Installing aluminium skirting boards is one of the most effective ways to give your interior spaces a clean, finished look while protecting walls from scuffs and damage. Whether you are a professional contractor or a first-time DIYer, this aluminium skirting board installation guide will walk you through every step — from inner corners to end caps — so you get consistent, professional results every time.

At Syntech Metals, we manufacture premium aluminium skirting boards using high-grade 6063-T5 alloy and have helped thousands of customers worldwide achieve flawless installations. This guide is built around our product system, so you can follow along with confidence.

Quick Installation Overview

Before diving into the details, here is a summary of the four main installation steps:

Step	Task	Key Action	Accessories Needed
1	Inner Corner	Align clipboard flush with inner corner accessory, then slide-lock into place	Inner corner fitting, clipboard
2	Outside Corner	Attach right-angle outside corner accessory onto the skirting board before fixing to the wall	Outside corner fitting
3	Connector	Use a connector for runs over 2.5 m or where two boards meet	Straight connector
4	End Caps	Install left or right end cap to seal open board ends — do not mix left and right	Left cap, right cap

Tools and Materials You Will Need

Gather everything before you start to avoid interruptions mid-installation:

• Aluminium skirting boards (choose from 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, or 100 mm height)
• Aluminium clipboard clips
• Inner corner fittings
• Right-angle outside corner fittings
• Straight connectors
• Left and right end caps
• Tape measure, pencil, and spirit level
• Drill and appropriate wall anchors
• Mitre saw or metal cutting blade (for length adjustments)

Step 1: Inner Corner Aluminium Skirting Board Installation

Inner corners are one of the trickiest parts of any skirting board installation. Syntech Metals’ system uses a purpose-designed inner corner accessory combined with the aluminium clipboard, making the process straightforward and precise.

How to Install the Inner Corner

Start by positioning the inner corner fitting snugly into the corner where two walls meet. The fitting must sit flush against both wall surfaces — use your spirit level to ensure it is perfectly plumb. Once the corner fitting is seated correctly, slide the aluminium clipboard into position so that it aligns flush with the edge of the inner corner accessory. The clipboard clip is the key mechanism here: once aligned, apply firm, even pressure and slide the clip forward to engage the snap-lock. You will hear a click and feel the board lock securely in place. Do not force the connection — if it does not engage smoothly, check that the clipboard is fully flush with the fitting before trying again.

Pro Tips for Inner Corners

• Dry-fit the inner corner accessory before drilling to confirm alignment.
• Mark the wall lightly with a pencil where the fitting sits so you can reposition it accurately after drilling.
• If your wall has slight irregularities, use a thin foam adhesive tape behind the fitting to compensate.

Step 2: Right-Angle Outside Wall Aluminium Skirting Board Installation

Outside corners — where two walls form an outward-facing angle — require a different approach. Syntech Metals provides a dedicated right-angle outside corner accessory that mounts directly onto the aluminium skirting board rather than onto the wall.

How to Install the Outside Corner

Before fixing the skirting board to the wall, attach the right-angle outside corner accessory to the end of the board. Slide the accessory onto the profile from the end, ensuring it sits fully seated and flush with the board face. Once the accessory is in place, position the combined unit against the wall and secure through the clipboard clip system as normal. This pre-attachment method means the corner junction is neat and tight, with no visible gaps or misalignment at the corner point.

Key Considerations

• Always attach the outside corner fitting to the board before mounting — never try to retrofit it after the board is on the wall.
• For very long runs leading into an outside corner, measure from the corner fitting backward to ensure your cut length is accurate.
• Check that both boards meeting at the corner are level with each other before final fixing.

Step 3: Using Connectors for Long Runs and Board Joints

One of the most common installation mistakes is joining two aluminium skirting boards without a connector, leaving an untidy, unstable gap. Syntech Metals recommends always using a straight connector in two situations:

• Any run exceeding 2.5 metres in length
• Any point where two separate skirting boards meet end to end

How to Use the Connector

The connector is a short aluminium insert that fits inside the channel of both boards at the joint. To install it, slide the connector halfway into the open end of the first board before fixing that board to the wall. Once the first board is secured, slide the second board onto the protruding half of the connector, then lock both boards down through the clipboard system. The connector keeps the joint tight, prevents movement, and maintains a consistent gap-free line along the full length of the installation.

Why 2.5 Metres Matters

Aluminium expands and contracts slightly with temperature changes. For short runs under 2.5 m this movement is negligible, but on longer runs it can cause boards to buckle or pull at fixing points. The connector allows a small controlled gap between boards while keeping the visual line clean — effectively acting as an expansion joint as well as a structural connector.

Step 4: Installing Left and Right End Caps

End caps provide a professional, finished look at any open end of the skirting board run — for example, where a board terminates at a door frame, a step, or a freestanding wall. This is the final installation step, and the most important thing to remember is that left and right end caps are not interchangeable.

How to Identify Left vs Right End Caps

Stand facing the wall where the skirting board is installed. If the open end of the board is on your left side, you need a left end cap. If it is on your right side, you need a right end cap. Fitting the wrong cap will leave a visible mismatch at the board face, so always check before pressing the cap into place.

