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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF
oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I was looking at liquid beeswax to get a similar finish and colour, but found an old post on here that suggested applying Colron light oak stain to pine made it even more yellow - that's not the look we want at all. Yeah, I know, don't be so cheap, or it won't look anything like! It's going on top of oak effect laminate btw. We really are trying to go for child-proof and cat-proof. Any ideas? Cheers, David. |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
On Feb 7, 10:28*pm, David Robinson
wrote: Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I was looking at liquid beeswax to get a similar finish and colour, but found an old post on here that suggested applying Colron light oak stain to pine made it even more yellow - that's not the look we want at all. Yeah, I know, don't be so cheap, or it won't look anything like! It's going on top of oak effect laminate btw. We really are trying to go for child-proof and cat-proof. Any ideas? Cheers, David. You can grain it to look like whatever you want. Not difficult at all, despite allegations to contrary. However I've never thought of laminate flooring as being remotely childproof or catproof. John |
#3
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
David Robinson ) wibbled on Monday 07
February 2011 22:28: Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I was looking at liquid beeswax to get a similar finish and colour, but found an old post on here that suggested applying Colron light oak stain to pine made it even more yellow - that's not the look we want at all. Yeah, I know, don't be so cheap, or it won't look anything like! It's going on top of oak effect laminate btw. We really are trying to go for child-proof and cat-proof. Any ideas? Cheers, David. I'm using real oak skirting - mostly because I never want to paint the bloody stuff - I hate painting endless miles of wood that gets chipped in a year and looks crap until the next repaint. I didn't feel the price was too bad considering some people pay twice as much for a set of curtains which will be dead in 1/20 of the time that the skirting is. But - to address your point - in my old flat I did exactly as you were suggesting - used pine. I went over it with a microporous stain/finish of some sort - wasn't pure Colron - it was more like a Ronseal coating product (not varnish) - I did mine to a darkish finish, brown and it looked perfectly good with all the advantages that one could overcoat it later without a tedious rubbing down, and the finish soaked in leaving a very mild sheen and did not tend to chip off. Can't remember exactly what product (I used Ronseal exterior in the bathroom which was a bit more shiney but tended not to chip off either) - but if you look in B&Q for something of that type for interior use, it will be very similar to mine. Try to select non resionous pine sections - some of the stuff B&Q sell bleeds goo from everywhere. Wickes IME are a reasonable source for generic white wood that is mostly straight and dry. HTH Tim -- Tim Watts |
#4
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
David Robinson ) wibbled on Monday 07
February 2011 22:28: Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I was looking at liquid beeswax to get a similar finish and colour, but found an old post on here that suggested applying Colron light oak stain to pine made it even more yellow - that's not the look we want at all. Yeah, I know, don't be so cheap, or it won't look anything like! It's going on top of oak effect laminate btw. We really are trying to go for child-proof and cat-proof. Any ideas? Cheers, David. Oh - and I would not use stain + wax - tends to look orange and horrible. -- Tim Watts |
#5
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
David Robinson wrote:
Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. you are buying at the wrong place. |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
On Feb 7, 11:30*pm, Tim Watts wrote:
I'm using real oak skirting - mostly because I never want to paint the bloody stuff - I hate painting endless miles of wood that gets chipped in a year and looks crap until the next repaint. Yes, exactly. I didn't feel the price was too bad considering some people pay twice as much for a set of curtains which will be dead in 1/20 of the time that the skirting is. True - but my worry is that, as I'm putting it on top of the laminate (to save beading) it might end up having the same lifetime as the laminate! But - to address your point - in my old flat I did exactly as you were suggesting - used pine. I went over it with a microporous stain/finish of some sort that sounds like outdoor stuf? - wasn't pure Colron - it was more like a Ronseal coating product (not varnish) - I did mine to a darkish finish, brown and it looked perfectly good with all the advantages that one could overcoat it later without a tedious rubbing down, and the finish soaked in leaving a very mild sheen and did not tend to chip off. I think that's just what I'm after. Not raw (but stained) wood, not obviously varnished (not even satin) - just, well, gently waxed look with nothing to chip. Can't remember exactly what product (I used Ronseal exterior in the bathroom which was a bit more shiney but tended not to chip off either) - but if you look in B&Q for something of that type for interior use, it will be very similar to mine. I'll have another look - they have a lot to choose from. Try to select non resionous pine sections - some of the stuff B&Q sell bleeds goo from everywhere. Wickes IME are a reasonable source for generic white wood that is mostly straight and dry. Local builder's merchants is really good - it's mostly decent stuff and they'll let you pick. Strange how they can be really cheap for some basic things, while other things are far cheaper if ordered off the net. Oh - and I would not use stain + wax - tends to look orange and horrible. Oh dear. I have some offcuts to test on, but buying a tin or two of things to test, then another if they're not right, soon wastes some money. Cheers, David. |
#7
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
David Robinson ) wibbled on Tuesday 08
February 2011 08:24: On Feb 7, 11:30 pm, Tim Watts wrote: I'm using real oak skirting - mostly because I never want to paint the bloody stuff - I hate painting endless miles of wood that gets chipped in a year and looks crap until the next repaint. Yes, exactly. I didn't feel the price was too bad considering some people pay twice as much for a set of curtains which will be dead in 1/20 of the time that the skirting is. True - but my worry is that, as I'm putting it on top of the laminate (to save beading) it might end up having the same lifetime as the laminate! Screw and plug - that's what I did (stainless/brass screws requuired for oak). It's not hard - bit longer than gluing it on but you can pop the plus out and unscrew it. But - to address your point - in my old flat I did exactly as you were suggesting - used pine. I went over it with a microporous stain/finish of some sort that sounds like outdoor stuf? Don't think it was - there are microporous non external finishes. Cheers Tim -- Tim Watts |
#8
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
In article ,
John MacLeod wrote: However I've never thought of laminate flooring as being remotely childproof or catproof. Living in a house where pretty much the entire downstairs is laminate, I'd say it's fantastically childproof. Excellent surface for scalextric and lego as well :-) Darren |
#9
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
In article
, David Robinson wrote: Cheap "pine" skirting from local builder's yard is less than £1/m. MDF oak is £5+/m, and real oak is similar. We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I have an engineered real oak floor in one room, and simply stained whitewood skirting to match it. Sealed with matt water based varnish. Looks good to me - although purists might notice the grain is different. -- *Age is a very high price to pay for maturity. Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#10
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Can cheap skirting look like oak?
On Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:28:46 -0800, David Robinson wrote:
We're having some engineered oak doors, and just want to wax them (no shiny finish for the kids to chip off). It would be nice if the architrave and skirting vaguely matched, but not at £5/m. I did some crappy pine tables for some of the houseplants with Minwax red oak stain and Minwax clear laquer on top, and they match the red oak stair rail pretty well - the colour's slightly darker, but not enough that it bothers me. After that experience, I'm considering going the same way for the skirting too, mainly because I want something slightly taller and thicker than the typical skirting sold. cheers Jules |
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