Deciding which skirting board to use for our house is tough since there are a lot of options, especially when you google the word “skirting.” That is why we created this article as a guide for shop owners and stone importers, so you can offer the best baseboards to your customers.
In choosing a skirting board, we must consider the interior of the place beforehand. This will help pick the baseboard material, together with the design (color, profile, and finish). Depending on our goal, we may also incorporate different styles of application.
To make your reading worthwhile, we filled this article with useful information—from choosing the best skirting material, a list of color and profile choices, and types of finish, down to the kinds of skirting applications. We also included tile baseboards as an alternative.
Why Is Skirting Important
“Skirting,” “skirting boards,” “baseboards,” or even just “boards” refer to the same thing. They cover the unpleasant gap between the walls and the floor.
We often get questions about skirting’s necessity, because some think that it is just for decoration and that it has no practical purpose aside from covering. While skirting boards can be decorations, their role in your home is more important than you think.
Prevents Dirty Walls
Without skirtings, we always have to keep in mind that our mop and vacuum can’t hit the bottom of the walls because they will get dirty. But this is difficult to do because there are areas on the floor that we need to reach—the corners and edges.
While cleaning the walls is part of maintaining a house, we don’t have the time to do it as often as we mop, which can mean every day.
Skirtings, especially when made of marble, are easy to clean. When our brooms leave marks on the baseboards, all we have to do is wipe the dirt away.
With marble skirtings, we use a soft cloth to gently wipe dirt marks. If it doesn’t work, there are always good stone marble cleaners available.
Prevents Pests from Entering the Property
Insect pests are quite intelligent and resourceful. When they see gaps, no matter how small, they will try to fit in. And most of the time, they succeed.
The gap between our walls and the floor may seem like it is sealed, but we can’t be sure. If you see cockroaches and bugs inside your house despite closing the doors and windows, then this gap must be the culprit.
The right baseboard will keep the pests away. Surely, they cannot bite their way through a marble skirting. We just have to ensure that we install the marble skirting properly and seamlessly and that it has no holes and cracks (which are common with poorly-manufactured marble).
Good thing that Sinodec maintains a gold standard with marble products, from manufacturing to transportation. You won’t have to worry about receiving poor-quality baseboards.
Prevents Wall Damage by Furniture
We may overlook this but one of the wall damage contributors is actually our furniture.
When the legs of the furniture touch the bottom part of the walls, they often leave a nasty mark or scratch. This can happen when we re-arrange our interior or just through the impact while sitting down.
In this case, even the top rail of the furniture can bump into the upper part of the wall, since nothing is stopping it below.
With marble skirting, we won’t have to worry about our sofa moving toward the wall because even if that happens, the baseboard will stop it from touching the wall.
The same can be applied to moving boxes. When we move houses, we are often too tired to even think about not placing the boxes—along with other things—near the walls. The result? Dirt marks.
But with skirting boards, this won’t happen because our things will hit the board beforehand.
Prevents Foot Traffic Damage
Foot traffic is a business term, but it is the number of people walking (or even running) around a certain location. If we are talking about commercial space, then this refers to the number of customers.
We can also apply this to a house setting. The number of people living in it and the visitors that may arrive.
Why is this important? Because no matter how careful we are, our feet will hit the bottom of the wall. This will leave marks on the wall, even if we are barefoot. But it is worse when we have shoes.
But if we apply marble skirting, our feet will just hit the baseboard. All we have to do is wipe it with a soft cloth but no damage will surface.
Hides Wirings and Cables
Concealing electrical wirings or data cables is one of the reasons why some wish to apply skirtings in their homes.
We know that the wires are not exactly the kind of view we are trying to achieve for our interior, because they clash with the setup and they look bad when tangled.
However, each country has its electrical standards. They have to comply with codes because it is for the safety of the people in the place. That is why we always consult a licensed electrician to get approval if we can use skirtings to hide our wiring system.
Once we get the approval, we ask for advice on the best way to install the marble skirting. This is the solution to effectively conceal unruly cables and wires while not hindering their functions.
Improves the Appearance of the Place
As we have mentioned earlier, skirting boards also serve the purpose of decorating our place. Whether it is a house or a commercial establishment, marble skirting can accentuate the interior.
Marble has different colors and patterns that are unique from each other. If you’re worried about a marble baseboard not matching your place because:
- the interior is unique;
- the objects are technicolor or;
- your property is not made of stone
Then you have to read this section to see your options with the color and styles of cut for marble skirting.
Benefits of Having Marble Skirting
There are different options for choosing a skirting board material: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and finger-jointed pine. These are some of the most common products we see in the construction market.