How to Fit the End Cap

Press the correct end cap firmly onto the open end of the aluminium skirting board. The cap is designed to snap onto the profile with a tight friction fit — no adhesive is required. If the cap feels loose, check that it is the correct size for your board height (40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, or 100 mm).

• Always identify left vs right before fitting — they look similar but are mirror images of each other.
• If you cut the board to length on-site, use a fine file to remove any burrs from the cut end before fitting the cap — this ensures a clean, gap-free fit.
• End caps are height-specific. Always order the cap that matches your skirting board height.

Real-World Use Cases

The Syntech Metals aluminium skirting board system is versatile enough to suit a wide range of commercial and residential applications. Here are some common scenarios and how each installation feature applies:

Application	Profile Height	Key Installation Feature Used	Recommended Surface Finish
Hotel lobby corridor	100 mm	Connectors every 2.5 m; outside corners at pillar bases	Anodised Champagne Gold
Residential living room	60 mm	Inner corners at all room corners; end caps at door frames	Anodised Silver
Office open-plan floor	80 mm	Long-run connectors; outside corners at partition walls	Anodised Bronze
Retail showroom	100 mm	All four fitting types for complex floor plan	Anodised Champagne Gold
Apartment bathroom	40 mm	Inner corners; right end caps at door threshold	Anodised Silver

Why Choose Syntech Metals Aluminium Skirting Boards?

Not all aluminium skirting boards are made equal. Syntech Metals stands apart in the market for a straightforward reason: we control every stage of the manufacturing process, from raw material to finished profile, so quality is never left to chance.

1. Premium 6063-T5 Alloy — Made In-House

We use only certified 6063-T5 aluminium alloy — the industry benchmark for architectural profiles. What makes Syntech Metals different is that we operate our own melting and casting furnaces and produce our own extrusion billets in-house. This end-to-end control means every billet that goes into our extrusion press meets our exact specifications, resulting in profiles with consistent wall thickness, tighter tolerances, and better surface quality than products made from third-party billets.

2. Multiple Heights — Including Custom Sizes

We offer standard profile heights of 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, and 100 mm to suit the most common architectural requirements. For projects with non-standard specifications, we also accept custom height orders. Our extrusion tooling capacity means that custom profiles can be produced without the prohibitive tooling costs that smaller manufacturers typically pass on to customers.

3. Durable Surface Finishes That Last

Every Syntech Metals aluminium skirting board is available in a range of premium anodised finishes: Champagne Gold, Classic Gold, Antique Bronze, and Silver. Our anodising process goes beyond standard industry practice — we use extended anodising times and strict bath chemistry controls to produce an oxide layer that is thicker, harder, and more resistant to wear and UV fading than typical market products. The result is a surface that looks as good after years of daily contact as it did on installation day.

4. Deep Processing and Custom Length Service

Standard skirting boards come in fixed lengths, which often means on-site cutting and material waste. At Syntech Metals, we offer pre-cut lengths to your exact project specification, minimising waste and saving installation time. We can also supply pre-drilled profiles, milled channels, or other secondary processing operations as part of your order.

5. Custom Packaging to Support Your Brand

For distributors and wholesalers building their own product lines, we offer full OEM packaging services. Supply us with your brand artwork and we will pack finished skirting boards in your branded boxes, inserts, and protective wrapping — ready to go straight to your customers or onto retail shelves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I fix the clipboard clips to the wall?

We recommend fixing clipboard clips at intervals of no more than 50 cm for standard residential applications, and no more than 40 cm in high-traffic commercial environments. More frequent fixing reduces the risk of the board flexing or bowing over time.

Can I cut aluminium skirting boards on-site?

Yes. Use a mitre saw with a fine-toothed metal cutting blade, or a circular saw with an aluminium-rated blade. Always cut at low speed and clamp the profile securely before cutting. After cutting, use a fine file or deburring tool to remove sharp edges before fitting end caps.

Do I need a connector for every joint?

Yes — wherever two boards meet end to end, a connector should be used. This ensures structural integrity, prevents visible gaps from forming over time, and allows for controlled thermal expansion.

What is the difference between anodised and powder-coated finishes?

Anodising is an electrochemical process that converts the aluminium surface itself into a hard oxide layer. This means the finish is fully integrated into the metal — it cannot peel, chip, or flake. Powder coating, by contrast, is a surface coating applied on top of the aluminium. While powder coating offers a wider colour range, anodised finishes are generally more durable and better suited to architectural applications where longevity is a priority. All Syntech Metals skirting boards use premium anodised finishes.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Whether you are fitting skirting boards in a single apartment or specifying profiles for a large commercial development, Syntech Metals has the product range, manufacturing capability, and technical expertise to support your project from start to finish.

Contact our team today to request samples, discuss custom specifications, or get a competitive quote. We work with architects, interior designers, contractors, and distributors worldwide and pride ourselves on fast response times and reliable delivery.

Get in Touch with Syntech Metals →

Email us with your project details — samples available on request. Custom lengths, custom finishes, custom packaging — all from one manufacturer.