The final touch in the finishing of the premises is the installation of the plinth. It plays not only a functional, but also a decorative role in the interior. This useful element allows you to give a neat and complete look to the flooring around the perimeter of the entire room, hide electrical wiring, close and decorate the joints of floor and wall cladding, protecting them from dirt and moisture and thereby preventing the growth of pathogens.
As for the material, today on sale you can find products made of wood, plastic and MDF. However, the skirting board made of duropolymer has recently gained more and more popularity. This type of plastic, as well as products made from it, appeared on the building materials market relatively recently - about 11 years ago.
What is a duropolymer?
Duropolymer is a modern, environmentally friendly material madefrom expanded polystyrene under high pressure and temperature. Products from this polymer have a density of 360 to 400 kg/m3. Due to this, the duropolymer skirting board can be installed in places of increased friction. The material is resistant to mechanical damage and other influences. Duropolymer floor plinth cannot be damaged by chairs, tables and other furniture.
According to reviews, duropolymer skirting boards are not inferior in strength to counterparts made from selected oak wood. Such products do not crack, they are resistant to moisture and do not rot. Mounted with glue and screws. When painting, you can use any decorative paints. Inside the duropolymer baseboards there is a channel for electrical wiring.
Not so long ago, skirting boards appeared on the Russian market, which contain charcoal, so that the weight of the product is only 200 kg/m3, and this without sacrificing quality (i.e. the main performance characteristics remained the same).
Strengths
Duropolymer benefits include:
- high density compared to polyurethane;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- sustainable;
- lack of reactions to temperature changes in the room;
- easy installation in a short time;
- resistance to repeated staining;
- high moisture resistance;
- ease of care and processing (cutting, creatingcorner joints);
- no linear and transverse shrinkage;
- great value for money.
Duropolymer products are about one and a half to two times more significant than polyurethane. However, they are more impact resistant. Because of this, they can be used in conjunction with interior parts subject to friction - window openings and door frames.
Mounting Methods
There are two ways to install a duropolymer skirting board:
- mounting on self-tapping screws;
- fixed with glue.
The first mounting option is preferable, because when installed on building glue, the possibility of subsequent dismantling of products without harm to their appearance is completely excluded. If the installation is made on self-tapping screws, then, if desired, the panels can be easily and quickly removed, and then put them back.
Mounting on self-tapping screws
To install the plinth on self-tapping screws, you need:
- make the necessary measurements of the wall and duropolymer products using a tape measure;
- prepare corner joints - cut the edges of the planks at an angle of 45°, using a miter box;
- attach the plank to the wall, make holes through every 30-35 cm;
- put the duropolymer products aside and drill appropriate holes in the wall, plug them with dowels;
- fix the plank to the wall with self-tapping screws;
- disguise mounting holes with decorative overlays.
Adhesive installation
Installation of plinth fromduropolymer on glue involves the following steps;
- measuring the wall and planks;
- cutting profiles into pieces corresponding to the length of the walls;
- cutting one edge at a 45° angle for joining;
- degreasing the inner surface of the plinth with a special compound;
- applying the adhesive to the plane, which will later adhere to the wall and flooring;
- fixing the plank to the bearing surfaces after a certain holding time required for a better setting and indicated on the adhesive package.
You need to glue the product both to the wall and to the floor. Attaching the skirting board to the wall only will allow dirt, dust and moisture to clog under it, which will lead to the development of mold and mildew.
Coloring
Duropolymer floor and ceiling skirting boards perfectly tolerate repeated staining with paints based on acrylic or water dispersion of polymers. Before applying the coloring mixture, the bar is best primed. It is more convenient to apply paint to products before installation: this eliminates the need to create additional protection for the floor and walls.
The coloring composition should be applied with a narrow brush with an elastic and dense pile. So that during the procedure there are no streaks from the brush on the surface of the bar, you need to use thick dyes or apply the composition in two or even three layers.
