Cost guide for replacing skirting and architrave

Skirting boards, often simply referred to as baseboards or simply ‘skirting’, are the decorative boards that sit at the bottom of your walls, covering the joints between the wall and the floor.

They’re an important part of decorating your home but many people don’t give them enough thought – they just leave what’s already installed, or won’t bother getting them installed at all.

However, new skirting boards could be the final finishing touch you need to really tie together your space. It’s worth researching the various types of skirting boards  available to find a style suited to your room and budget.

Expect new skirting boards to cost between £20-£30 per metre to supply and fit. In this price guide, we'll go through the costs of replacing your skirting board, architrave and door frames and how much you should expect a carpenter to charge.

Skirting board fitting cost per metre

How much skirting board fitting costs per metre will depend on the type of skirting you choose and where you live, but here are the average costs to expect, along with costs for a carpenter to replace door frames and architraves:

The cost of fitting skirting boards, architrave or door frames will vary depending on where you live, as carpenters charge different rates across the country.

HaMuch has a large database of rates for carpenters all over the UK, so we’ve put together a table further down the page. This compares the prices across the country, showing how the price you’ll pay will be different depending on where you live. Bear in mind that this only covers each of the projects in one average-sized room.

What's the difference between skirting, architrave and door frames?

It can be easy to get confused between all the different terms for the decorative finishes in a room.

Skirting, architrave and door frames are all different types of carpentry and they have different purposes, so it’s helpful to have a good knowledge before you get started on replacing them.

Skirting boards

Skirting, skirting boards or baseboards are the lengths of wood that cover up the edge between the floor and the walls. They’re designed to both improve the aesthetics of your space but also to prevent draughts. Skirting boards come in a wide variety of styles and are generally painted a neutral colour, like white or cream.

Architrave

Architrave, sometimes called door trim or door casing, refers to the wooden elements that go around a door frame. It’s common for people to get it mixed up with the door frame, which is actually the part that runs on the inside of the door opening where the door fits into. There’s a huge variety of styles of architrave, from simple blocks to ornate and decorative frames.

Like skirting, architrave is designed to cover up the rough edges that can often feature around the edges of door frames.

Door frame

The door frame is the wooden part that covers up the rough opening where your door sits. It’s the part that your door is fitted to, and provides a secure fixture for hinges. The door frame creates a smooth surface for your door to sit in so it closes securely.

What about coving?

You’ve probably heard coving spoken about alongside skirting, architraves and door frames, but it’s a little bit different. Coving is a bit like skirting, except it goes at the joint between the wall and the ceiling of your room. It’s usually installed by a plasterer as they deal with your walls, and they can also create custom coving out of plaster.

Coving was a very popular decorative finish in the Victorian times, but it’s still commonly installed in many homes and is again designed to cover up unsightly joints or gaps – especially as it can be difficult to paint a truly clean line between the top of the wall and the ceiling of your home. You’ll pay between £150-£300 per day to have coving fitted.

What affects the cost of having skirting boards and architrave fitted?

On top of the prices above, there are a few decisions you can make when it comes to skirting, architrave or door frames that will affect the price. It’s important to consider these before you get started, as if you don’t you could end up with a nasty surprise!

The material you choose

Skirting, architrave and door frames are available in a range of types of wood, with each having a different price point. At the low end, there’s MDF, in the middle softwoods such as pine, and high-end options are hardwoods like oak. Most people tend to install either MDF or pine for skirting boards and architrave, with oak being more of a luxury item in period properties.

Staining or painting

As well as the materials you choose, another thing that will impact the price is whether you choose to have the skirting, architrave or coving door frames painted or stained. Most people choose to paint them in a neutral colour like white or cream to match the room. If you do choose this, it’s likely to add £50-£100 to the overall price per room, plus a small amount more for the paint itself. Usually you choose between eggshell, satin or gloss finishes for woodwork.

The size of the room

Of course, as with many decorating projects, the size of the room will affect how much you pay. With architrave, you tend to pay a set price per door frame, but skirting will cost more to install in a larger room – there’s more work, and you’ll have to pay more for materials. Our prices above are for average sized rooms, so expect to pay a bit more for a big room, and less for small ones.

Ornate or simple design

Skirting and architrave comes in a range of designs. These don’t usually affect the price too much, but if you’d like a particularly ornate style, this can add to your overall bill. You can check out the types of materials available in home improvement stores and trade websites and find some that you like before you speak to tradespeople, as they can then source these for you.

Now you know the costs involved in fitting new skirting boards, architrave and door frames, post your job on HaMuch. We’ll put you in touch with reputable carpenters who can help with your project.

Estimates for common carpenter and joiner jobs;

Rates for other trades