Stainless steel skirting boards are commonly used profiles for high-end home or commercial space floor decoration, and they play an important role in the decoration industry.
This blog post will introduce the types, surface processing, uses, advantages and limitations, manufacturing processes, installation methods, and quality inspection methods of stainless steel skirting boards. A deep understanding of their characteristics will help you choose high-quality, cost-effective decorative profiles when decorating your house.
Stainless steel skirting boards are parts made of stainless steel and used for decorative protection of the bottom of the wall. They usually have the characteristics of super metallic texture, high strength, good color fastness, and anti-deformation.
Stainless steel skirting boards can be divided into 5 types according to material, each with its characteristics.
SUS201 is a relatively economical stainless steel material with a low nickel content (3.5%~5.5%) and a high manganese content.
SUS201 stainless steel skirting board has low corrosion resistance and is only suitable for installation in a dry, non-corrosive environment. Due to its low price and poor corrosion resistance, it is not selected for conventional home and engineering projects.
SUS304 is one of the most commonly used stainless steel materials, with a nickel content between 8%-10.5%, and has strong corrosion resistance even in humid environments.
SUS304 stainless steel skirting board is a high-end decorative material, widely used in high-end home and commercial projects. Most decoration enthusiasts pursue its excellent hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Compared with SUS304, SUS316 stainless steel is more corrosion-resistant and contains 2%~3% molybdenum, which enhances its tolerance to acid and alkali environments.
SUS316 stainless steel skirting board also belongs to the high-end series profiles and is suitable for more corrosive environments, such as coastal areas, laboratories, industrial areas, etc.
SUS430 is a low-nickel ferrite stainless steel. Its rust resistance is weak, but its formability and wear resistance are good.
SUS430 stainless steel skirting board is usually suitable for economical or mid-range projects, and its price is lower than SUS304 and SUS316 skirting boards.
SUS410 is a martensitic stainless steel with high hardness and good wear resistance, but poor corrosion resistance.
Therefore, SUS410 is usually not used as a raw material for skirting boards because its corrosion resistance makes it unsuitable for use in environments that are humid or exposed to chemicals. They are usually mainly used for industrial purposes and are rarely used in the decoration industry.
To ensure that the stainless steel skirting boards obtain different finishing effects, the following 6 surface treatment processes are often used.
After brushing, the surface of stainless steel skirting boards will show fine lines and textures. These are soft and wear-resistant and reduce light reflection.
Unlike bright stainless steel skirting boards, brushed stainless steel skirting boards do not reflect light over a large area, avoiding the dizziness effect caused by light reflection on human eyes. In addition, they also have better anti-fingerprint performance.
The mirror effect of stainless steel skirting boards is achieved through high-brightness polishing, which makes the surface reflect light like a mirror, presenting a bright metal visual effect.
Mirror stainless steel skirting boards are usually suitable for high-end spaces with an artistic atmosphere or places that require bright effects. It is also easy to clean, but it is easy to leave fingerprints when touched and scratches after contact with sharp objects.
Sandblasting is a special metal surface treatment process that uses a sandblasting machine to form a uniform frosted effect on the surface of the stainless steel substrate, giving the substrate a matte look. In addition, this type of skirting board usually has a delicate touch and a good anti-slip effect.
This process can create a unique decorative effect for stainless steel skirting boards, which is suitable for a more low-key design style.
Painting the surface of stainless steel can achieve different color effects.
This process uses multiple layers of paint to make the skirting board more colorful but requires higher maintenance to prevent the paint from wearing out.
Giving stainless steel skirting boards gold, rose gold, and other colors through electroplating technology can enhance their beauty and surface hardness.
Stainless steel skirting boards using electroplating technology have strong corrosion resistance and are often used in high-end decoration projects.
Etching can carve different patterns or textures on the surface of stainless steel skirting boards, and locally corrode the surface through chemical or physical means to form a unique decorative effect.
This type of skirting board is more suitable for customized scenes such as personalization and artistic design.
Stainless steel skirting boards, like skirting boards made of other materials, are suitable for decoration. However, due to their higher prices and better wear and corrosion resistance, they are mostly used in some high-end decoration environments.
In some high-end and crowded places, stainless steel skirting boards can not only enhance the modern sense of the space but also resist daily wear and tear and meet the needs of daily easy cleaning.
Such as high-end shopping malls, office buildings, hotels, and other commercial places.
Stainless steel skirting boards are waterproof and moisture-proof, so they can maintain good performance even in humid environments.
