What are Plinth Blocks? Why might you use them?
What are plinth blocks, what are the benefits of plinth blocks, how do you install them and what size should you choose? If you’ve got any of these burning questions, then you’ve come to the right place, as in this post – we’re going to run through all of that and more. So, you ready? Alright then, let’s start from the top…
What Are Plinth Blocks?
Plinth blocks (also commonly referred to as skirting blocks) sit at the bottom of the architrave and to the side of the skirting board, positioned around a door frame. They are generally used with tall skirting boards, complemented with Rosettes – which are are used with wide architraves at the top of the door frame. They work great in traditional homes.
The Benefits of Plinth Blocks:
1) So first off, plinth blocks look great. They’re a design feature, a decorative touch that make your skirting boards and architrave really stand out. We have a nice selection, from edge to square to chamfer. You can therefore use them to complement your skirting and architrave design choices and tie it altogether.
2) Plinth blocks are also great for practical purposes. They smooth the transition between the skirting and architrave and enable the two to sit more flush. This is especially necessary in older homes, where the walls are often a little uneven. This can cause alignment issues which the plinth blocks then fix.
3) Similarly, plinth blocks are particularly useful when working with more complex profile designs. They help to eliminate the need to make difficult cuts, making the join smoother and more elegant.
The Handyman’s Daughter demonstrated that perfectly (before and after photos below)- see the joining issue and how easily it was then fixed?
4) They therefore save you a lot of time and stress, plus make your skirting and architrave easier to fit – reducing your need for external help (perfect for home renovators or hands-on property developers!)
5) Last but not least, plinth blocks FIX any problems you may be having! If you’re worried about profile dimensions, plinth blocks create consistency. By selecting them slightly larger – it doesn’t actually matter what skirting and architrave dimensions you work with. The plinth block will cover up any misalignments. Crafty huh?
What Size Plinth Block Do You Need?
When ordering your plinth blocks, you need to consider whether you want them the same size as your skirting and architrave or bigger. Plinth blocks are never smaller (of course) so this narrows down the options there.
If you want to go for the same size, you simply match it to your skirting and architrave dimensions. Most people tend to go for bigger, so to make things nice and simple – we recommend choosing the height and width option that is the next one up from your skirting and architrave.
We can actually do any size you require, so if you’re unsure or can’t see what you need – please don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email. We’re more than happy to help.
So that’s the height and width out the way, but what about the thickness? Well, you’ll have four different options for this: 15mm, 18mm, 25mm or 30mm. Again, our recommendation is to go for the next one up from your skirting.
So for example – if you order 18mm thick skirting boards and architraves, we would recommend using the 25mm thick Plinth Blocks. This will prevent the skirting boards and architraves from protruding over the design of the Plinth Block. The larger sizes are therefore the most popular. Remember, just like rosettes, plinth blocks are a statement piece.
Quick tip: when making your order, always go for the primed finish. This will save you time as you won’t need to prime them yourself. It also looks far better and lasts longer. (Win, win!)
How To Fit Plinth Blocks:
When it comes to how to fit them, we highly recommend you have a quick read of our guides on how to fit skirting and how to fit architrave first – as these will all be done at the same time, tied in together. Just like the architrave, you want to position plinth blocks approximately 5mm from the doorway to better protect it. The plinth block is then generally placed flush with the door frame so that the architrave runs into the plinth centrally.
To secure it against the wall then, it’s actually very simple. Just use an adhesive on the back of the plinth block, hold firmly in position at the base of the door frame and use a nail gun to place 2 pins through the face of the plinth block to properly secure it in position. After that, you’re all set and can continue the process, fitting your skirting and architrave into place from there!
So There We Have It! That should cover pretty much everything you need to know about our trusty plinth blocks at this stage. If you have any additional questions, be sure to give us a shout. If not, you can start browsing our profiles and add them to you order here.
Sufficiently convinced?
If you have any additional questions or would like help with your order, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout on 0121 824 3981