But if you want the best material for lasting skirting, choose marble.
Our factory has been manufacturing quality marble for more than a decade, and we frequently export and supply marble skirting boards. And in this section, we are going to explain why.
Marble Skirtings Are Highly Durable
These common skirting materials have a fair share of advantages and disadvantages, but we highlighted the dealbreakers if you want a quality baseboard for your place.
| PVC | MDF | Finger jointed pine |
| prone to deformation not resistant to harsh temperatures | contains wax or resin which makes it vulnerable to heat and very absorbent to water unless it is sealed possibility of warping | prone to moisture and deforms easily since it is not solid wood |
Marble is a metamorphic rock and is composed of minerals which are iron oxides, graphite, pyrite, and most importantly, calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Calcite is the low-mineral form of calcium carbonate and is crucial in construction, ensuring that the buildings are stable.
This contributes to the durability of marble skirtings, which also have the following astounding qualities:
- Resistant to cracks. Since skirting boards will absorb the impacts directed to the wall, they can crack. But not with marble baseboards.
The compressive strength of a stone is one of the determinants of crack resistance, and the standard is 100 newtons per square millimeter (N/mm2). Marble has 80 to 140 N/mm2.
- Resistant to extreme heat and cold, plus temperature changes. Our importers of marble skirtings come from everywhere; countries with both hot and cold climates.
What makes depots or construction stores order a lot from us is that their customers who own houses or business sites want skirtings that can withstand harsh temperatures.
Marble baseboards are unlikely to crack and when they do, they are repairable and the board will still look great.
- Resistant to water. We mentioned a mop bumping into the wall, but will marble skirting boards warp when it touches water?
The answer is no. Marble is resistant enough to water, especially when sealed. Occasional liquid spills won’t warp marble skirtings too, just be sure to do proper maintenance.
- Fireproof. Marble skirting is not just fire-resistant; it naturally can’t catch fire. This is an extra advantage for houses and establishments, but we recommend being careful with flammable products to avoid such situations.
Marble Skirtings Are Good Insulators
Our indoor temperature is greatly affected by how secure our places are. Meaning, if there are gaps and holes around, expect the air conditioner or heater to work twice that it should.
Marble skirting—aside from effectively covering the gap between the walls and the floor—can also improve the temperature in our rooms. Please view our blog “What is the Best Material for Skirting Boards?“
Marble does not disperse heat hence, it will remain cold or at its average temperature despite the hot weather outside. The same thing when switched; marble will stay warm even when it is freezing cold outside.
So, if you’re a construction depot owner in the tropical climate of Southeast Asia or you’re a civil engineer in the cold winters of Europe, offering marble skirtings to your clients is the best move.
Marble Skirtings Are Easy to Clean and Maintain
Going back to our comparison earlier between PVC, MDF, and finger-jointed pine for skirting boards, the latter has a bad score because it stains easily and badly. Finger-jointed pine is difficult to clean.
A lot of people have the wrong misconception about marble being a hassle part of the house because its appearance and quality are hard to maintain. This is not true at all.
Every material for any purpose in construction and interior needs maintenance, which means we would still be doing the same even if we don’t pick marble.
It is actually pretty simple to clean and keep the marble skirting board’s quality at its best. Tell this to your customers if they are contemplating buying marble baseboards because of a cleaning dilemma.
Also, never use vinegar to clean marble skirtings. As experts in stone manufacturing, we don’t advise this since it is not safe.
How to Clean and Maintain Marble
If there are accidental liquid spills on the marble skirting, dry it immediately by using a soft cloth.
If there are dirty marks on the skirting, always approach with gentle wiping using a soft cloth. If it doesn’t work, then we use other cleaning materials as indicated below.
- Distilled water and mild liquid detergent with a neutral pH level
- Distilled water has no minerals or other impurities, so it will not leave residue, unlike ordinary water. This alone may already remove the stains, and if it does, dry immediately using a soft cloth.
- If there is still dirt, use a liquid detergent or soap with a neutral pH level to avoid damaging the marble skirting. Dilute it with water and use it together with a soft cloth to gently wipe the dirt off of the marble.
- After cleaning, rinse it with a cloth wet with clean water.
- Dry it right away after finishing.
- Marble cleaning products
- Marble cleaners are specifically designed to clean while not affecting the state of the said stone. Some great cleaners are MarbleLife’s Marble and Travertine Cleaner and Black Diamond Marble & Tile Concentrated Cleaner.
The best pH level for marble skirtings is 7 to 10, but we can increase it up to 11 if the stain is really bad.
