These are mostly durable to withstand damage from knocks and accidents, a pre-requisite of any skirting material. The best advantage of solid wood skirting is that they look great when finished in a paint, lacquer or varnish. Solid woods are also extremely versatile, in that they can be sold in standard lengths or made-to-order, so the cost is really down to what your budget is and you can apply this accordingly. However, depending on the type of wood you choose, there are some specific tips and tricks that may apply when looking to woodwork the material, so it is worth getting some advice and maybe a professional to do the joinery for you. 
MDF MDF is a man-made material that is very durable, easy-to-handle and doesn’t warp or swell easily. It is flat and smooth and therefore lends itself well to contemporary properties where a flawless, minimalist look is desired, but as a consequence, is not really suitable for period properties. MDF has no knots or visible grain, and can’t be machined with grooves or mouldings, so has no character or natural wood effect. So, you couldn’t match MDF skirting with period architrave or door or wood mouldings. If you are machining MDF, it can chip very easily and the surface can become rough, which means it won’t then finish very well, whatever you are using. You may also find that MDF can’t be repaired as well as a natural wood, so if you want to sand or re-finish MDF, you may have to completely replace it. MDF is generally known as the cheaper option for people on budgets, but the flipside of that is that it is less versatile, less adaptable and lacks the character of natural wood, and hence, is not without its problems and limitations. Now that you are aware of some of the skirting board options, the only thing left to do is consider your requirements and decide which option is most appropriate and within budget. |