skirting board dilemma and builder worries

[1930smouse]

Hi all
I live in a 1930's semi that is need of serious redecoration. A not not add is that we love traditional features.
Totally new to the whole property /home improvement game and looking for insight!
First issue is skirting boards.
We want to start with the box room. The skirting is cracked along the top in places, coming off the walls all along one side with plaster attached to it and not looking good. We also had some plug sockets moved from the skirting an onto the wall above which left gaps in the skirting but my dad fixed that pretty much (would need going over and sanding etc)

In my and DP's mind we needed new skirting. Because we're stupid when it comes to all this. I got a reputable builder in who said he can replace the skirting, get a plasterer to sort the walls etc. he kept talking about things looking modern but I told him we like traditional. The current skirting is pretty tall (7 inches) and obviously original.
However, now i've booked him i'm panicking. Across most forums people are saying do not replace the skirting, repair any damage, keep as many original features etc which is what we want. I'm now worried he won't replace it like for like - there's nothing online that i've seen which is similar.

What's the best course of action here - cancel this builder and find someone who can restore the skirting? So far we haven't been able to find anyone who does this - it all seems like people end up sanding and doing it themselves and they all say it's a nightmare.
I also worry about he builder being pee'd off at being cancelled but obviously I want it right.

Couple of pics for reference

I’d get back in touch, reiterate that you really want an exact replica, ask him for a sample before he goes ahead and orders materials etc. He can always just do the plastering. Bespoke skirting must be possible....

Looks like bog standard skirting to me

Hmm but I can’t find anything online similar for sale - but when I google 1930’s skirting the same as ours comes up.

Thanks moreismore I’ll get back to him on mon. Weird how these stupid things make you feel so stressed !

we had the same skirting and had to have it made specially, wasn't too expensivethough. Speak to the tradesperson and confirm that he's replacing like with like before he starts work

Have a look at companies that sell skirting online. You'll be able to find the same pattern and nearly the same dimensions (they'll probably be metric instead of imperial). Pretty sure that's lamb's tongue. We had it in our old 1930s house.

I would have just sanded them down and filled the gaps with decorator's caulk. You get gaps with even new skirting boards, because the walls are never truly flat and the wood is never truly straight.

Definitely confirm with your tradesman that he is replacing like for like - have a look through diy/trade catalogues. Most skirting boards are available somewhere.

Can't see huge amount wrong with skirting.
Cracks mostly look between top of skirting and wall.
Decorators caulk will fill this. Thoroughly sand ,and repaint.

If you think the gap, even when filled, will be too big and fugly, try removing skirting board, sanding, scraping wall, replacing. Then caulk the ( now smaller) gap.

If not rotten, or extensively dented, why would you replace?
You can do it yourself, get help from dad, or find a competent decorator.
Builders like ripping stuff out, and charging you for new stuff. It's what they do.
Why take out authentic period details for no reason?

We live in a 1920's house. We replaced all of our skirting with 8 inch stuff. We went for Taurus / ogee (I think) which looks traditional. It looks like it's been here forever. Make sure they nail it and don't just use gripfill. We moved some of our rooms around so keeping it wasn't an option and there were so many layers of paint I don't think we would have ever got it looking amazing. But agree with the pp - if your walls are out you will get some gaps over time. They won't be too bad if they nail it on though.

Also, if anything I would go for deeper skirting - yours looks a bit thin.

Looks like standard Ovolo to me.

Sounds like you just need to tell him what skirting you want, not cancel him.

You can buy a myriad different dimensions of skirting, I'd be amazed if you couldn't find something similar. But your first pic looks like it just needs filling and a good sand.

this first pic is a section where a chunk of skirting is protruding from the wall with the plaster. its not a big thing but it looks fugly.

If we were to sand it would we do that before or after plastering? Bar that fugly section which would need to be removed first in order to neaten the plaster behind it i assume.

sorry DancingLedge just realised you've answered my Q

Thanks

I wouldn't touch new skirting with a bargepole. I've had loads of work done on my house through the years so learn from my mistakes. Any new wood going into your house will acclimatise over the first 1-2years and you'll likely find that after this period the new skirting has shrunk away from the wall and you're left with gaps again - probably worse. Your existing skirting looks really good to me and nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. No, it doesn't need to be removed for the plaster to be fixed. If your walls need skimming that can be done just as it is. All you need to do here is sand the surface with a decent stripping paper and fill in the gaps yourself. Dead easy. When I've had larger gaps I've poked in strips of corrugated cardboard to stop filler dropping down behind. I've then used Polycell, stiffly mixed and just press into the gaps, smoothing with a finger. Lightly sand when fully dry for an even finish and then repaint. Far far nicer to stick with what you've already got imo.

You won't get a perfect finish in an old house. It will look much better once filled and sanded