- Depending on the instructions on how to use the product, pour an adequate amount into the skirting and use a soft cloth—preferably chamois cloth—to gently spread the solution and wipe off the dirt.
- We don’t need to rinse marble cleaning solutions with water; we can just continue wiping until the cloth absorbs the residue.
But if the residue is still present, we can use a chamois cloth with clean water to effectively wipe it off.
- Wipe the marble skirting dry right after.
Marble Skirtings Upgrade the Interior
| PVC | MDF | Finger jointed pine |
| different artificial colors are available and the material is customizable | compatible with oil and water-based paint difficult to screw and nail doesn’t have the beauty of real wood such as the natural grain | compatible with paint and varnish, but difficult to decorate because of the lack of crack-resistance |
Marble skirtings continue to be a trend because there are a lot of choices in terms of pattern and color. Unlike other skirting materials, the luster of marble baseboards is natural; we don’t have to paint or varnish them anymore.
Some of these colors are:
- White and cream
- Light and dark brown
- Black
- Different shades of red, blue, green, and pink
In the next section, we provided a complete guide to marble skirting types that covers all the factors to consider in the appearance—background and pattern color, shape, and finish.
Classification of Marble Skirting
This section—together with your data on your customers’ preferences—will help you decide what kind of marble skirting you want us to supply.
We can guarantee that all types of our marble skirting boards are not just durable, but we also make them perfect in terms of appearance. Here are the “Top 3 Up-to-Date Skirting Profiles 2023“.
Classification by Type and Color
We listed the types of marble that we can use to manufacture unique skirtings, as well as their respective colors.
| Type of Marble | Background Color | Color of Veins (Pattern) |
| Nero Marquina | black | white |
| Carrara White | white with grey undertones | light grey |
| Volakas White | white | grey and brown |
| Statuary | white | thick and heavy dark grey |
| Calacatta | bright white | thick dark grey, brown, beige, and gold |
| Hermes Grey | cloudy grey | bright and greyish-white |
| Crema Marfil | creamy beige | white, yellow, cinnamon, and goldish beige |
| Emperador Light | light brown | cream |
| Emperador Dark | dark brown | light brown |
| Rosso Marquina | Burgundy | white |
| Rojo Levantina | bold red | light grey |
| Amarillo Triana | light yellow | dark brown to black |
| Forest Green | metallic to light green | brown veins |
| Emerald Green | white | jade green |
| Verde Indio | light to medium green | white and black |
| Spider Green | dark green | white |
| Ocean Blue | ice blue | grey and silver |
| China Blue River | greyish blue | white and greyish green |
| Blue Sodalite | cobalt blue | gold, white, and midnight blue |
| Rosa Levante | light pink | white |
| Rosa Portugués | light pink | grey and brown |
There are a lot more types of marble available in the market, especially here in China. We export a lot of marble skirtings each month, and most of the orders are neutral-colored ones.
Many people like light and neutral colors for their homes, although some like bold and unique colors too.
Classification by Profile
The “profile” is the shape of the marble skirting board. We have different types of cuts and details, providing you with plenty of options, so you can also cater to the preferences of your buyers—whether they are simple or intricate with details.
- French Style Skirting Profile
Currently one of our factory’s most popular and in-demand skirting, a French-style profile is inspired by precisely as it sounds: French interior.
- Torus Skirting Profile
This profile has the classic semicircular curve in front of it that is preceded by a groove. Private buyers are after this profile because it applies to both traditional and contemporary interiors.
- Lambs Tongue Skirting Profile
The inspiration for this name is literally the tongue of a lamb since there is a resemblance.
This profile has a slope in front that is narrow and short. The same slope is round-edged at the beginning and comes at a stop, then becomes square-edged towards the bottom.
- Square Edge Skirting Profile
This skirting profile is perfectly shaped as a square, almost like the French-style profile but this one can be thicker.
Square edge skirting will look good when plain because the marble itself is already the design. But we can also add grooves in front as details to accentuate its appearance.
- Chamfered and Rounded
A chamfered and rounded skirting has a symmetrical sloping edge that is round at the top. This is a prominent baseboard shape, especially when you prefer a minimalist ambiance.
- Ogee Profile
This skirting starts with an inward curve—like a slide, proceeds to curve outward like a semicircle, then curves inward again.
This skirting shape is traditional but we still use this in different spaces today.
- Pencil Round or Bullnose Skirting Profile
This profile has no curve or slope like the other ones, but its edges are soft and round. It is simple but with marble, it will look intricate.
Although, we can customize details on this skirting such as adding grooves in front, depending on your preference.
