Scotia Fitting in Exeter
Professional scotia fitting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£4-6/m
Typical Duration
Varies
Location
Exeter, Devon
Scotia beading installation for laminate, LVT, and engineered wood floors. Covers expansion gaps, neat finish.
The Finishing Touch Every Floating Floor Needs
Laminate and LVT floors need an expansion gap around the edges - usually about 10mm - so they can expand and contract with temperature and humidity. Without scotia beading covering that gap, you've got an ugly slot all around the room that collects dust and looks unfinished. Scotia sorts it - neat quadrant trim that covers the gap and finishes the floor properly.
💡 Pro tip: Order scotia when you buy your flooring. Most manufacturers include matching profiles, and trying to find the right colour match afterwards is a pain in the arse.
Done Right vs Done Wrong
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Scotia matches floor colour perfectly | Generic white beading that doesn't match |
| Tight mitres at corners with no gaps | Sloppy corner cuts with visible gaps |
| Fixed securely, doesn't pop off | Loose scotia that comes away when hoovering |
| Sits flush against both floor and skirting | Gaps behind scotia or uneven fixing |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Measure Up | Calculate metreage needed, check for obstacles like pipes or uneven walls |
| 2. Cut & Fit | Precise cuts to length, mitred corners for neat joints |
| 3. Fix in Place | Pin to skirting board with brad nailer, ensuring it sits flush against floor |
| 4. Finishing | Check all joints are tight, wipe down, clear away offcuts |
📦 You're Left With
- Scotia fitted around entire room perimeter
- Expansion gap neatly covered
- Tight corners with no gaps
- Professional finish that matches your floor
Pricing Guide
| Scope | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small room (10m perimeter) | 1 hr | £60 + £40-60 scotia |
| Medium room (15m perimeter) | 1.5 hrs | £85 + £60-90 scotia |
| Large room (20m perimeter) | 2 hrs | £110 + £80-120 scotia |
£60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Scotia priced separately at £4-6 per metre depending on profile.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ You've just had laminate or LVT fitted - And there's an expansion gap showing around the edges
✅ You want to keep existing skirting boards - Scotia goes on top, no need to remove skirting
✅ Your old scotia is damaged or the wrong colour - You've changed the flooring and the beading doesn't match anymore
✅ You're DIYing your floor but want the finishing done properly - Mitring corners neatly takes practice and decent kit
Why Choose Us for Scotia Fitting in Exeter?
Covers expansion gaps neatly
Matched to your flooring colour
Protects floor edges from damage
Professional finish to new floors
What to Expect
Step 1: Measuring
I'll measure the room perimeter and work out how much scotia you need. If you haven't bought it yet, I'll tell you exactly what to order.
Step 2: Fitting
I'll cut scotia to length, mitre the corners, and pin it in place against the skirting board. For external corners or awkward sections, I'll scribe it to fit neatly.
Step 3: Finishing
Once it's all pinned down, I'll check the joints are tight, wipe everything clean, and you're done. Floor looks finished.
🔧 DIY Tips
Fitting scotia isn't complicated, but getting neat corners takes practice:
🔧 What you'll need
- Scotia beading (measure room perimeter + 10% wastage)
- Mitre saw or mitre box and fine-tooth saw
- Pin gun (brad nailer) or panel adhesive
- Tape measure and pencil
- Wood filler (for filling pin holes if needed)
📐 How to do it
- Measure each wall length and cut scotia slightly long - you can trim to exact fit
- For internal corners, cut both pieces at 45 degrees to create a neat mitre joint
- Pin scotia to the skirting board, not the floor - use small pins that won't split the wood
- Work your way around the room, checking each piece sits flush before fixing
- Fill pin holes with matching wood filler if needed (most people don't bother)
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Cutting mitres the wrong way - test the angle before cutting your good piece
- Pinning scotia to the floor instead of skirting - it'll crack as the floor expands
- Not accounting for uneven walls - scotia needs to follow the wall, not the floor
- Forcing scotia into place when corners don't quite fit - you'll split it
💡 Pro trick: For internal corners, cut one piece square into the corner, then scribe the second piece to fit over it. It's more forgiving than trying to get perfect 45-degree mitres if your walls aren't exactly 90 degrees.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Colour matching matters: If you're fitting scotia to an existing floor, bring a sample piece of flooring when you buy scotia. Colours vary more than you'd think, and getting a close match makes all the difference.
Combine with:
- Laminate flooring installation
- LVT flooring installation
- Door trim fitting
Related services:
- Skirting board installation
- Floor repairs
- Painting and decorating
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between scotia and skirting board?
Scotia is the small quadrant beading that sits on top of your floor against the skirting board. It covers the expansion gap that laminate and LVT need around the edges. Skirting board is the tall board fixed to the wall. You use scotia when you don't want to remove existing skirting.
Do I need scotia with laminate flooring?
You need something to cover the expansion gap - either scotia or you remove the skirting and refit it over the floor. Scotia is quicker and cheaper because you're not touching the skirting. It's the standard finish for most laminate and LVT installations.
Can you match scotia to my flooring colour?
Usually yes. Most laminate and LVT ranges include matching scotia in the same finish. If you're using a budget floor without matching scotia, I can fit generic beading in oak, walnut, white, or pine - we'll get as close as possible.
How is scotia fixed down?
I pin it to the skirting board with a brad nailer - small pins that hold it securely but don't split the wood. Sometimes I'll use adhesive as well if the skirting is uneven. You want it held firm so it doesn't pop off when you're hoovering along the edges.
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