In-home places such as kitchens and bathrooms, stainless steel skirting boards can provide strong protection for the bottom edge of the wall, resist the erosion of water vapor and other chemical cleaners, and maintain a delicate finish for a long time.
In some places with strict hygiene requirements, such as hospitals and schools, stainless steel skirting boards can easily solve the decoration problems in these areas with their excellent antibacterial and easy-to-clean properties.
The hard and corrosion-resistant properties make stainless steel skirting boards also suitable for some industrial facilities. They can resist the impact of some hard objects and protect the wall from damage by equipment and tools.
Since stainless steel skirting boards can be made into various finishes, they are mostly used for interior decoration in some high-end hotels, luxury villas, and private clubs.
Stainless steel skirting boards offer many more attractive advantages than wooden or PVC skirting boards.
Stainless steel skirting boards have the advantage of being easy to install. They do not require thin wooden boards as a base and are usually installed in a snap-on manner.
They are strong and durable, have a long service life, do not require frequent maintenance, and are very suitable for modern interior decoration.
Since it can be shaped into various finishes such as mirror and brushed, it has a very metallic texture. Whether in modern or classical style interior decoration, it can play a good decorative effect.
Like traditional solid wood, stainless steel is also very environmentally friendly. It does not produce pollution sources, does not release harmful gases, and does not even require the use of glue for installation. Therefore, they can be used in any type of home and commercial space.
Stainless steel has good plasticity and can be processed by sawing, nailing, drilling, bending, etc. Even in some special environments, we can still use special processing methods to make it adapt well to the needs of the environment.
For example, through bending processing, it can meet the needs of the decoration of the curved wall or the protection of the bottom of the cylinder.
Stainless steel is resistant to high temperatures, will not burn, and will not release harmful gases. Therefore, it is the most ideal choice in environments with high safety requirements.
The surface is usually smooth and dust is not easy to accumulate. When cleaning, just soak a soft towel with clean water, wring it out, and wipe it.
Although stainless steel skirting boards have many advantages, they also have some limitations.
Compared with PVC and wooden skirting boards, stainless steel skirting boards have higher material and processing costs.
Therefore, they are more suitable for projects with higher budgets and higher requirements for decorative effects.
Metal materials usually have the disadvantage of cold texture, and the same is true for stainless steel skirting boards.
Therefore, they are only suitable for modern, industrial, or minimalist decoration environments. However, if used in warm, traditional, or retro interior designs, it is easy to cause incoordination between decorative elements and it is difficult to create a unified visual appearance.
Stainless steel materials are hard and difficult to cut.
For example, a metal cutting machine is needed to cut a flat, burr-free section, and a professional punching machine is needed to punch holes in the surface. In addition, if you want to bend, you also need a professional bending machine to achieve a precise bending effect.
Although the surface of stainless steel skirting boards can be polished, brushed, and other processes, the color and texture selection is extremely limited.
PVC or composite skirting boards can be shaped into any style of finish through coating or thermal transfer technology. Stainless steel skirting boards are very limited in this regard.
Although stainless steel has excellent hardness and resistance to bending and corrosion. However, due to its smooth surface, it is easy to leave unsightly marks when touched with fingers, and it is also easy to be scratched when in contact with sharp objects.
Therefore, it needs to be cleaned regularly after installation to avoid contact with gap objects.
The production of stainless steel skirting boards is a complex process that includes selecting and procuring raw materials, cutting and forming, surface treatment, punching and grooving, edge processing, quality inspection, packaging, etc.
Purchase stainless steel plates according to design and production requirements. Common materials include SUS201, SUS304, SUS316, etc.
The quality of stainless steel plates has an important impact on the durability, corrosion resistance, and appearance of the finished skirting. When purchasing, the stainless steel materials must be quality tested to ensure no obvious defects in their thickness, flatness, and surface.
Raw materials are purchased and put into storage in time. When placing an order, the stainless steel sheets are cut into the required length according to the design size and requirements using CNC laser cutting machines, shearing machines, or punching machines.
In addition, according to the customer's customized requirements, bending, folding, and other processes are performed to process the stainless steel sheets into specific shapes.
In the production process of cutting and forming, there are extremely high standards for the professionalism of processing equipment and operators. Only high-precision equipment and personnel with rich operating experience can strictly control the quality of semi-finished products.
The surface treatment of stainless steel skirting boards can enhance their decorativeness and durability.
First, stainless steel skirting boards can be customized with brushed finishes. Use a wire drawing machine to finely brush the surface of the board to form a uniform line texture, making it both smooth and brushed.