- Ovolo Skirting Profile
The Ovolo profile has a very light curve that is almost a diagonal line, then it proceeds to be square-edged towards the bottom.
This is a top marble skirting profile in the trade lately, and we usually see this skirting in commercial settings because of its simple and subtle detail. If you are thinking about whether you should use marble skirting at your home, please read the article “Is Marble Skirting Necessary?“.
- Victorian Skirting Profile
Victorian skirtings are full of details and we often supply this to the west, although Asian homes can also incorporate this style.
It has more than one curve in different sizes, and there are grooves too. We can customize how many curves or grooves you want in the skirting, together with their measurements—whether big, small, or a mixture of both.
Classification by Finish
We use the term “finish” or “finishing” for marble skirtings which refers to the final step in the manufacturing process. At this stage, the intended result for the project culminates and our marble skirting is almost ready.
- Polished Finish
In Sinodec, the marble skirtings we supply are polished. It is cleaner and more seamless, making it look high-end. Plus, the clients prefer it that way, probably because of their market demographics and consumer preferences.
In polishing, we use abrasives to get a shiny and glossy look. The luster will be evident because polished marble reflects light.
While we are talking about baseboards, we want to let you know that polished marble has a lesser grip than those with other finishes. But if it is just for skirting, then it won’t be a problem.
- Honed Finish
The surface of marble skirting boards with a honed finish is smooth and consistent. It is also matte.
Honing a marble is removing its rough texture. That is why even though it is not shiny, the output is still a beautiful matte. It also provides a warm and natural look.
Honing a marble skirting is actually the step that comes before polishing (if you’re planning on doing so). It involves polishing action using abrasives as well to remove the marble’s roughness, but not enough to make it glossy and shiny.
A fact about this finish is it leaves the marble with more grip. But since the output will be a marble baseboard, then it is not a crucial aspect to consider.
- Tumbled Finish
A tumbled finish on marble will involve a plastic or rubber drum with abrasives where we would do the tumbling.
Tumbled marble skirtings will have beautiful uneven edges and chips that make the stone look natural and rustic. It will be buffed to achieve a smooth but worn-out look that we often see in classic antique houses.
- Brushed Finish
This finish will involve brushing the marble with hard nylon or steel. The marble skirting will look stylishly aged, almost the same as the tumbled finish.
The difference is the texture since it will be rough. Due to this and the aged appearance, spills and scratches will be hardly visible.
- Chiseled Finish
A chiseled marble skirting will have tiny carved grooves (this is different from the grooves that we apply as a skirting profile or trim).
Chiseling marble is suitable for walls, claddings, and even skirtings, as it provides detailed texture on the finished product. Although this technique dates back to ancient times, we can also apply it today decoratively.
- Bush Hammered Finish
A marble skirting board with a bush-hammered finish will have a uniform and even ragged texture and appearance.
This is a style to prevent slipping, but it works well with skirtings especially if the marble is white since the finish will emphasize the color and pattern variation more.
Sizes and Dimensions of Marble Skirtings
The dimensions of the marble skirtings that we will supply to you will depend on your needs. Our marble factory can manufacture skirtings in different lengths, heights, and thicknesses.
In this table, you will see the general dimensions of our available marble skirtings which we are ready to export anywhere at any time.
| Height | 100 mm | 120 mm | 150 mm |
| Width | 45mm (just the profile width) |
| Length | 800 mm | 1,000 mm | 1,200 mm |
Styles of Marble Skirting Application
We have shown you the type of marble including its color, shapes of marble skirtings, and kinds of finishings.
In this section, we will tell you our secrets in applying marble skirtings that can accentuate any place.
Normal or the Usual Method of Skirting Application
This application method is the most common when putting marble skirtings: one layer of skirting on a floor or level.
While this method is traditional, it doesn’t mean that it is outdated. This is a classic way of putting your skirting to use, such as this Nero Marquina marble skirting board.
Another example of skirting using the normal application: the Carrara white marble baseboard.
Double-Layered Skirting Application
A double-layered marble skirting will be two skirtings on top of each other. The skirtings can be of the same profile or shape, but we can also combine two different profiles.
This Statuary marble skirting is square-edged but with grooves that serve as the details.
We recommend this application if your house is spacious and with high ceilings. Instead of just heightening an ordinary skirting, let’s make it double-layered with different profiles and details to emphasize the beauty of marble in your home.
Continued Skirting Application
We traditionally apply skirtings on surfaces of the same level, as with the normal method. Once we are done applying marble skirting on the first floor, we have to start another layer on the second. Please read the article “Which Type of Marble Skirting is the Best?“
But with continued skirting, we do not break the connection between the material used on the first level to proceed to the second. What we do is “continue.”
