, so I've simply put a 45deg chamfer on top using my mitre saw. I appreciate its not a work of art but - honest opinion - is what I've done a visual improvement on what the loft conversion guy left? My wife cannot see much difference(!?)

//www.diynot.com/network/Ginga/albums/

Does anyone think its too tall, I made it the same as the Newel post on the opposite side. Am I thinking about this too much? should I just go down the pub and have a pint?

Cheers

 

[awbcm]

As a rule of thumb plinth blocks are 20mm taller than the skirting board. To me what you have dun is just cut the newel post at the junction where the stock meets the turning. And I think it looks out of proportion to the skirting and stairs string.

I can’t see the 45º chamfer that well but I would that fine, as I say the rest looks out of proposition.

Also as a rule of thumb plinth blocks only 10mm deeper than the skirting, if they are to wide again looks out of proportion. But in your case in it is to deep (thick) it could become a trip hazarded.

Try making it 5mm deeper than the stair string with 45 deg chamfer. Better still I will do you a drawing.

 

[Ginga]

awbcm, thanks for the reply. drawing would be great please. I've not fixed it yet. Gotta get it done tonight ( after cooking the roast ) - the decorators are coming tomorrow!
Cheers

 

[awbcm]

Drawing as promised

 

[Ginga]

What a great drawing awbcm. Thanks ever so much for taking time out to help me on your Sunday. Its refreshing to know that there are still some genuinely nice people about. I'll get to work and post a piccie when I'm done. Thanks again

 

[Symptoms]

Ginga - don't forget to add a longer lenght of skirting

 

[Ginga]

Symptoms - apologies if I sound thick ( bit of wood amateur ) but why do I need a longer length of skirting? Surely the inclusion of a plinth block between skirting and string means I need a shorter length?

Also, awbcm's excellent drawing shows a chamfer down the vertical lengths of the plinth, excuse my ignorance but whatts the best way of achieving this?, my electric mitre saw is of no use as the plinth block is too narrow to sit against the fence and be clamped so I cannot bevel cut it.

I have an electric plane - is this the best way?