Secondly, some high-end skirting board profiles will be mirror-polished to make their surface as bright as a mirror. Skirting boards with mirror effects are more visually beautiful and can enhance their anti-fouling properties.
Finally, the sandblasting process can increase the roughness of the surface of the stainless steel sheet to form a matte effect. The pickling process can remove the oxide layer on the surface of the sheet, making it more corrosion-resistant.
In addition, to ensure that the stainless steel skirting board has better durability and color effects, it can also be sprayed with a metal coating.
Use a puncher to punch holes in the back of the stainless steel skirting board to enhance the firmness of its connection with the wall.
In addition, if the project has special splicing or fixing requirements, the stainless steel plate still needs to be grooved.
Chamfer or trim the edges of the stainless steel skirting board to remove its sharp corners, making the overall decoration more beautiful and safer to use.
The finished stainless steel skirting board needs to go through three processes: appearance inspection, precision measurement, and performance testing to ensure that its final quality reaches a higher standard.
The pre-packaging of finished skirting boards is carried out according to customer needs and product characteristics. Common packaging methods include cartons, PVC pipes, wooden pallets, etc.
The packaged stainless steel skirting boards are stored in the warehouse waiting for shipment.
There are many ways to install stainless steel skirting boards. Usually, you can choose the appropriate installation method according to different installation environments, design requirements, and types of skirting boards.
Glue installation is usually suitable for flat and smooth walls. Apply strong adhesive evenly on the back of the skirting and easily stick it to the bottom edge of the wall.
This installation method is simple, fast, and convenient, and will not cause damage to the wall. It is suitable for small projects or scenarios that require quick installation.
For heavier stainless steel skirting boards, screw fixation is usually used to ensure a more secure installation effect.
Use an electric drill to drill holes at the bottom of the wall and install expansion screws. Then align the skirting board with the hole and screw in the screws to fix it.
This installation method is suitable for concrete walls, brick walls, wooden walls, etc.
The most convenient way to install stainless steel skirting boards is to use a clip-in or slotted design. During construction, pre-install the base at the bottom of the wall, and then clip the skirting board into the base.
This installation method is suitable for environments that require flexible disassembly and replacement and can be used in both commercial and home decoration spaces.
Magnetic skirting boards are a traceless installation method that uses magnets to fix stainless steel skirting boards to the wall or base. This installation method is suitable for most display areas or temporary decoration scenarios.
To ensure that the stainless steel skirting boards have perfect decorative performance and durability, the following 10 testing methods can usually be used to check whether their quality meets the standards.
Appearance inspection is a visual inspection of the product's appearance, observing whether the product surface is smooth and flat, without scratches, bubbles, dents, etc., whether the edges are sharp, and whether there are obvious stains.
Use precision measuring tools to check whether the skirting board meets the product design specifications, including its length, width, thickness, etc.
The size of the finished skirting board should be consistent with the design drawing, and the error range is usually controlled within ±0.5mm to ±1mm.
Apply a certain pressure or load to the stainless steel skirting board, use a hardness tester to test the hardness of the metal surface, and evaluate its scratch resistance and wear resistance based on the data performance.
Take SUS304 as an example, its hardness is usually between HRC30-40.
A salt spray test (such as ASTM B117 standard) is used to simulate the corrosion of stainless steel skirting boards in high humidity or salty environments.
If no obvious rust or corrosion occurs within the specified test time, it is considered to meet the test standards.
Use a wear tester to simulate the friction scenarios in the application to evaluate its wear resistance.
The stainless steel skirting board is placed in a bending test device and different pressures are gradually applied until it bends or breaks.
Use welding tools to weld two stainless steel skirting boards together, and check whether the weld is flat, firm, and crack-free by visual inspection and X-ray inspection.
Use a gloss meter to test the surface of the skirting board and observe whether its measured value meets the standard requirements.
Cut a short sample of skirting board and put it in a high-temperature furnace or freezing environment to test its anti-deformation performance.
Put the stainless steel skirting board into a tensile testing machine, apply tensile force until it breaks, and record its maximum tensile strength.
Through a detailed analysis of the types, characteristics, surface treatment differences, advantages and disadvantages, installation methods, quality inspection standards, etc. of stainless steel skirting boards, we can help you get more help in project procurement and make the most reasonable choice - based on your budget, application environment, personal preferences, etc.
For indoor wall bottom decoration protection solutions, CREATEKING provides a variety of options and customized services to ensure that any customer's needs can be met.