Despite obstacles such as the staircase, we continue the application on the side, which can become a marble stair molding design as well.
See this Cararra white marble skirting and Dark Emperador marble skirting as examples.
We can also make the marble skirting continue as your door frame molding, such as this Rosso Marquina marble skirting.
Flush-to-Wall Skirting Application
We also call this a “flush-with-wall” or just a “flush” skirting application. This style will need a thin skirting, such as the French Style profile, and we will recess it to the wall.
The goal is to make the marble skirting part of the wall or camouflage it with the latter, almost like there is no skirting at all. This is ideal for you if you want to cover the gap between the wall and the floor seamlessly.
Which Marble Skirting Is Perfect for You
By now, we know that you are wondering which skirtings to choose from because we have a lot to offer.
In this case, you have to follow the trends of the interior, because these trends will mostly be the basis of your customers in choosing which marble skirting to apply to their homes or any establishments.
Modern Interior Style
Appearing during the mid-20th century, this interior design is known for its minimalism, neutral monochrome color palette, and straight lines (such as squares and rectangles).
In this case, you may use:
- White, beige, and black marble skirting colors in Square Edge or Ovolo profile
Transitional Interior Style
Transitional interior is a mixture of traditional and contemporary styles in one room. Either the structure of your house is traditional and the furniture and other objects are contemporary, or vice versa.
In this case, you may use:
- Crema Marfil or Carrara White marble skirting in Ogee or Torus profile
Modern European Interior Style
We can see that this style is at the top of magazines right now, whether in Europe or Asia. This is a mixture of the classic European interior with modern touches such as bold colors.
For example in France, they retained the minimalist paneled or carved walls painted in light shades, but the furniture or the decorations have vivid colors.
In this case, you may use:
- Light-colored marble such as Statuary or Hermes Grey marble skirting in the French Style or Victorian profile
Eclectic Interior Style
Being eclectic means having a lot of tastes, including in interior design. Some people like to blend styles inside one room, but everything still goes together.
This can be mixing traditional and modern motifs and the combination of different visual elements. You have to be careful with colors in this style since it should be adaptable.
In this case, you may use:
- Light Emperador, Nero Marquina, and Rosso Marquina marble skirting in Chamfered and Rounded or Bullnose profile
Rustic Interior Style
This interior design uses a lot of brown shades to highlight nature such as wood. In a rustic style, the elements are natural such as the usage of plants or objects that give off an organic vibe.
In this case, you may use:
- Marble in brown shades such as Crema Marfil and Dark Emperador marble skirtings in Lambs Tongue or French Style Profile
- You can also use Amarillo Triana Marble skirting since it is yellow and golden.
What Is Tile Baseboard and When Should I Use It?
If you’re thinking that a tile baseboard is skirting made of tiles, then you are correct. This type of skirting is exquisite especially when made of marble because we can guarantee its durability and overall quality.
We recommend using marble tile skirtings when:
- You want a matching floor and baseboard;
- You wish to apply the skirting in your kitchen or bathroom because you will use a lot of liquid in these areas such as water and accidental food spills and;
- You want stylish yet long-lasting tile skirtings.
Marble Tile Skirting Styles
Sinodec has a lot of marble styles to offer because of our complete equipment when it comes to stone manufacturing.
Here are some of our marble tile products that you may choose from. Don’t forget that we also accept customized designs, if you prefer a specific type.
This is our collection composed of excellently quarried marble in different colors and patterns. There are tiles with:
- natural marble patterns, particularly veins
- checkered design
- floral design
- shapes design such as a four-edged star
Arabescato Marble Tile Baseboard Design
This is our customized and polished Arabescato marble that can make bathrooms elegant with its beautiful white background and thick, dark grey, and feathery pattern.
We can also add carvings such as the double square carving we did with this Arabescato marble if you want subtle details on your tile baseboards.
These marble tile baseboards have multiple designs such as lines and drawn patterns with mixed colors.
There is Nero Marquina mixed with Crema Marfil, and even Carrara White combined with Hermes Grey.
Conclusion
Skirting seals the gap between the wall and the floor, and is essential in any home. It serves as protection for the walls from damage, and the house itself from unwanted elements outdoors. That being said, we need to be wise when we choose our skirting boards.
Marble baseboards are the top choice because of the overall quality, as well as options when it comes to color, shape, and finish. It can adapt and accentuate any interior.
Aside from that, you also have marble tile baseboards in different designs and customized styles, and perfect kitchen and bathroom skirtings.
