Skirting boards, What materials are they made of and their characteristics, Online property interior advice, Home decor tips

Skirting boards: what materials are they made of and their characteristics

5 March 2024

Choosing the right skirting board to refine rooms may be more difficult than expected. There are indeed all kinds and shapes of them on the market, which could make it arduous to decide which ones to install, especially if you are not very familiar with this field.

In any case, these are not negligible items or to be chosen only at the last moment, but important tools that allow you to protect the walls and floors of your home and also serve a real aesthetic function that should not be underestimated. Therefore, before you can choose, it is good to know what materials they are made from.

Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC)

On the market it is possible to come across PVC elements, that is to say, constructed by means of Polyvinyl Chloride. In short, this is a very inexpensive plastic material that until a few years ago found application mainly in large public buildings.
Because of their structural properties which guarantee resistance to shock and moisture, PVC skirting boards can be customized in many ways so as to make homes even more exclusive. Nowadays they are mainly employed in homes styled in a minimal and modern style.

Gres porcelain tile

Gres porcelain tile is a very hygienic and long-lasting material. This material is easy to lay and does not create empty spaces, reducing the possibility of dust and mite buildup. The versatility of this material offers a wide range of colors and designs, adaptable to all types of floors and environments, allowing it to meet all aesthetic requirements. For these reasons, Gres porcelain tile is the ideal choice for those who plan to make durable, hygienic yet aesthetically pleasing skirting boards suitable for any room.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel skirting boards are mainly used in offices and commercial environments where iron or other metal furniture and accessories are often present.
Stainless steel, in fact, is a durable and hygienic material that adapts to the highest sanitary standards and tolerates the use of aggressive detergents, often used in these particular environments. In addition to strength, this material also offers an aesthetically pleasing effect due to its various finishes (including polished, sandblasted, and brushed).

Ceramic

Ceramic skirting boards are coated with a compound of various materials such as clays, silicon sand, iron oxides and feldspars mixed with water. The resulting mixture becomes easily moldable and is used to bring to life elements in a wide variety of shapes. After being shaped, these are decorated or painted, after which they are ready to be installed.

Aluminum

Aluminum offers a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics, as it is a very versatile and shapeable material. This makes it possible to make skirting boards of different forms and thicknesses, so that custom solutions can also be achieved. In addition, it is also possible to use them on the outside of the home. These are normally created through the extrusion process, which makes it possible to obtain elements of different lengths and with a wide range of profiles.
As for those that are made of aluminum, there are two major categories on the market: solid and boxed. The solid ones are thicker and have no space between them. The latter, on the other hand, have inside them a housing from which wires or cables pass depending on the requirements. Aesthetically, it is possible to distinguish different types of aluminum skirting boards:

Brushed: this is a variety characterized by shaving composed of fine lines;
Anodized: these skirting boards are subject to a treatment that improves their aesthetic and structural qualities;

Coated: which means coated with other materials;
Brilliant: such designs have a particular shine to the eye.

Wood

Wood is the most widely used material for making skirting boards. In fact, until some time ago, these elements were made in the same style as doors and windows. As of today, a wide variety of materials and finishes can be found on the market. There are those made of solid wood, plywood, veneer, etc., which can be either natural or repainted. This second option is more expensive, but it gives the room a very aesthetically pleasing effect, and adapt it to any style of decor, from the classic to the more modern and refined.

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