We are just starting on the second fix woodwork. This means the door linings, doors, skirting boards and architraves (around the windows and door frames) are starting to go in.
As per usual, it is amazing how much material gets swallowed up into the building – there is over 500M of skirting and architrave to be installed.
Originally, we were going to have custom made skirting boards and architrave. This involves having a metal cutter made so that the wood can be shaped using a spindle moulder. It costs around £150 for a metal cut for soft wood, however, a tungsten cutter is required for MDF. MDF is harder and the cutter needs to withstand the heat when cutting. A cutter for MDF is around £750. The cost of the timber was only £750 in the first place, so this effectively doubled the cost. So in the end we opted for a standard chamfered pattern. In reality, this standard chamfered pattern was not that different to the custom one that the architect had designed. I daresay no one will notice the difference.
500m of skirting boards and architrave. All made out of MDF and already primed front and back. We have opted for a standard pattern in an attempt to reduce costs.